14 replies to this topic

[Lavendar]

Hey, I am going to be getting a new cage to upgrade from my bin cage just for asthetics.  I really love the niteangel cages, but I was wondering, is it as bad as Munchies Review makes it sound?  She can be kind of overdramatic, so, I, of course, was wondering, is it flimsy?  Can you pick up the cage and move it around easily?  I just want to make sure I am spending 250 dollars on at least something that will hold up to a tap.  Thanks!

Edited by Lavendar, 07 October 2021 - 10:53 PM.

[ajuniceu~]

 

 

Hi!

 

I've never used this cage myself, but from what I've heard the cage is pretty decent. I think Kikya has this cage for a female syrian, maybe they can provide some insight.

 

If you're worried about sturdiness, perhaps consider something like the ikea linmon DIY cage or a full DIY cage?

It would be cheaper as well

 

Hope this helped!

[Lavendar]

Hi!

 

I've never used this cage myself, but from what I've heard the cage is pretty decent. I think Kikya has this cage for a female syrian, maybe they can provide some insight.

 

If you're worried about sturdiness, perhaps consider something like the ikea linmon DIY cage or a full DIY cage?

It would be cheaper as well

 

Hope this helped!

I really liked the idea of a linnmon cage but I just wish there was some way you could see your hamster from all sides.  DIY cages would be costly sense in my area building materials are really epensive.  Aquariums are too pricey so I figured the Niteangel cage is the next best thing :p

[ajuniceu~]

I really liked the idea of a linnmon cage but I just wish there was some way you could see your hamster from all sides.  DIY cages would be costly sense in my area building materials are really epensive.  Aquariums are too pricey so I figured the Niteangel cage is the next best thing :p

 

I see you live in the USA, do you live near a Petco?

 

They often have $1/gallon sales so you could catch a 75 gallon tank for a decent price.

 

If you feel comfortable doing so, you can also check craigslist, facebook marketplace, etc for used tanks that will often be cheap

[Kikya]

Hey, I am going to be getting a new cage to upgrade from my bin cage just for asthetics.  I really love the niteangel cages, but I was wondering, is it as bad as Munchies Review makes it sound?  She can be kind of overdramatic, so, I, of course, was wondering, is it flimsy?  Can you pick up the cage and move it around easily?  I just want to make sure I am spending 250 dollars on at least something that will hold up to a tap.  Thanks!

I have 3 Nite Angel cages and I don't think of them as flimsy. They are made of a light weight material which is nice because tanks this size would be crazy heavy. I also have a 65 gallon tank, which isn't as big and I can't lift it by myself very easily without being worried, I'll kill someone with it lol. It's sturdy once you put it together and the amount of bedding depth you can get is top notch! I haven't had an issues with hamsters chewing out of it or anything like that.

 

So far I love them, they are easy to put together (once you get the hang of the O-rings). The first time I did it, in about 40 minutes, the next two times were under 30.

 

I would recommend getting some fatigue mats if you have hardwood floor, but if you are putting it on carpet, I wouldn't bother.

 

Basically, build it where you want to put it, don't move it unless you plan on taking it apart. One really nice thing is, I could break the entire thing down and move it if I wanted and may do someday when I move the "hamster room".

 

All in all, it has pros and cons like any cage, but it was worth it to me.

[Lavendar]

I see you live in the USA, do you live near a Petco?

 

They often have $1/gallon sales so you could catch a 75 gallon tank for a decent price.

 

If you feel comfortable doing so, you can also check craigslist, facebook marketplace, etc for used tanks that will often be cheap

yes, I do!  I'm pretty sure the 1 dollar per gallon sales in my area though are only for up to a 40 gal tank :/  Good idea!  I'll check on craigslist.  Thanks!

[Lavendar]

I have 3 Nite Angel cages and I don't think of them as flimsy. They are made of a light weight material which is nice because tanks this size would be crazy heavy. I also have a 65 gallon tank, which isn't as big and I can't lift it by myself very easily without being worried, I'll kill someone with it lol. It's sturdy once you put it together and the amount of bedding depth you can get is top notch! I haven't had an issues with hamsters chewing out of it or anything like that.

 

So far I love them, they are easy to put together (once you get the hang of the O-rings). The first time I did it, in about 40 minutes, the next two times were under 30.

 

I would recommend getting some fatigue mats if you have hardwood floor, but if you are putting it on carpet, I wouldn't bother.

 

Basically, build it where you want to put it, don't move it unless you plan on taking it apart. One really nice thing is, I could break the entire thing down and move it if I wanted and may do someday when I move the "hamster room".

 

All in all, it has pros and cons like any cage, but it was worth it to me.

Thanks for all of the information!  This really helps me out.  If you move the cage or pick it up, will it fall apart?

[Kikya]

Thanks for all of the information!  This really helps me out.  If you move the cage or pick it up, will it fall apart?
 

 

You can pick it up and move it but it's probably easier to do with two people. My hubby and I have moved them around, but make sure you lift both sides evenly. You might have a band pop off but you can put it back on.

 

Also remember Munchie's place has hamsters coming in all the time and probably has to move things around a lot. I basically built mine and short of one move that I had to do when I got hammy #4, I haven't had to move them that often. She does have a large Nite Angel for her personal hamster and she bought two of them a medium and a large so I guess she doesn't think they are so bad lol

 

If its a case where you think you will have to move them often, a bin cage would probably be better, even if it's smaller. Even a 30 gallon tank is very heavy and hard to move around without bumping things and without two people.

Edited by Kikya, 08 October 2021 - 01:45 AM.

[lil BIG dwarf]

Definitely watch Craigslist! I bought a 75 gallon tank with a metal lid for 40 bucks, and they’re super common around me if you wait a little bit

[SignedLancer]

I don't think Munchie hates the niteangel MDF. She keeps her personal hamsters in the MDF cages, and I'm pretty sure she's recommended the cage in multiple videos. In this video, she talks more about the niteangel cage so maybe that will help you understand her opinions better. Obviously, they're not perfect and she was honest about that in her review. I'd encourage you to look into her videos where she cleans/decorates the larger MDF because she has more experience with the cage by then.

 

But if she didn't like them, I don't think she would be recommending that people buy them and using them for her own hamsters!

[Kikya]

Hey, I am going to be getting a new cage to upgrade from my bin cage just for asthetics.  I really love the niteangel cages, but I was wondering, is it as bad as Munchies Review makes it sound?  She can be kind of overdramatic, so, I, of course, was wondering, is it flimsy?  Can you pick up the cage and move it around easily?  I just want to make sure I am spending 250 dollars on at least something that will hold up to a tap.  Thanks!

I LOVE my NiteAngels, they aren't flimsy when you put them together and yes Munchie does exaggerate. I do a room tour on my youtube channel Seedful Hamster so you can see them for yourself, but I own three of them.

 

You cannot move it around easily as one piece but you can easily take it apart to move it. I say build it where you want it, it's easier that way.

Edited by Kikya, 17 January 2022 - 08:56 AM.

[Kikya]

NiteAngel Review

 

It comes in 3 sizes (inner dimensions):

Small: 30L x 15W x 17.7H inches (450sq in of floor space)
Medium: 39.4L x 19.7W x 19.7H inches (776sq in of floor space)
Large: 47.2 L x 19.7W x 23.6H inches (930sq in of floor space)

I think you could get away with a small or a medium with a dwarf hamster, the medium for a less picky Syrian, and the large is just awesome for everyone. Not saying you couldn't have a dwarf in a large, just talking minimums and budgets.

Concerns people have:

First, it's too flimsy. This is both true and not true. The individual pieces are very light weight and yes, you could potentially break a piece off if you dropped it the wrong way. However, once this cage is built, it is structurally. sound. The pieces are interlocking like a puzzle so they gain strength from each other. The silicone bands are really just there to hold it together while it's being built and being moved. I don't recommend you move this cage often, without taking it apart.

Second, the rubber bands will break. While you are learning to put them on correctly, yes, they can break. My suggestion is hook them from the top down and pull down to the bottom. NiteAngel gives you a lot of bands to learn with. I have so many bands I don't need now lol and the last two cages I built, I didn't even break one band. You can also easily order replacement bands if you needed. These bands are pretty much perfect replacements and even are slightly bigger so easier to put on if you run out. Which I doubt you would.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MNLS8Y7

Third, that a hamster could chew out of the cage. I have had two females (both of whom like to chew on things to escape) in a NiteAngel cage and neither one as so much as a scratch mark or a nibble. The sides are very smooth, it would be very hard for them to get their teeth ahold of something.

Positives:

The large size is the biggest non DIY cage in North America, even the medium is bigger than most commercial cages. Also, they are the same dimensions from bottom to top so you get all the space. You can fill the large up a good 10-12 inches and still have room on top for wheels and cork logs etc.

It looks good. People have commented on the look my my cages so many times. I even had one in my living room and it didn't look weird and out of place.

It's so spacious that even my two female Syrians are happy in them. Not saying your mileage might not very but it's a big relief to me to not have to upgrade. It's the first cage, I've had where I didn't feel like I had to choose between bedding depth and having a good sized wheel.

The lid has nice slits for ventilation, I don't have any issues with condensation, smells getting trapped, etc.

Personally, I think the positives outweigh the negatives. They really have suited my hamsters and I don't have hammies going crazy wall climbing all the time and making me stressed with worry about them.

Edited by Kikya, 17 January 2022 - 09:00 AM.

[hotglue01]

Hi there,

 

We recently bought a Niteangel for my Aslan, a male Syrian, and he is so much happier. He lived in the Pervue 528 before, which was fine and easier to transport (I took him to my mother’s house when I went down for a few weeks over the holidays, and it fit nicely in the car), but he wasn’t nearly as active and happy as he is now. We updated to the Niteangel a month ago, And it’s been great. His ghost hamster traits have been disappearing, and Aslan up is getting up early again and seems really comfortable: foraging in front of us, running on his wheel in front of us, and exploring. It has been wonderful to see and we are very happy with our purchase. 
 

I definitely wouldn’t feel able to move this enclosure around much… it isn’t the sturdiest thing in the world. But then again, there isn’t a whole lot of need for us to move him around anyway, and in the event that he does make a little trip to my mom’s house again we kept the Prevue. 
 

I recommend the Niteangel for sure!

[Bella33]

NiteAngel Review

 

It comes in 3 sizes (inner dimensions):

Small: 30L x 15W x 17.7H inches (450sq in of floor space)
Medium: 39.4L x 19.7W x 19.7H inches (776sq in of floor space)
Large: 47.2 L x 19.7W x 23.6H inches (930sq in of floor space)

I think you could get away with a small or a medium with a dwarf hamster, the medium for a less picky Syrian, and the large is just awesome for everyone. Not saying you couldn't have a dwarf in a large, just talking minimums and budgets.

Concerns people have:

First, it's too flimsy. This is both true and not true. The individual pieces are very light weight and yes, you could potentially break a piece off if you dropped it the wrong way. However, once this cage is built, it is structurally. sound. The pieces are interlocking like a puzzle so they gain strength from each other. The silicone bands are really just there to hold it together while it's being built and being moved. I don't recommend you move this cage often, without taking it apart.

Second, the rubber bands will break. While you are learning to put them on correctly, yes, they can break. My suggestion is hook them from the top down and pull down to the bottom. NiteAngel gives you a lot of bands to learn with. I have so many bands I don't need now lol and the last two cages I built, I didn't even break one band. You can also easily order replacement bands if you needed. These bands are pretty much perfect replacements and even are slightly bigger so easier to put on if you run out. Which I doubt you would.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07MNLS8Y7

Third, that a hamster could chew out of the cage. I have had two females (both of whom like to chew on things to escape) in a NiteAngel cage and neither one as so much as a scratch mark or a nibble. The sides are very smooth, it would be very hard for them to get their teeth ahold of something.

Positives:

The large size is the biggest non DIY cage in North America, even the medium is bigger than most commercial cages. Also, they are the same dimensions from bottom to top so you get all the space. You can fill the large up a good 10-12 inches and still have room on top for wheels and cork logs etc.

It looks good. People have commented on the look my my cages so many times. I even had one in my living room and it didn't look weird and out of place.

It's so spacious that even my two female Syrians are happy in them. Not saying your mileage might not very but it's a big relief to me to not have to upgrade. It's the first cage, I've had where I didn't feel like I had to choose between bedding depth and having a good sized wheel.

The lid has nice slits for ventilation, I don't have any issues with condensation, smells getting trapped, etc.

Personally, I think the positives outweigh the negatives. They really have suited my hamsters and I don't have hammies going crazy wall climbing all the time and making me stressed with worry about them.

I really want a niteangel cage because i think it would be so much easier for me to buy one instead of making a cage. The only problem is that they are so expensive 

I am from Canada so the product costs more for me then it does to get to the u.s . The medium size which i want is around 400 $ CAD. Also another problem , they are never in stock sadly 

[Kikya]

I really want a niteangel cage because i think it would be so much easier for me to buy one instead of making a cage. The only problem is that they are so expensive 

I am from Canada so the product costs more for me then it does to get to the u.s . The medium size which i want is around 400 $ CAD. Also another problem , they are never in stock sadly 

A Pawhut might be an option for you too. I do love the Nite Angels but I know it's hard for our Canadian friends to get them =(

 

I would love to add a Canada section to this list but maybe one of these would work for you too.

 

http://hamsterclubhouse.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=46