Yes, the Habitrail OVO system of interlocking tubes and chambers is pretty amazing and this is a great kit to get you started. As you can tell, it is very easy to go overboard and also easy to get confused by what you really need and what to purchase next. The main focus of this review is to get all the things out there that I wish *I* knew before buying, not that it would change my mind! First, the layout. This OVO Dwarf kit is great for Robos, Russians, gerbils and mice. I had a mouse who loved the straight vertical tubes, but my Winter Whites didn't do vertical. So I simply rotated the T-connectors so they were at an incline (takes double the length of tubes to reach the same height) and all was well. If your little ones don't like climbs at all it's really easy to make it all level. If you want to expand your habitat it is much more cost-efficient to purchase new kits like this one, rather than buying tube parts individually. Unless you really need only one or two specific parts for your layout. Not only will buying new kits give you an assortment of tubes and connectors, but you'll also have some additional chambers to add in. Remember, it's the chambers that really matter because that's where your creatures will be doing all of their activities. Tunnels are only for getting from one place to another. Also note that the tunnels are not ventilated so plan your layout with chambers on the ends and throughout to help promote airflow. If you have more than one critter in an enclosure you'll want to plan your layout as a closed loop so everything has two access paths. The connectors and rings are all universal within this brand and I am very impressed at the quality of design and materials. It's so simple and effective, just plug two things into a ring and twist. Sturdy plastic and rubber allows them to hold quite a bit of weight and I've done some tunnels and even a water bottle or two extended outwards from a cage without even the slightest hint of droopage. In my photo there is a book and a pill bottle acting as a support for a tube leading up to a lookout, but it really wasn't even necessary. It was just for peace of mind while learning to trust the sturdy construction of the attachment rings. The home included in this kit is large and has many great features like a good running wheel, steps leading up to a built-in food or bath dish, and a cubbyhole home that is large enough for two dwarves (and even my Golden Syrian fits in there). These three features are easily removable, giving you space to place your own shelter or wheel if you wanted. The water bottle worked fine, the transport is perfect for trips to the pet store or vet, and the little den makes a great piece to use instead of a window end-cap. So with all these good things to say, why do I only give this 4 stars instead of 5? Well, my complaints are very minor, but there are several of them. First, if you use the built-in food dish atop the steps for food, there are two problems. The steps are tall and smooth without footholds, and my dwarves sometimes took multiple attempts to try and get up there. A Syrian has no problem, but it can sometimes be a real chore for wee ones. Still, nothing can topple determination and it's still very much usable in the end. ....it just isn't easy. The home uses a dome ceiling that can open from both the front and the back. The food tray is located in the back, and the back of the dome does not open enough for you to easily change out the food or sand. I can barely fit my hand in there and end up spilling food all over the steps (which my hamsters don't mind) while trying to change it. I could easily open the front of the dome enough though, except the wheel is in the way of clear access to the food dish and I worry that continuous removal and re-insertion of the running wheel will wear down the plastic piece that connects it to the base. Another problem I saw was in the quality control department. I purchased a few of these and out of the three kits, I received one completely broken ring, one partially defective one, and the cap on one of the water bottles had accidentally been glued so I had to use vice grips to remove it. If I didn't know any better I would have thought the cap wasn't supposed to be removed. Lastly, and I don't know why, but I feel like this kit should have also come with the dwarf version of their 5-way connector. Like I said, these are all petty issues and combined are barely worth subtracting one star. In my opinion this is the greatest modular/tubular habitat you can find on the market for dwarf hamsters, mice, and gerbils. It is very well-made and all so easy to take apart and clean (the tubes can all come apart in halves for washing). It's very much a good deal for the price too!
