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Old 11-06-2008, 08:59 AM  
Hanlou
Adult Hamster
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 362
Default How to connect cages with tubes

As you may have already seen from my cages in the 'show your cage' thread I have connected cages up a few times now by making my own hole.

Quote:
Originally Posted by crawleytown
Hanlou, you really do have incredible cages! How do you connect them so well? I am tempted to put togethcer my Cambridge and Gabber for my Syrian but I don't want to mess it up and destroy the cage!
It is fiddly but once you've done it I think it gets easier! I now have *counts* 5 different tube connections on different cages though one of them is a rat cage so I had to use Ferret tubes for that one!

It creates so many possibilities and means that no cage gets wasted. I use These Connector Plates which are compatible with both Savic and Ferplast tubes and come with a stopper so you can still use your cage without tubes attached if you need to. ECF also sell the Ferplast tubes and if you type 'FANCYRATS' into the coupon box at the end of your transaction you get 10% off your order!

I prefer Ferplast tubes myself as the bends aren't as steep though occasionally combinations have only worked by incorporating the Savic tubes. Tinkerbell was a large hamster but had no problem with any of the tubes at all. All my hamsters / mice / rats enjoy going up and down and you can use cages up that are too small for any real purpose without ruining them as you would by cutting holes in the base etc. It also makes cleaning very easy as you can put the hamster / mouse in one cage by blocking it off with the plug whilst you clean the other one.

For tanks it's really handy to have a cage on top that you can put food and water in etc even if it's a small cage.

The main points to remember are to:

- always decide on the tube combination you will need *before* you snip holes in the bars! Then you will get the positioning of the hole right.

- cut the hole smaller than you think you'll need it - you can always snip more off bars if you need to but you can't put bits of bar back on if you've cut them too short!

- cage bars are actually quite easy to snip and you can always use garden wire to make the connector plate stay in place more securely after you've attached it.

I can post pics of other tubifications I've done if people would like to see them.
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Love Hannah x

...plus Herbert, Tiny, Ping, Teacake, Muffin and Biscuit.
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