Converting Detolf/Large Tank.

[HorseyMandz]

Okaay, so I was thinking of getting a Detolf/Large Fish tank (or a ZZ2 if this didn't work out), but what do you actually need to do to convert it? It would be the home for my Syrian hamster, Minnie alone (so no partitions needed), but what do you need to do to a Detolf/large tank to make it suitable for a hammy?

[Stockannette]

RE: large tank, the main thing is a lid. I'll be watching this thread so I can get other valuable tips for Flower's future home.

[sully]

There is this thread>
http://www.hamstercentral.com/community/cage-reviews/19743-detolf.html
there are some great detolfs on you tube. I typed in 'detolf hamster bode' :) Also googled
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=detolf+hamster&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-gb:IE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7ADFA_enGB440&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=dao7UJb9NcfT0QWQ54GYBg&ved=0CB8QsAQ&biw=1024&bih=596

[pinkneon]

Oh now I can't WAIT to get my own place!!

[Kissa]

Pretty sure you don't actually need to seal the detolf to make it ham proof (unless you're planning on filling part of it with sand or something), so all you'd need was a lid :)

[kiania]

We sealed ours to keep it together - the plastic strips it came with were a bit naff. But I know other folks didn't bother - we wanted to take the metal struts out though, so the sealant helps keep it intact.

We have a perspex lid - in theory it is supposed to have a metal vent in the middle, but we're lazy (and poor!), so it hasn't been done yet (got the vent, need the metal strips to fix it - which are horribly expensive). For a syrian though, I've seen detolfs with a 'loft extension' to make sure you can have deep substrate, and get a syrian-sized wheel in there. My 8" wodent wheel pokes out the top of our roof at the moment, but that is because my OH over-filled the megazorb section so that the platform the wheel is on isn't actually touching the ground...

Detolfs are grand for dwarfs, but personally, I'd want something a little wider and taller for a syrian probably. I have a tank in the other room that is (roughly) 150x60x90cm (LxWxH), which would make a better syrian home due to the height and extra width, even if it loses a smidge of the length (detolfs are 163cm).

[Vectis Hamstery]

This is the lid for my converted fish tank (I didn't make it which is why it's so nice!):
http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/ac323/vectishams/cages/21eb26d53020a0508d219551448652c6.jpg
http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/ac323/vectishams/cages/5fab44d216c6db56b95ec66a959ca68f.jpg

The other addition to the tank was a glass shelf that was fixed using small glass strips and aquarium sealant:
http://i912.photobucket.com/albums/ac323/vectishams/cages/4b8f152ae51b416e665cdadbd00329f1.jpg

[purple_x]

My brother is gonna make a lid for my detolf.

If you look on the german hamster forum though you will find that alot of people dont have lids on their detolfs.
I think it's so they can fit a large wheel in and because a hammy couldn't escape anyway (they dont have very high substrate in the ones with no lid!)

[Lougarry]

Kiania kept a project log on her Detolf conversion:
http://www.hamstercentral.com/community/diy-do-yourself-hamster-projects/25684-detolfs-robos-hybrids.html

[kiania]

Mine is for a hybrid hamster though...and I sort of have a lid. It is like the detolf's glass lid, only made of perspex with a hole in the middle. Needed a lid because at one end I have a house high enough for escape, and eventually need to put the metal screen into the hole to stop ratties going in and nomming on the poor hamsters.

That said, having an 'open top' detolf is great for interaction purposes :) Makes sneaking treats in to Thunder easier - and I'm glad I went for a perspex lid over making one out of wood and wire, at least for ease of use :)