DIY Hamster lighting strip!

[_nod]

Went to ikea to day to get some of those knuff (http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/50187340/) file things to make a shelf for little Nico.

Anyway while I was there I came across the Dioder (http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/00202324/) LED colour changing lighting strips and given I'd heard that hamsters can't see red light, it got me thinking, so I purchased one and then went to a hardware store to see what I could find to put it in to and found some metal tiling strip (http://www.diy.com/nav/decor/tiles/tiling-trims/Homelux-Stainless-Steel-Effect-Wide-Tile-Strip-L-1830-x-W-20mm-10647743) which it fitted in perfectly:

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2808/9166210093_ae769cce29.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/_nod/9166210093/)

I cut the metal strip to be just an inch longer than the tank then stuck the LED lighting strips inside the metal strip:

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3691/9166210599_cf7fdcfbe5.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/_nod/9166210599/)

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5516/9166210945_ee66395a9c.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/_nod/9166210945/)

I'll probably finish it off with some Sugru (https://sugru.com/), to tidy up the ends and put some tabs on it so it can't slip off the top of the tank, but I think it looks pretty neat!

http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2814/9168432142_58d589528f.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/_nod/9168432142/)

I'll try and get a better picture later when its dark!

[POLAR WHITES]

ooo I like that affect might copy that of you.

[TraceyH]

It looks brilliant.

[_nod]

And now its a bit darker outside...

http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5501/9167834173_2d13968472.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/_nod/9167834173/)

[BrainGirl]

That's gorgeous!

[HamsterCrazy2013]

Wow. That looks amazing. Well done! :) Great idea.

[Lloydhammy]

looks very nice! Is that a detolf?

[_nod]

No it's a custom made Perspex tank, I'd considered using a detolf, as it's a similar size, but didn't want all that glass sitting about.

[RedSky]

Where did you get the perspex from and was it expensive?
Looks fantastic by the way!

[_nod]

Thanks. I got the perspex cut to size by a local double glazing and glass company. It came to just under 100 pound, which isn't cheap, but given that all together it makes two good size enclosures which makes the most of the space I had and gives a near perfect view of my little hams, I'm very happy.

[Munchalot]

Wow, that looks fantastic! :D I might have to pinch your idea, I have one very allusive dwarfie who seems to have a phobia of day light. :L

[_nod]

Yeah, our dinning room light is quite bright, so they tend to retreat to their nests after a while of it being on, so I though this might be a good solution. So far it seems to be working, we'll have to see how it goes.

[Munchalot]

It's a great idea, I'd be interested to know how it goes! :)

[_nod]

I just conducted a highly scientific study :)

Firstly I turned the lights off until pixel and inch came out, then I turned the dial on the lights to red and switched them on, there was no reaction at all they just continued cleaning them selves as they had been doing, didn't even turn their heads to look around.

I then turned the lights of and back on again. Once more there was no reaction.

Then I switched the lights off and rotated the dial to white, before switching the lights back on, his time both hams emidiately stopped grooming and looked round before trotting off to find somewhere more sheltered!

As I said, highly scientific! ;)

But I think it does suggest that they can't see the red light or aren't as bothered by it for some reason. Quite pleased by that.

[Cupcake]

Scientific indeed Nod! :) most nocturnal mammals have dichromatic vision, which means they can distinguish colours such as blue and green, but not red. So red light is the best light to use when doing a project like yours as it does not disturb the hammies

[_nod]

That's what I'd read, but I just wanted to check. : )

I might also try turning the dial to change the colour of the lights to see at which point they react, as I find watching them under the pure red light quite a strain on my eyes for any length of time!

[Munchalot]

This is a brilliant idea nod, great to hear that it works so well!

I really might have to pinch your idea. ;) Hope you don't mind?

[_nod]

Go for it, I was amazed bu how neat it looks given it was so simple to put together!

[JonasB]

I have those lights in my setup as well. I tried the same thing with different colours and got the same result! :D

[_nod]

Oooh, scientifically verified! ;)

Thanks JonasB. :)