Huge cheap cage

[JLPrairie]

Living World Deluxe Habitat costs just 60.00 for X-large on Amazon. Its reviews are amazing and has more than 1000 sq. inches. It's designed for chinchillas and bunnies and the bar spacing isn't specified, but if someone wants to get it and maybe wrap mesh around it...
Let me know if it works, I'm almost definitely getting this.

[Wanna Hamster]

The mesh would definitely need to be done, as it looks like the bar spacing is 1+ inches. But, other than that, it looks pretty good! It's just he fact that it's very spendy and you could very easily make a bin cage the same size for a fourth of the cost! <3

[JLPrairie]

High school and my total un-craftiness keeps stopping me from trying to make one.

How should I use the mesh though?

[cypher]

meshing a whole cage is quite tricky, you need to cover the whole bar area making sure there are no sharp bit at the edges that your ham could get hurt by & you'd probably want to make sure there were no sharp bits outside for yourself too!
I think it would probably be quicker & easier to make a bin cage than mesh a whole cage!

[AmityvilleHams]

It would be easier to make a bin cage,and even at that point you could still expand a bin to be even larger than the cage mentioned for less money.

[Pebbles82]

I've balked at the idea of meshing a large cage - and it would need meshing on the inside too or they could get through the bars and get trapped under the mesh. With the right tools it could be possible as I think the edges where it's been cut would need filing down or using a dremmel so they were smooth.

Yes it might be easier just to make an extra large bin cage with large meshed panels for ventilation (the edges would be on the outside so easier). The advantage of a bin cage over a cage is you can have much deeper substrate for tunneling. Something like the Iris bin would be good (assuming you're in the US).

Currently on sale at $23.99

https://www.farmandfleet.com/product...l#.UrlS0LR0lmI

Also works out about 1040 square inches And a good height for deep substrate. You'd need to use a hot knife to cut the panels out of the bin for meshing. I think some people heat up a Stanley knife if they don't have specialist tools but there are a few youtube videos with tips on how to cut them so they don't crack. The pieces of mesh you can have cut to size in a hardware store and attach them to the outside by making holes round the cut out and attaching with cable ties. I think people use a soldering iron to make the holes sometimes.

The lid looks hard to cut - I think I've seen people using baking grids on top instead of cutting the lid.

Yup - no need to cut the bin at all or use mesh if you remove the lid and get some of these

TightMeshâ„¢ Shelving | Rubbermaid

There's a photo of how it works on here (first photo)

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Ir...UIBigB#imgrc=_

[AmityvilleHams]

Or two 80 x 50 bins(110 quart,somewhere around the 100ish range,not entirely certain at the moment!)and a 60 x 40(60ish quart,Walmart exclusive)bin to make a square meter cage.You'll spend a bit more than the Christmas tree bin,but it is still an excellent value and would be more versatile in terms of being able to position the bins in a way that fits best for the room rather than having one very long but unfortunately quite narrow bin.It would only be around $24 for the two big bins but you could find cheaper alternatives if you wanted to.The small one is $7 I think,so you'd still be spending less than $40 without factoring in materials.I personally don't consider the full cost of certain materials to be part of the bin cage since you're not going to use the full roll of mesh for the bins and will have a lot left over,same with tools which aren't going to be expensive either

Shelving is going to be more expensive and have far less use compared to the minimal amount you'd pay for mesh.Keeping it a budget cage instead of adding unnecessary expenses is very good,plus just using a shelf wouldn't be as secure internally or externally

Two of the big bins would be roughly 1,280 square inches by the way,so still a superior value with just the two bins.Of course,the additional smaller bin just boosts it to being an even better size!

[Drago]

It could certainly be done if of course you're willing to put in the time, effort, and money to mesh up the entire cage. However, like the others have said, a bin cage would be cheaper, bigger, and much more expandable than that cage. If you do choose to get the cage though, please make sure it's 100% ham-proofed before housing your little one in the cage

[JLPrairie]

The Christmas storage is not available at ANY of the nearby locations :/.
How would I connect the two storage boxes?

[racinghamster]

The idea of mesh or bars near a hamster`s teeth fills me with dread. But then, unless you have had a hamster badly damage it teeth on bar chewing or attempted to climb the bars and fall, I would look at something like a Zoozone 2.

Okay, it`s not as pleasing to look at, but it`s spacious and safe. Cages designed for larger animals can have their pitfalls. meshing is just one. A Dwarf hamster for example can live in a Zoozone 1 or 2 without having to mesh the bars on top, unless you have a cat, a dog or other pets that could get a paw into the gaps, but a cage should always be on a solid table or sideboard anyway and away from any potential threats.

Think about the hamster IN that cage and the added work/expense you will have making it safe? Hamsters may use the added space in larger habitats while young and agile, but a moderate sized cage with a good running wheel and a cosy bed is where they are at. Any cage in the 80cm x 50cm range is fine. I`m a big fan of the tank-style cages. I would only use a narrow barred cage for a Chinese hamster as they are far more mouse-like and are better climbers generally.

Syrians and dwarf hamsters are better with floor space where they can`t get into trouble!