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Old 12-10-2012, 03:17 PM   #11
Lougarry
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Default Re: Cage floor area comparisons - home built cages

Quote:
Originally Posted by syrianali View Post
I notice Ikea Expedit listed as making a cage, but wondered how you would seal the exposed chipboard and the corners to prevent them becoming urine soaked?
Plastikote is usually recommended for waterproofing wood surfaces. Yu can also use watered- down PVA glue, hard wax oil etc.
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Old 12-11-2012, 04:43 AM   #12
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Default Re: Cage floor area comparisons - home built cages

Hamster Housing - National Hamster Council

Quote: The NHC recommends a minimum of 1000cm 2 (useable floor space) x 19cmH for Syrian hamsters

I wasn't saying it was ok, purely querying it
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Old 12-11-2012, 11:13 AM   #13
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Default Re: Cage floor area comparisons - home built cages

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Originally Posted by syrianali View Post
I notice Ikea Expedit listed as making a cage, but wondered how you would seal the exposed chipboard and the corners to prevent them becoming urine soaked?
I personally used drawer liner paper with a sticky reverse side. Works great and makes cleaning much easier too -- just takes time and care to apply it very smoothly without wrinkles.

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am I right in assuming the colour coding is suggesting the space that is unsuitable in red, and green is good?
I am querying as I thought I read in the NHC paperwork that 1000cm 2 was the minimum req for a syrian?
The color coding is a bit arbitrary, as it started out as a chart I made for my personal use. I own many of those commercial and DIY cages, and those were what I felt was accommodating for my hamsters, who are all dwarf hams. It had something to do with a layout too. For example, even though the floor area of one half of a 40/30 Gallon "breeder" tank is approximately similar to a habitat made from an IKEA Billy Extension shelf, the IKEA habitat is much longer and seems overall better.

The "half" is there because I split my hamsters for re-introduction, so it was to get an idea of how much room they had (and someone else might consider that as a reintroduction option, since dividers are so easy to make for aquariums).

Quote:
Originally Posted by syrianali View Post
Hamster Housing - National Hamster Council

Quote: The NHC recommends a minimum of 1000cm 2 (useable floor space) x 19cmH for Syrian hamsters

I wasn't saying it was ok, purely querying it
As for such general recommendations--they are often not for pet owners who are seeking the best for their hamsters. They are more like the minimum suggested space, which is not to say it's a good amount--it's just the minimum they feel is okay. As to how happy a hamster will be in that minimum is subjective, but I would guess not as happy as if he/she had more room with more toys and things to do.
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Old 12-12-2012, 05:17 PM   #14
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Default Re: Cage floor area comparisons - home built cages

Since the Expedit is made from laminated chipboard you do NOT need to paint it. Actually, most paint will not even really stick to laminated chipboard unless you sand it down first. Laminated chipboard is waterproof enough to withstand a bit of hamsterurine and disinfectant and over here, it's the number one recommended material to build diy cages from.

What you DO need to do is to seal any edges so that no fluids can get to any raw edges. For this, aquarium silicone is the material of choice. It's not that hard to work with, makes all the edges water-proof and is non-toxic. Be sure to use *aquarium* silicone, though, NOT bathroom silicone or other around the house silicones (because those contain fungizides).

I am not sure about the new high-gloss Expedits, though, their finish looked a bit more like just foil instead of the real, hard laminate of the "normal" colors to me in the store.
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Old 12-12-2012, 07:43 PM   #15
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Default Re: Cage floor area comparisons - home built cages

It's just as durable - I have the high gloss red version. Prone to fingerprints, but otherwise very good.
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Old 12-13-2012, 05:14 AM   #16
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Default Re: Cage floor area comparisons - home built cages

Ah, thanks Hamtastic, good to know!
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Old 12-15-2012, 06:04 AM   #17
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Default Re: Cage floor area comparisons - home built cages

Quote:
Originally Posted by syrianali View Post
Hamster Housing - National Hamster Council

Quote: The NHC recommends a minimum of 1000cm 2 (useable floor space) x 19cmH for Syrian hamsters

I wasn't saying it was ok, purely querying it
The NHC website, as far as I know, is really out of date. Cage sizes were a lot smaller three or four years ago, and I don't think the website has been updated to reflect that we know hamsters need a lot more space now. (According to the copyright on the bottom of the page, it hasn't been updated since 2009 )
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Old 12-16-2012, 03:58 AM   #18
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Default Re: Cage floor area comparisons - home built cages

Uhh, 1000cm² ist *really* tiny. That works out to just ~30cm x 30cm. Even the tiniest crappy commercial cages over here are 40cm x 30cm = 1200cm² and those are really tiny - we call them a "hamster jail". That site really needs an update.
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Old 05-21-2013, 01:06 PM   #19
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Default Re: Cage floor area comparisons - home built cages

I like the idea of using these large Ikea shelves for cages but have no idea how to adapt them exactly. For example the Expedit glass case has gaps down the side that would need blocking somehow - yet would still need to let in air and be remain easy to clean and put back together quickly. The Billy bookcases I actually have - I assume you would need to cut hole in door and cover with wire ? Also could the hamster not chew through the wood eventually, I don't know much about DIY but could get someone to make something if I had some pics for ideas.
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Old 05-21-2013, 01:21 PM   #20
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Default Re: Cage floor area comparisons - home built cages

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I like the idea of using these large Ikea shelves for cages but have no idea how to adapt them exactly. For example the Expedit glass case has gaps down the side that would need blocking somehow - yet would still need to let in air and be remain easy to clean and put back together quickly. The Billy bookcases I actually have - I assume you would need to cut hole in door and cover with wire ? Also could the hamster not chew through the wood eventually, I don't know much about DIY but could get someone to make something if I had some pics for ideas.
I've used expedit glass doors on ikea tv stand and gap is so small that my Syrian can't escape you can use hard metal mesh sheet as back wall so habitat is well ventilated.
About exposed wood ikea stuff is actually really well put together and not much exposed wood material around the joints so my hamster has no way of starting the chew mission.
You should go through "let's see you cages" tread as there are some good ikea conversions.
I find ikea is really good for hamster stuff really and wondering why they change their name into ikea pet store or something like that hehehe
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