Need advice from the experts!

[Dax]

(Thats you, incase you didnt know. )

So, i have just moved back to my parents house after uni. In my bedroom there, i have a large "toy cupboard", its a vary large cupboard built into the wall.

I would like to convert this into a Hammy house!

Firstly..I was thinking of using lino tiles to make the floor of this cupboard completely waterproof/peeproof
Good idea? Bad idea?
Can i use the sticky part of the bottom of the tiles to stick them down or should i use hammy safe glue?

Secondly..With taking the doors off, ill obviously have to replace that with something else.
Im thinking some kind of acrylic, cutting it to shape and nailing/gluing it to the inside door frame.
(EDIT: Wanted to mention, they will not be full doors. It will be a panel only high enough so that my boy cant climb out, but i can still access it over the top for cleaning/playing ect.))

Acrylic, yay or nay?
Any ideas for anything better?

Thirdly..Any ideas how to do this but make the whole thing chewyface safe? I dont want him bringing up the bloody lino.

Thanks for any info. I think this is probably going to be a bloody disaster, but ill make a valiant effort.

x

[Teddy001]

That sounds SO Amazing!. I met a lady on another Hamster site, that did something similar. I believe she used, ceramic tile, the type that has the adhesive on the backside, for flooring. As for the door, she didn't have a door.. LOL.. she allowed her hamster to roam around the house, although she did say, she hamster proofed areas that her ham may get trapped, and areas were blocked off, like the kitchen.

I've used linoleum floor tiles, to cover a metal "mesh" made orig. for a shelving unit to go in the shower, that I DIY'd into an loft for one of my hamsters cage, and my ham did not chew at it, I think as long as it's laid, without any gaps it may work. I noticed the linoleum is a bit slippery, when my ham walks on it, even with substrate, she slips a little, as the substrate slips around on the linoleum. Not sure if that would be a big issue? What species of hamster are you planning on housing in the cage?

Would the doorway, be framed? How would you be opening and closing the door? I've used plexi glass in the past, to attach to platforms, to make an closed in area, but never have used it for a very large area. I'm thinking it would work fine, though. As long as there's sufficient ventilation. Ah, I just read, you are thinking of using the plexi glass, as a "wall" like, tall enough so your ham can't climb over.. That would work. As long as you make it high enough, that with things like toys, and ledges, he's not able to reach the top of the plexi glass.

I use non toxic aquarium glue, to secure plexi glass. Would the plexi glass be attached to wood, or what type of material? If you do decide to use aquarium glue, make sure it's well aired out, before ham goes in. The fumes can be quite strong, until fully dry.
I was thinking, maybe a plexi glass could work as flooring? I'm not sure what the cost of plexi glass is where you are at, but here in the states, it's pretty expensive. I found it hard to work with, too.. cutting it, can be tricky.

Please post photo's, I look forward to see how it turns out.

[Dax]

Oh! Im glad someone else has done something similar, i might have a little look around the web for more info.
Ceramic tiles are a great idea! Ill have to look into how much they will be!

I tend to put alot of substrate in his house at the moment, i dont think it will make much difference that the underneath will be slippery because i use so much he never really touches the floor.
He's a Syrian!

As for the door..I just made an attempt at a diagram to help explain this but it was awful.
The cupboard is essentially the size of a closet, but shorter. So, its id say around 2ft from the ground but big enough to stand in when you get up there.
So, as for the doors, i would just have something on the cupboard "floor" thats just high enough so that Hammy cant get out. It will like 1/4 the size of the actual doors. Im planning on leaning over that to reach him/clean ect rather than having a functioning door.

I really hope that makes sense. Its 3:15am here and tiredness makes me babble! haha.

As soon as i can, i will post pictures. It will make everything im saying make more sense.

x