Levels, how to do?

[Teddy001]

Okay, I've decided on switching Teddy to an Ikea Detolf. I am wondering if anyone that has an glass cage with attached or DIY'd lofts, levels ect., and how did you do it. What did you use to make it?
Teddy is an Syrian hammie, that loves to climb and climb and climb. LOL I don't want to deprive her of not being able to climb, muliti levels, and am thinking of DIY'n a few climbing ramps, and landings in her new set up.
She has only lived in an barr'd cage, and I've been able to DIY a few landings for her to climb up on to.
This is my first glass cage, and my mind just won't stop thinking of how I'm to set it up, to satisfy her climbing needs.
I did order an wooden playset, which will work wonderfully in her glass tank, but, she is one that gets very easily bored, and I'm forever re-configuring her current cage, to keep her "out of troubles" way. LOL.
Teddy is going on 5 months old, and is very active, energetic on the move constantly. If she's not running like an manic on her wheel, she's running up and down multiple ramps in her cage.
All suggestions, ideas are very welcomed. (your set up on landings/lofts photo's would be fantastic, too)

[spyro87]

in a tank the only way I can think of that you can attach things but keep them removable and switchable around would be to use the rubber suckers... I'm just now sure how securely they would hold things like wooden shelves in position...

Also, I don't know if you've thought of it/got one already, but the main thing your tank will need is a lid - obv something that still allows airflow through - when I was moving Gloria to a tank I had suggestions to use wood & mesh to put together a make shift lid, Gloria got close to the top of the tank once - and my tank is pretty deep, its AMAZING what they can engineer up to use to get high up

So far Gloria has no secondary levels but I plan to - I'm still giving her time to settle in and don't want to change too much around too soon. But when I do add extra levels I'll be going for wooden shelves, with either ramps, or ladders.
I'm going to glue/silicone the wooden shelves in place as I won't be wanting to move them anywhere. Gloria is the kind of Ham that likes things "just-so" she gets narky when I move her stuff without prior permission :P

It might be easier to make the shelves a permanent fixture, but change how she accesses them? and change what's up there when she gets there... I really can't think how your shelves can be changeable and secure in a tank...
Maybe someone else will have a better idea Hope I helped...

[kyrilliondaemon]

What about constructing some sort of tank topper? Our detolf doesn't have shelves apart from a single free standing platform we've got in there

[Teddy001]

spyro- I am also thinking of wooden shelves glued with silicone. I'm not sure if rubber suckers would hold the weight of the wood. I also, have 2 large sheets of plexi glass, that I may try to cut and glue for a few levels, but, that is just my "thinking" about it at this time. Plexi glass can be difficult to cut, so I think wood would be a better option.
I'll post the lids that I'm planning on making. I've seen lids like these made for the Detolf tanks. See photo below. thanks for you ideas

Originally Posted by spyro87

in a tank the only way I can think of that you can attach things but keep them removable and switchable around would be to use the rubber suckers... I'm just now sure how securely they would hold things like wooden shelves in position...

Also, I don't know if you've thought of it/got one already, but the main thing your tank will need is a lid - obv something that still allows airflow through - when I was moving Gloria to a tank I had suggestions to use wood & mesh to put together a make shift lid, Gloria got close to the top of the tank once - and my tank is pretty deep, its AMAZING what they can engineer up to use to get high up

So far Gloria has no secondary levels but I plan to - I'm still giving her time to settle in and don't want to change too much around too soon. But when I do add extra levels I'll be going for wooden shelves, with either ramps, or ladders.
I'm going to glue/silicone the wooden shelves in place as I won't be wanting to move them anywhere. Gloria is the kind of Ham that likes things "just-so" she gets narky when I move her stuff without prior permission :P

It might be easier to make the shelves a permanent fixture, but change how she accesses them? and change what's up there when she gets there... I really can't think how your shelves can be changeable and secure in a tank...
Maybe someone else will have a better idea Hope I helped...

[Teddy001]

Free standing or gluing wood shelves maybe. . I did buy 2 sets of Ikea magazine racks, that can be laid down, making a free standing landing. I'm going to try making the topper out of crown moulding ( like two large photo frames) then insert mesh, secured by screws. Then add 2 handles on each side of the panels. Here's photo's of someone that made these types of toppers for her Detolf. I add' a photo of her Idea Detolf, set up, too.

Originally Posted by kyrilliondaemon

What about constructing some sort of tank topper? Our detolf doesn't have shelves apart from a single free standing platform we've got in there

[spyro87]

those look AMAZING!!
I love her tank set up!

I am definitely going to make Gloria's tank topper with the handles