Register FAQ Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
Navigation
Front Page
Forum
Gallery
Wiki

Ads by Google


Go Back   Hamster Central > Hamster Central Forum Topics > DIY (Do it yourself) Hamster Projects!

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-06-2016, 01:35 AM   #1
Tacey
Newborn Pup
 
Tacey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: UK
Posts: 35
Default vivarium?

Hi guys,
I have this random vivarium at work which I'd like to turn into a big hammy cage for my Chinese. .. but I don't have a clue how! Any advice? I've hopefully attached a picture of it.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 1462523472627.jpg (94.0 KB, 51 views)
Tacey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2016, 01:40 AM   #2
Lala Noma
Hamster Pup
 
Lala Noma's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Spain
Posts: 211
Default Re: vivarium?

It looks nice... Where are the holes for air? Has it any?
Lala Noma is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2016, 01:42 AM   #3
AmityvilleHams
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 4,545
Default Re: vivarium?

It would need to have a completely new lid made for it to work and offer proper ventilation.Otherwise,suffocation could happen which would of course lead to death
AmityvilleHams is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2016, 01:45 AM   #4
cypher
Dwarf whisperer
 
cypher's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Wales UK
Posts: 24,789
Default Re: vivarium?

Those do make really nice cages but ventilation is the big issue, you need to cut panels out & mesh them really.
__________________
Slave to Zak.
Always loved, never forgotten, forever in my heart
T'ycor, Ziggy, Zephyr, Flynt, Mickle, Little Whisp, Zen, Zeki, Tinwë, Zylvan, Míriel, Calyanwë, Gusto & Meri
❤️
cypher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2016, 02:11 AM   #5
Tacey
Newborn Pup
 
Tacey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: UK
Posts: 35
Default Re: vivarium?

Thanks everyone. So hopefully we'll be able to cut a lot of the top panel out and mesh it for a ventilation. Do you think the inside wood needs coating with anything? The other option I was thinking was to turn it on its side and take the glass doors out leaving it open topped? Although I would prefer to have a door really but cutting the wood could be difficult :S
Tacey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2016, 03:06 AM   #6
Pebbles82
Hamster Antics
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 23,533
Default Re: vivarium?

It looks good. Someone on here used to use vivariums a lot. Most people don't remove the top, they use a jigsaw (I think) to cut panels in the sides to put air vents in, so there is through ventilation from one side to the other. If you wanted more ventilation than that, then the back is probably easier to take off than the top, but you can get some quite large air vents a bit like this kind of thing I think

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Quality-Gri...ords=air+vents

Maybe not exactly the same as that, as that one has fly mesh inside (doesn't say if it's metal or nylon) which could be chewed - but something a bit like that.

One in each end (ie the sides). There should be a bit of through ventilation via the small gap in the glass doors as well, which would work with the side ventilation and the through air flow.

I wouldn't take the glass doors off and turn it on it's side because then you would need a mesh lid - can't really leave it open as hamsters are amazing escape artists and can scale walls and wheels lol or find a way up. I also think it's risky having them open in case something falls in.

But what you could do is, inside the glass doors, have a piece of plexiglass at lower level, say 20cm tall - this means you could have a good depth of substrate without it falling out when you open the doors. Sliding front doors are a big bonus! For acces, both for you and your hamster.

Some ventilation tips too - it's a Kallax/Expedit hack - turns a book case into a vivarium

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDx3EHIgNto

You already have the vivarium and glass doors so it's a good start! The only thing I was thinking - if it's at work has it been stored in a dry place? Although they say they're wood, it's usually wood veneer on chipboard or mdf, so if it's been damp it might not be so good an option. But if it's been stored somewhere dry then should be ok. It'll probably need disinfecting as well (sorry if that's stating the obvious!) especially if another creature has been living in it as hammies have a strong sense of smell. 50/50 white vinegar in warm water is a good disinfectant for inside on the melamine bits and glass doors and the smell wears off fairly quickly. On the wood outside, just soapy washing up liquid water is probably best or vinegar or other disinfectant smell could soak into the wood veneer and leave it smelling too strong.

I would check how big the gap between the sliding doors is though. Any bigger than 8mm and a dwarf could try and get through and get stuck, but usually the gap is quite small.

Below is a link to a diy project I saw on youtube that basically made a book-case into a vivarium like yours with sliding doors - to show what I meant about the plexiglass panel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPBIK73BeiY

The only thing I was wondering is if it has been stored somewhere dry? And it will need disinfecting (sorry if that's stating the obvious). The inside melamine and glass you could use 50/50 white vinegar and warm water which is a good disinfectant and the smell wears off after a few days of airing. On the outside wood though, any vinegar or other disinfectant could soak into the wood veneer and the smell stay there, so best to just use soapy washing up liquid water on the outside.
Pebbles82 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2016, 05:31 AM   #7
Tacey
Newborn Pup
 
Tacey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: UK
Posts: 35
Default Re: vivarium?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Serendipity7000 View Post
It looks good. Someone on here used to use vivariums a lot. Most people don't remove the top, they use a jigsaw (I think) to cut panels in the sides to put air vents in, so there is through ventilation from one side to the other. If you wanted more ventilation than that, then the back is probably easier to take off than the top, but you can get some quite large air vents a bit like this kind of thing I think

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Quality-Gri...ords=air+vents

Maybe not exactly the same as that, as that one has fly mesh inside (doesn't say if it's metal or nylon) which could be chewed - but something a bit like that.

One in each end (ie the sides). There should be a bit of through ventilation via the small gap in the glass doors as well, which would work with the side ventilation and the through air flow.

I wouldn't take the glass doors off and turn it on it's side because then you would need a mesh lid - can't really leave it open as hamsters are amazing escape artists and can scale walls and wheels lol or find a way up. I also think it's risky having them open in case something falls in.

But what you could do is, inside the glass doors, have a piece of plexiglass at lower level, say 20cm tall - this means you could have a good depth of substrate without it falling out when you open the doors. Sliding front doors are a big bonus! For acces, both for you and your hamster.

Some ventilation tips too - it's a Kallax/Expedit hack - turns a book case into a vivarium

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDx3EHIgNto

You already have the vivarium and glass doors so it's a good start! The only thing I was thinking - if it's at work has it been stored in a dry place? Although they say they're wood, it's usually wood veneer on chipboard or mdf, so if it's been damp it might not be so good an option. But if it's been stored somewhere dry then should be ok. It'll probably need disinfecting as well (sorry if that's stating the obvious!) especially if another creature has been living in it as hammies have a strong sense of smell. 50/50 white vinegar in warm water is a good disinfectant for inside on the melamine bits and glass doors and the smell wears off fairly quickly. On the wood outside, just soapy washing up liquid water is probably best or vinegar or other disinfectant smell could soak into the wood veneer and leave it smelling too strong.

I would check how big the gap between the sliding doors is though. Any bigger than 8mm and a dwarf could try and get through and get stuck, but usually the gap is quite small.

Below is a link to a diy project I saw on youtube that basically made a book-case into a vivarium like yours with sliding doors - to show what I meant about the plexiglass panel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPBIK73BeiY

The only thing I was wondering is if it has been stored somewhere dry? And it will need disinfecting (sorry if that's stating the obvious). The inside melamine and glass you could use 50/50 white vinegar and warm water which is a good disinfectant and the smell wears off after a few days of airing. On the outside wood though, any vinegar or other disinfectant could soak into the wood veneer and the smell stay there, so best to just use soapy washing up liquid water on the outside.
Thank you! This is all really helpful. I really like the idea of the side vents. I've no idea where it was stored prior to being here, it just turned up outside the shop one day. As far as I can see there's no sign of damp, but it does need a good clean inside.
Tacey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2016, 05:39 AM   #8
CMB
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Hertfordshire - UK
Posts: 3,190
Default Re: vivarium?

There should already be ventilation grids at the ends or in the back panel (possibly not visible in the photo. These could be made bigger. WireYou could have ventilation in the sides, back, top. A top door may be possible to. Shelves and ramps could be added using the solid wooden sides and back.

A lock would be wise as I'm sure a hamster would be able to push the sliding doors and escape. They sell locks for vivariums.

Plastikote the inside wood if required just in case of wee or drips from the water bottle.

If you want deeper substrate you may be able to remove the base glass and put a deeper piece in and adjust,cut the glass doors to fit again.

Last edited by CMB; 05-06-2016 at 06:02 AM.
CMB is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2016, 06:50 AM   #9
Tacey
Newborn Pup
 
Tacey's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: UK
Posts: 35
Default Re: vivarium?

Quote:
Originally Posted by CMB View Post
There should already be ventilation grids at the ends or in the back panel (possibly not visible in the photo. These could be made bigger. WireYou could have ventilation in the sides, back, top. A top door may be possible to. Shelves and ramps could be added using the solid wooden sides and back.

A lock would be wise as I'm sure a hamster would be able to push the sliding doors and escape. They sell locks for vivariums.

Plastikote the inside wood if required just in case of wee or drips from the water bottle.

If you want deeper substrate you may be able to remove the base glass and put a deeper piece in and adjust,cut the glass doors to fit again.
There are some ventilation grids but they're very very small. I think I may plastikote it.
Tacey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-06-2016, 08:27 AM   #10
CMB
PM Fluffy for custom title
 
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Hertfordshire - UK
Posts: 3,190
Default Re: vivarium?

I would add more ventilation or enlarge the ones already there. Wire would need adding with small enough holes to prevent escape.
CMB is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
advice, chinese, clue, picture, vivarium

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimisation provided by DragonByte SEO v2.0.43 (Pro) - vBulletin Mods & Addons Copyright © 2024 DragonByte Technologies Ltd.
Copyright © 2003-2022, Hobby Solutions
All times are GMT -7. The time now is 02:08 PM.