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Old 04-17-2017, 05:40 AM   #11
DennisJones
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Default Re: Dennis-Sama's Habitat, A work in progress.

Thank you all for your feedback and comments so far, it really is inspiring to know I am doing good for Dennis-Sama whilst getting the enjoyment myself!

Quote:
Originally Posted by JLPrairie View Post
Wow! I'd never be able to be that skilled.
Thanks for the last part! I've been trying to figure out a way to make Titania 's wheel stand up after I finish making my own cage.
No problem! Hamster owning has given me a completely different view on Ikea. Not that I needed one as 90% of our house furnishings is Ikea!

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Originally Posted by cypher View Post
Looks really good! Dennis is one lucky little man

If you want to paint any of it to waterproof/pee proof it you can use Plastikote water based enamel paints or cuprinol garden shades both of which are safe.
Thanks! I was looking at doing this and would probably go the way of a water based enamel. I will do this when I fit his perspex window and empty it out.

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Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams View Post
Pine is fine as long as it is untreated.It isn't the best substrate(some will disagree with me on that and say kiln dried pine shavings are perfectly fine,although that is debatable)but as a material to make toys and enclosures out of it isn't harmful.
I am using Aspen substrate at the moment.

Quote:
Quote:
Originally Posted by AprilPearl View Post
Wow, it looks awesome. Personally, I'd be wary of pine wood because my friend's hamster died after they let it gnaw a pine cone. However, the cone could be completely different to the wood and they never did discover if the pine cone gnawing was the cause of death, or just coincidentally occurred prior to the death.
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Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams View Post
I think the issues with pinecones may be that they came from unsafe sources(usually outdoors or otherwise bringing in deadly pesticides and such)although in general safely sourced ones don't tend to be harmful.
I looked into it doing a quick google search and have found that pinecones are generally safe, the toxic parts of a pine tree are its sap and needles which can find their way onto pinecones. which can cause issues with Dogs and Cats so its safe to assume it would be the same with small pets too.
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/anima...nts/house-pine
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Old 04-17-2017, 10:54 PM   #12
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Default Re: Dennis-Sama's Habitat, A work in progress.

Quote:
Originally Posted by DennisJones View Post
I looked into it doing a quick google search and have found that pinecones are generally safe, the toxic parts of a pine tree are its sap and needles which can find their way onto pinecones. which can cause issues with Dogs and Cats so its safe to assume it would be the same with small pets too.
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/anima...nts/house-pine
Interesting. Sounds as though you are being very responsible and doing thorough research. Denis-Sama is going to love you for all your hard work!

Edit: auto-correct wanted your hamster to be called Denis-SAMOA lol.
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Old 04-17-2017, 10:57 PM   #13
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Default Re: Dennis-Sama's Habitat, A work in progress.

Almost all my hams have had pinecones at some point & they're fine, I do buy the ones sold for hamsters though, I'd be very wary of anything collected from outside.
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Old 04-18-2017, 04:14 AM   #14
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Default Re: Dennis-Sama's Habitat, A work in progress.

Ok, quick update on Dennis-Sama`s habitat.

I have completed(ish)* the lid by putting metal braces on the inside as it was a bit wobbly, stapled some mesh to the hole (the sharp ends sit on top of the walls so he cant get to them) and put hinges along the back.





Sadly, these materials I had to buy as I had run out of metal braces, and the hinges I had in my box were too big. The mesh I also bought.

Total cost of the build so far is £10.51.

Next stage is to replace this wall with perspex so we can see inside his habitat from the side. I have ordered 2 A3 sheets of 3mm Perspex and will cement these together along the shortest edge. This will be exactly long enough to cover that wall. I will then drill holes along the outside and then screw this to the wall with some wooden bead on the outside, in a sandwich fashion as described in the sketch below.





I will probably make that shelf narrower too as he literally spends his whole time under there and rarely uses the upper level except to get food. Hopefully this will entice him out to use the rest of his habitat.

*I also want to put a retaining chain on the lid so it is held open when tilted back past 90 degrees, or maybe a prop like you get on a car bonnet, but that could e knocked bringing the lid crashing down.....

Thoughts?
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Last edited by DennisJones; 04-18-2017 at 06:04 AM. Reason: Typo`s etc...
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Old 04-18-2017, 07:14 AM   #15
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Default Re: Dennis-Sama's Habitat, A work in progress.

WOW! Dennis-sama new cage looks wonderful! I wish I was so handy!!
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Old 04-18-2017, 07:58 AM   #16
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Default Re: Dennis-Sama's Habitat, A work in progress.

It just keeps getting better! Really does look great & I like your ideas for things still to do.
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Old 04-18-2017, 08:55 AM   #17
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Default Re: Dennis-Sama's Habitat, A work in progress.

It's looking great
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Old 04-19-2017, 04:45 AM   #18
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Default Re: Dennis-Sama's Habitat, A work in progress.

Wow Dennis-Sama new home looks amazing - he is a lucky hamster!
His cage is coming on really well - I'm so looking forward to seeing it when it finished!
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Old 04-20-2017, 04:19 AM   #19
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Default Re: Dennis-Sama's Habitat, A work in progress.

That's impressive! I can't wait to see it finished.
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Old 04-21-2017, 02:50 AM   #20
DennisJones
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Default Re: Dennis-Sama's Habitat, A work in progress.

The perspex and adhesive arrived yesterday! So began the next build part of Dennis-Sama`s home

First job was to put Dennis-Sama in his old home, the Pets at Home small cage And as usual, he never left his tube for the time he was in there! I then emptied out all his substrate out, knocked the walls off with a hammer and gave it a good clean out.

First order of the day was to cut 3mm of perspex off the top as it was just a little bit too tall. To do this i clamped it between two sheets of plastic tostop it chattering when I cut it with a jigsaw with a metal blade (this required a special visit to B&Q).

With the perspex, glued together and resting on a plank to set I set about measuring, cutting and sanding the wood that would sandwich the perspex between the main box.

Once this was complete and the perspex cement set, I placed the sheet on top and then realised the top would need a brace too. This would prevent the two sheets from coming apart creating a gap, stop the lid from bashing against the perspex and possibly chipping it, and finally stop it from bending when leaning over.

I cut down the corner support posts to allow a wooden plank to sit across the top, cut a piece of baton to sandwich the perspex again and then it was ready for screwing in.

To do this I fitted a wood drill bit and drilled straight through the wood into the perspex, then replaced that with a metal bit to cut through to the wood underneath. After all the holes were complete I peeled the protective film off and screwed it all into place.

That was it for the window, all nice and see through

Next on the agenda was the platform, I cut it down to make it smaller, but instead of just having just the one I made 2 smaller ones and retained the stairs. The one against the window is removable so we can access the underneath to clean it as this is where I identified his potty area. The left side is sandwiched tightly between two support batons and the post is large and screwed to the platform itself.

I refilled the substrate, placed his toys and wheel in a similar place to last time and put his bedding back in the same corner i found it. I also placed his potty dish in the same spot I assumed he was peeing in (although there seemed to be poop in his home?)

This part of the build easily took the longest in just over 4 hrs, but that`s it complete (for now) but structurally I am happy. We have a window into his hidey hole which he seems happy with and we can now see hims snooze which is soooooo cute!

He did try and dig a hole through the perspex for a few mins which I could have imagined was really confusing for him but other than that he seems to be settling really quickly

Next on the agenda is TOYS! I want to hang a rope bridge of some sort off the cage ceiling between the two platforms and maybe to the roof of his cardboard fort.





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