an idea to get all the small cages of the market

[Matty Day]

Right I had an idea why don’t we start a petition on the downing street website to have all new hamster cages which are smaller than a rody banned.
What do you think I would love to see all the horrible small cramped rotosatak and habitrail taken of the market. I wouldn’t mind it as long as the compartments were duna sized.

[I_am_plankton]

Because there is no law at the moment regarding small animal cages, there are recommendations, but no law. There won't be a law because of the sizes of the lab cages used in research and testing, and because most people see small cages as being fine to use. A petition would be pointless really, sad but true.

Also most people don't care about animals smaller than a rabbit.

[Bunsey]

sadly, plankton is right
i'd sign the petition anyway, but i agree that it'd do no good.

[BVMARK]

The NHC have recomended minimum cage sizes. Here is a paragraph from their web site.

"A useful cage, and one used by many breeders, is the type comprising a "cat litter" tray with a wire top clipped to it. The NHC recommends a minimum of 1000cm 2 (useable floor space) x 19cmH for Syrian hamsters and 750cm 2 (useable floor space) x 17cmH for Dwarfs. If you can afford a slightly bigger cage of the same type, perhaps with two or three levels, so much the better, but do ensure that the young hamster cannot fall the total height of the cage. A piece of cardboard slipped across any opening will help to prevent this. Hamsters love climbing and will get plenty of exercise in this type of cage."

[BVMARK]

Originally Posted by Matty Day

I would love to see all the horrible small cramped rotosatak and habitrail taken of the market. I wouldn’t mind it as long as the compartments were duna sized.

The thing is Matty, both Rotastak and Habitrail can be added to, where as a lot of cages and tanks can't. One compartment may be cramped, but when you add another ten for example, you have a lot more room than a Duna

[Bunsey]

how big is 1000cm squared in width and length measurements? A gabber is 75cm long.

I don't personally think the cages used by big breeders are large enough i'm affraid, but i can see the space problem.

[Matty Day]

well the nhc standards still too small me thinks i think 1500cm2 should be the minimuim at least.

the cages im realy talking about are the ludirously small modular ones were they dont even meet the nhc minmuim.

theese are but a few which are unfit for purpose me thinks

http://www.hamstercentral.com/forum/vie ... php?t=3917

http://www.hamstercentral.com/forum/vie ... php?t=3910

[Matty Day]

Originally Posted by BVMARK

The thing is Matty, both Rotastak and Habitrail can be added to, where as a lot of cages and tanks can't. One compartment may be cramped, but when you add another ten for example, you have a lot more room than a Duna

well the problem there is some one new to hamsters goes and buys a starter set and considers that adequate just as its on the market .by just making it law every hamster would have a reasonable sized cage.

[BVMARK]

Originally Posted by Matty Day

the cages im realy talking about are the ludirously small modular ones were they dont even meet the nhc minmuim.

theese are but a few which are unfit for purpose me thinks

http://www.hamstercentral.com/forum/vie ... php?t=3917

http://www.hamstercentral.com/forum/vie ... php?t=3910

The first link, I agree, is far too small, but it is also on an American website.
As for the second link for the nice pink thing :-&, there are plenty of activities for the hamster to do, and it can be added to.

[Bourne Valley Hams]

Originally Posted by Matty Day

well the nhc standards still too small me thinks i think 1500cm2 should be the minimuim at least.

The thing is the NHC has to be sensible about this. A lot of the big breeders will already have a large number of cages and to change them all at once to much larger cages would be financial prohibitive. Cage sizes were discussed at great length at the last NHC AGM and these MINIMUM cage sizes were felt to be a good compromise. Of course, anyone just starting out will probably look at larger cages, and as cages are replaced people should be encouraged to purchase larger ones, but provided the cages people are using are adequate - if not ideal - then the NHC cannot suddenly say those cages are too small and must be replaced instantly.