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08-02-2005, 02:46 PM
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#1
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Newborn Pup
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Somerset, UK
Posts: 6
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Escape-proof hamster cage suggestions needed!
My housemate has just seen my hamster, Noodle, running across the living room floor and we captured her in a cupboard. I'm so glad she was seen or I would never have found her. She is now safe in a carry case for tonight.
Now I need to buy a new cage, as fast as possible! She was in a tank, with a mesh lid. I have no idea how she got out, it is a fair jump to the lid and the lid has fairly small squares of mesh. Perhaps it was not tight enough around the tank. My previous hammies never got out, and they had shelves making it dead easy to reach the lid.
Anyway, my DIY skills are not up to making any better kind of lid, so I am going to have to buy something. I don't want a solid aquarium-type lid as there would be no ventilation, so I'm looking at buying a barred cage. I'm pretty sure she would chew out of a plastic base, so, I'm thinking a Critter cage. How escape proof are these for hamsters? She is a tiny Syrian *goes to weigh her* at only 80g. She was an RSPCA hamster but hasn't grown since I've had her.
Help!
Thanks,
Alison
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08-02-2005, 02:54 PM
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#2
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Former Admin
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Connecticut USA
Posts: 2,590
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Hams can be quite the escape artists! I had a friend who had one and use to escape with no visible signs of how! We use to stand around dumbfounded trying to figure out how lol,
Im not sure what a Critter cage looks like? I did a google image search but it was unclear. I dont really like or recommend bard cages because there are so many negatives to them.. bar chewing, drafts, sawdust on the floor, I find they are often shaped funny and dont have enough space.
I was going to recommend making a bin cage but if your DIY skill cant make a new lid for a tank then I dont know how you would make a bin cage. They are though, in my opinion, far superior to any other cage :P
I suggest you weight the top of the mesh lid down with something to heavy for the ham to move it. Make sure that it reaches to the edges of the side of the tank though so it doesnt drop through the wire. Lifting and pushing up the tank lid was the only way for escape, so a weight should stop this... and you would be surprised how high a hamster can jump when it wants to :P
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08-02-2005, 02:55 PM
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#3
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Retired Moderators
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Scotland UK
Posts: 3,393
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Hello Alison and naughty Noodles Can you put a book on the lid for the night or until you organise a new cage - I would go with a Ferplast Rainbow if you can find one - whatever you find in the stores try to get the biggest possible. Crittertrail cages with lots of plastic and a Petting Zone on the top get such bad press. They are not designed with Syrians in mind and I had a horribly expensive incident recently to deal with - a baby Syrian was brought to me as a rescue as the Petting Zone hd dropped on her head cutting her nose very badly - she has been rehomed with a lovely lady in Glasgow and hopefully with time the hair will grow back - she has a cute bald patch currently Vet bill was awful but it was out of hours typically If you can get her secure for a few days maybe check out eBay I know they have an Imac on there just now and many Syrian owners love these, especially as you can buy extra floors as finances permit.
Check out the Which cage do you prefer? thread we had recently for more ideas/information.
Good on you for rescuing Noodles we need more people like you :P
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08-02-2005, 03:39 PM
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#4
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Newborn Pup
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Somerset, UK
Posts: 6
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Hi thanks for the quick replies!
There are some Critter pics here if that helps:
http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk/community/v ... p?p=198678
The basic floor shape remains the same, the number e.g. Critter 2 denotes the height (i.e. the number of levels).
Her current tank is 4 foot long, I don't think I have anything I could weigh down the whole lid with. I will leave her in the carrier tonight and try a bodge job in the morning I think. I also don't want her new cage to be anything smaller than what she's used to.
I would definitely steer clear of any plastic modular homes. My dwarf hams used to have a Rotastack city which they loved, but I'd never use that for Syrians.
By the way, is 80g ridicuously tiny for a Syrian, or am I just too used to chunky rats now?
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08-03-2005, 08:08 AM
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#5
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Hamster Pup
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Falkirk, Central Scotland
Posts: 69
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Hiya Furryfeet,
furryfeet from fancy rats??
I have my syrian in a critter 1 with a ferplast shelf and I find it really secure and the whole lid opening is brilliant for access.
I will post piccies when I get my camera working again.
I am planning to either buy a critter 2 for her or mke a connecting tunnel onto my other critter 1 for more space but at the moment she loves it. It has loads of floor space for her to explore and she can climb about without too high a drop if she lets go.
I love it.
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08-03-2005, 08:11 AM
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#6
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Hamster Pup
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Falkirk, Central Scotland
Posts: 69
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He he, just had a look at your profile and it is!!
**Waves**Hi Alison!
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08-03-2005, 02:27 PM
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#7
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Newborn Pup
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Somerset, UK
Posts: 6
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Hi Emma, yes it is me!
Noodle is now safely caged up in a borrowed Critter 1, all metal, so she cannot chew out, and all clips firmly clipped! I fell so guilty though, she's got so much less space than she's used to (floor in this one is 70 x 44 cm). I need to get her something bigger asap.
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08-03-2005, 03:09 PM
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#8
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Newborn Pup
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Somerset, UK
Posts: 6
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Here is Noodle's temporary house:
Poor girl, she's in a real sulk. All her things have MOVED. Her floor smells ALL WRONG. The stash has GONE. And she's NOT speaking to me!
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08-07-2005, 10:27 PM
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#9
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Newborn Pup
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 19
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*waves at the other Fancy Rats members* just found this place! I thought the Internet was meant to be huge, how come I've come across you two in two different places?
Furrynavel, someone on Fancy Rats put a Critter 1 on top of a Critter 3, you could probably put your Critter 1 on top of a Critter 1, just get some pliers on those ring things that attach the ceiling, only trouble would be access =/ could make a door! Two Critters side by side would take up more floor space thats all.
I never even thought to move my hammy into my spare Critter 2, shes happy enough where she is I think. Have a look on ebay Furryfeet, theres always cages on there. I'm thinking of buying a second cage and attaching them together as my hamster cage is tall rather than wide.
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08-08-2005, 12:48 AM
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#10
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Hamster Pup
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Falkirk, Central Scotland
Posts: 69
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Quote:
Originally Posted by neeshkabeesh
Furrynavel, someone on Fancy Rats put a Critter 1 on top of a Critter 3, you could probably put your Critter 1 on top of a Critter 1, just get some pliers on those ring things that attach the ceiling, only trouble would be access =/ could make a door! Two Critters side by side would take up more floor space thats all.
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*waves back*Hello neeshkabeesh!
I would rather them side by side because I don't have any critter flooring (the level seperators) and I would be scared she would have to far to fall as she is a bit of a thrill seeker and likes to let go half way accross the roof!
I have put a flat roof on my big Magnolia aviary that the ratties are in so I can put it up there so no lost floor space
I have an injured crow in my other critter 1, so I am just waiting for him/her? to get better. He/she had been hit by a car and he/she is nearly all better and scoffing down all the cat food and mealworms :P
So when the crow has flown the nest so to speak, Mimosa will have double the space!!
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