Is a regular aquarium lid not suitable for a hamster tank?

[kuba]

I have a 95cm long and 45cm wide aquarium for my dwarf and I've kept the lid off for the first two weeks of my hamster's arrival but I need a suitable lid as I'm gonna start letting the cats in while supervised so is the lid that came with the aquarium suitable? Or should I make my own? (And how?) Thanks.

[NiceCrocs]

The regular lid should be fine for keeping the cats out, but you hamster may be able to lift it if they can get to it, so if your hamsters have any tall toys you may want to take that into account.

Most pet stores sell clamps made especially for those lids, if you're not comfortable with leaving the lid on its own

[kuba]

Thanks! Is the ventilation from the tank lid ok though? It's pretty much solid plastic with a flap which can be lifted..

[NiceCrocs]

Ohh I'm sorry, I thought you meant the mesh ones! The solid ones definitely do not have enough ventilation; they're purposely designed to keep heat and moisture INSIDE the tank, which is beneficial to reptiles and such, but bad for hammys

[kuba]

Glad to know! Do you know anywhere I could find a mesh one, or should I construct one myself? Thanks so much for replying!

[NiceCrocs]

Any store that sells aquariums should sell the mesh lids as well and you can get the clamps I mentioned there too

[Hekomi]

I find mine in our petsmart, and the clamps as well.