homes

BulletTheHamster · 05-05-2016, 11:44 AM

I have the crittertrail cages and they seem really small. :/ I dont have much money and i need to know where i can get a big cage for cheap. cause i also have to buy two

velma · 05-05-2016, 11:58 AM

If you're alright with a bit of DIY, then bin cages could be the way to go. You can a big plastic tub so you have the space for not much money, apart from that you just need some strong mesh, cable ties and something to cut the plastic with. There is a thread on the forum about how to make one.
Also, depending on what country you're in, oh can get some good deals online. Where are you?

AmityvilleHams · 05-05-2016, 12:00 PM

You should be able to make a bin cage very cheaply,or you can even buy Detolf's which are around 60 dollars each in the US(UK price is different but I can't get the symbol but it's 40 pound)and those are very long,just not too wide at all which is unfortunate.

DIY cages are definitely a lot cheaper than any storebought cage that is comparable in size for example you could buy a 100 gallon tank that's around 1,341.25 square inches or make a cage that is larger for a lot less money!A good thing about DIY cages is you could even get a large sheet of melamine and just reuse it for the bases of both cages,which is definitely good for saving money plus if you get large sheets of plexiglass/whatever it is called in the UK(I forgot)it is also easy to share materials that way and wire mesh is cheap too for lid making

I think a lot of people underestimate how inexpensive and easy it can be to make DIY cages,and since you have to make multiple the cost of tools isn't terrible.

BulletTheHamster · 05-05-2016, 12:10 PM

I made a bin cage with some stuff i had in the garage. Im in california. And with the bin cage I got cut by the wiring many times so right now my hands have tons of bloody cuts. i didnt want to put my hamster in there. then id have to make a second cause i have two syrian hamsters. I have a job so i can make money easily if i want to. But its almost the end of the school year so i have to study for tests

AmityvilleHams · 05-05-2016, 12:34 PM

You're probably not going to get many large cages that don't need some modification in the US,at least that's my experience. You can definitely modify furniture though or just build a DIY cage,which can be made just about any way you like.

**Cinnamon Bear** · 05-05-2016, 12:42 PM

I had my bin cage lids professionally made at a hardware store for less than $20 each. I won't likely be able to get anymore made though cause the stores don't find making bin cage lids profitable. So I have 2 really nice lids & one lid I had made a year ago is not a good of job compared to the 2 new ones.

But I can't complain, 3 lids work great for my current hamily.

Pebbles82 · 05-05-2016, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BulletTheHamster

I have the crittertrail cages and they seem really small. :/ I dont have much money and i need to know where i can get a big cage for cheap. cause i also have to buy two

The crittertrails are really small. I reckon your cheapest option, if you're not up for bin cages, is to get a detolf and partition it down the middle to make two cages. You'd then have two 80cm x 42cm cages approx, which is about the minimum size for a hamster. Making the lids for the detolf is much easier than meshing a bin cage. You can get the mesh cut to size at the hardware store. Although I would hate to mesh anything as well and am not keen on diy!

So if diy is out, and meshing, then you'll need a couple of tanks or cages. You could look on ebay to see if anyone is selling a second hand fish tank cheap. Cages are around $100.

This is the dollar a gallon sale at petco - looks like it ends on Saturday!

But means you could get a 40 gallon tank for $40

http://www.petco.com/shop/PetcoNoLef...er-gallon.html

You'd need to buy Zilla mesh lids though if you don't want to make one. Which adds another $22.

Amazon.com : Zilla Reptile Terrarium Covers Fresh Air Screen, 36x18-inch : Pet Habitat Screen Covers : Pet Supplies

Do have dwarf hamsters or Syrians?

oddlyoblivious · 05-05-2016, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BulletTheHamster

I made a bin cage with some stuff i had in the garage. Im in california. And with the bin cage I got cut by the wiring many times so right now my hands have tons of bloody cuts. i didnt want to put my hamster in there. then id have to make a second cause i have two syrian hamsters. I have a job so i can make money easily if i want to. But its almost the end of the school year so i have to study for tests

Non toxic hot glue, or aquarium grade sealant (Must be 100% silicone) works as a nice protective barrier if you have the mesh inside the cage, If you do silicone do it in a well ventilated area and give it several days to cure completely before introducing the hams. If they are chewers this could cause problems but hot glue is my go to. Hope that helps.