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Old 04-02-2017, 03:01 PM   #1
MeganAndMisty
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Default Is this cage suitable? Best way to mesh it?

Hello everyone, how are you today? I have this cage Ferplast 120 Rabbit Cage – Next Day Delivery Ferplast 120 Rabbit Cage in my shed and I was wondering if I could use it for a Syrian hamster?
Dimensions
Width (cm): 120
Depth (cm): 58.5
Height (cm): 51.5

If so what would be the best way to mesh a whole cage? Does anyone have cages like this or similar that they can show me pictures of? Thanks!
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Old 04-02-2017, 03:29 PM   #2
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Default Re: Is this cage suitable? Best way to mesh it?

I wouldn't say it's that good on its own for a Syrian,but you could certainly remove a panel from that cage and another similar sized cage(or even an 80 cm x 50 cm cage)and zip tie both together.Having it already you could keep the cost pretty low,which is wonderful!

As for meshing,you just sort of wrap the whole cage in mesh or you could cut panels of mesh to the size of the sides(leaving one panel uncoated,just remove that panel and as mentioned connect directly to another cage removing a panel from that one as well)but regardless of which version of mesh attachment you do just make sure that the edges are sanded smooth to prevent injury,and connect them to the cage with zip ties.
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Old 04-02-2017, 03:56 PM   #3
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Default Re: Is this cage suitable? Best way to mesh it?

I'm not sure how to mesh a cage but it's definitely big enough if you can do it
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Old 04-02-2017, 05:03 PM   #4
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Default Re: Is this cage suitable? Best way to mesh it?

If you can mesh it, it would make an amazing cage for a hamster. I use it as a travel cage for my piggies and it is excellent quality. You will need to be careful with setting up the height aspect, so completely filling the tray with bedding and potentially adding shelves. Kiln-dried pine is safest for building shelves.

Make sure to buy it off Zooplus when it's in the sale as I managed to get mine for £44.99, about half of what Pets At Home sell it for.

I would be inclined to cut panels to put over the wire bars and finding some way to attach over the bars, maybe duct tape or cable ties, but safer alternatives. The focus would be on keeping the edges smooth, so you would need to file them, or cut it very close to the squares, so there's nothing to catch it on. Hope that makes sense.
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Old 04-02-2017, 05:08 PM   #5
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Default Re: Is this cage suitable? Best way to mesh it?

Duct tape would not be safe and really shouldn't be used,while cable ties/zip ties are fine in most cases

Since the OP already has the cage buying it isn't applicable,meanwhile I will say a simple purchase of an Alaska to extend(remove panel as mentioned previously)would be a great idea and would make it much more suitable than just the cage on its own as it isn't that great of a cage size on its own for a Syrian.

The only cost to modify it would be the Alaska,the cost of mesh(required regardless),zip ties(again,no matter what they're necessary,so the Alaska isn't adding anything but the initial cost it has),and wire cutters(which can be used to cut the mesh as well as modify the Alaska and the cage itself to make the absolute best modification rather than merely meshing alone).It really isn't that bad,considering the floor space that would be achieved and the minimal cost since one cage is already just lying around!
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Old 04-03-2017, 01:00 AM   #6
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Default Re: Is this cage suitable? Best way to mesh it?

The floor space of that cage is more than enough to begin with (and probably simply more than enough for most hams).

I'll follow chesca advice about paying special attention to heights.

I've never meshed a cage myself, I think that people suggest trying to do it from the inside with zip ties, but I should try to confirm that. To smooth the edges I would use an industrial file, they're not expensive and they make wonders (I used them a lot with DIY projects as ladders, shelves, etc)
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Old 04-03-2017, 01:19 AM   #7
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Default Re: Is this cage suitable? Best way to mesh it?

I wouldn't say that.It meets human standards,but there are plenty hamsters who would certainly not be happy in such a cage,so it can't be considered "more than enough" in so many cases.Honestly if it were any other species I'd find it suitable,but with Syrians it isn't that good.
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Old 04-03-2017, 01:48 AM   #8
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Default Re: Is this cage suitable? Best way to mesh it?

Quote:
Originally Posted by AmityvilleHams View Post
I wouldn't say that.It meets human standards,but there are plenty hamsters who would certainly not be happy in such a cage,so it can't be considered "more than enough" in so many cases.Honestly if it were any other species I'd find it suitable,but with Syrians it isn't that good.
I don't want to argue with you. She's asking if she could use it and I really think that she could.

You always jump to discourage other people's cages, and for you they never seem enough. I agree with you that USUALLY (not always) the bigger the better, but that doesn't mean that a syrian hamster couldn't leave happy in a 120x60 cm cage. Actually, I've been in this forum for more than 6 months, and that's not a long long time, but it's not short either, and in all this time I could count with the fingers of one hand the hams that had problems with a cage of those measurements. And to be honest, I think that it's not fair that you're always doing this when someone asks for cage advice, because as far as I know (maybe I'm wrong, if so I'm sorry) your syrian cage is even smaller.

I know that you mean well, but what's really important is to try to provide them the best we can, and I don't think that a 120x60 it's bad to begin with. Time will tell if she needs more or not, and as long as she's willing to try to improve if needed, yes, I think that's enough.

And finally, think that with that kind of behaviour you're probably discouraging potentially good caring owners from getting a ham, that could end up in a not so concerned home with a REALLY small cage like the ones that usually are sold in pet stores.

Maybe I'm wrong, my opinion it isn't better that others, but to resume, I'll give it a try.
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Old 04-03-2017, 02:18 AM   #9
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Default Re: Is this cage suitable? Best way to mesh it?

Oooo good luck with meshing. I found it VERY painful!

The cage size sounds brilliant. Bigger than any of mine have. Most of my syrians have 100 x 50cm cages (one has 115 x 50) and the robos have around 80 x 50.

Mesh panels are easier to deal with than just rolls of it that you cut bits off. I have seen metal cable ties which would be good. Hope it goes well. Always good to reuse when you can.
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Old 04-03-2017, 02:21 AM   #10
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Default Re: Is this cage suitable? Best way to mesh it?

And that is an entirely separate issue As for my hamster's cage size,that's an extremely complicated situation that is in fact being resolved(she should be in a cage over a square meter in a matter of days if not today).But would she have stayed if I'd gotten the supplies together sooner,or not gotten injured several times over and had to deal with a massive amount of personal problems as of late?Definitely not.

Perhaps if she's willing to improve it could work,but I think the main issue is that sometimes people just aren't willing to do so or in other cases just because a cage meets some minimum they refuse to believe it could be unsuitable for their hamster I'm not saying everyone is like that,but it unfortunately happens.

Maybe I say things that get misinterpreted or could come across as rude,but that's not the intent.There's not really much to say with that subject,other than it always comes from a passionate and caring place that wants the absolute best for animals.
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