Questions about Alaska cage.

[SabreRose]

I seem to only be asking questions about cages lately :P

I’ve heard so much about how flimsy the Alaska cage (and some people saying it’s fine) and I’ve heard people say the gaps at the top could be an escape risk so I’m wondering if it would be strong enough to hold playpen grids cable tied over the gaps at the top?
Play pen grids like this Metal Run for Small Pets: Great Bargains on Runs and Fencing at zooplus.ie!
Because they are useless as a playpen and I’d like to put them to use (plus my diy skills are horrendous and I don’t want to attempt meshing it if I were to get it)
Would the Alaska be strong enough?
Also would the bars support a wheel and wooden platform attached?
I’ve heard a lot of mixed opinions and I really don’t want to waste my money if it’s as flimsy as some say.
Thanks.

[cypher]

The alaska isn't as sturdy as some other cages but it's not exactly flimsy.
The slightly larger gaps are just at the top corners & where the top joins the sides, it would probably be a bit difficult to attach a grid to cover those, I've kept Chinese in mine so I did put some cable ties through the larger gaps to fill them just in case but with a syrian I don't think the gaps would be large enough for an escape risk.
I attached quite a lot of ledges & various other things to mine so it was fairly heavy but the bars were fine, haven't tried attaching a wheel but it should be ok.

[flowerfairy]

I have kept a roborovski in mine. She was a baby when she moved in there and never made any attempt to escape.

I dont find mine to be flimsy. It folds up so when you want to clean it it is easier just to open the roof and or front door rather than taking the bars off, apart from that mine has been fine.

It has a nice deep base for substrate and I have fitted wooden shelves on with no problem at all, quite thick shelves too.

[GhostsInSnow]

It would definitely be strong enough to have the grids attached, they're strong enough to have another Alaska stacked on top of them so the grids wouldn't cause any issue really
I did keep a robo in my old one for a short while and he was absolutely fine in it. If you wanted to keep it really simple you could use just cable ties or bulldog clips to pull the bars together if they're a bit wide

[SabreRose]

Originally Posted by cypher

The alaska isn't as sturdy as some other cages but it's not exactly flimsy.
The slightly larger gaps are just at the top corners & where the top joins the sides, it would probably be a bit difficult to attach a grid to cover those, I've kept Chinese in mine so I did put some cable ties through the larger gaps to fill them just in case but with a syrian I don't think the gaps would be large enough for an escape risk.
I attached quite a lot of ledges & various other things to mine so it was fairly heavy but the bars were fine, haven't tried attaching a wheel but it should be ok.

Oh I never thought of just using cable ties to fill the gaps. Good idea. Thanks I think I’ll try that if I get one.

[SabreRose]

Originally Posted by flowerfairy

I have kept a roborovski in mine. She was a baby when she moved in there and never made any attempt to escape.

I dont find mine to be flimsy. It folds up so when you want to clean it it is easier just to open the roof and or front door rather than taking the bars off, apart from that mine has been fine.

It has a nice deep base for substrate and I have fitted wooden shelves on with no problem at all, quite thick shelves too.

Oh right. So when you take the bars off they don’t stay up like other cages?
Oh great. Thanks. I was afraid shelves might bend or break the bars so it’s so reassuring to hear someone who uses them.

[SabreRose]

Originally Posted by GhostsInSnow

It would definitely be strong enough to have the grids attached, they're strong enough to have another Alaska stacked on top of them so the grids wouldn't cause any issue really
I did keep a robo in my old one for a short while and he was absolutely fine in it. If you wanted to keep it really simple you could use just cable ties or bulldog clips to pull the bars together if they're a bit wide

Thanks. I think I’ll do that. I’m sure he’d be fine without it but I feel like I’d always have that little voice in the back of my head wondering if he’d managed to get out. Haha

[cypher]

When you assemble the alaska bars there are hook like bits that hold it together, if you tighten them slightly with some pliers or something they stay together fine so the top will lift off i& stay together like any other barred cage.

[flowerfairy]

What a good idea! Will have to try that.