Holes in bin cage not mesh and correct size

Schwartzie · 06-04-2019, 06:06 AM

Hi everyone,

I have a bin that is almost the correct size 60cmx48cm - would this be ok for a bin cage?

We have two cats and with the limited research I have done - I have only re-embarked on researching owning a hamster recently so am getting going - I am going with a bin cage. With us having cats I am not keen on any mesh in case the cat uses the small spaces as a way of traumatising the hamster. Is it ok to drill lots - stacks - of holes in the lid and the top section of the sides of the bin cage instead of using mesh?

alpacassei · 06-04-2019, 07:12 AM

60x48cm is very small. It might just about be okay for a male Russian dwarf or chinese hamster but it depends very much on the individual hasmter tbh and most would need upgrading. Maybe as a starter cage for a robo. It’s far too small for a Syrian though.

In theory drilling holes is okay but the ventilation isnt as good as with meshing. I wouldnt drill holes into the sides though in case your hamster chewed its way out.

Shannonmcn · 06-04-2019, 07:14 AM

I would say no. I have an 80x50cm bin and it really is quite small, I have a baby hybrid in it right now but I don't think he will be in there permanently. Your bin is a full 25% smaller than that.

Some people say drilled holes are fine. I personally disagree, especially since I spotted in your other post that you're located in Saudi Arabia. I don't know what your air conditioning is like but keeping a plastic bin cool enough is something I worry about in drizzly old Northern Ireland and I have a meshed lid. By the time you got enough holes in the lid drilled there'd be no lid left.

Hams can also use the drilled holes to start chewing the plastic and eventually escape. With cats about that is going to be your absolute number one concern I think. Cats should ideally not be allowed into the room where the hamster is. Even if they can't get a paw through into the cage to do physical damage they can still absolutely terrorise the hamster. I haven't had cats and rodents co-existing myself so hopefully someone with more experience can help you more with this part.

You say you've only just started researching (which is excellent, and you've come to the right place!) so I think we can probably do better than Plan A here

Schwartzie · 06-04-2019, 07:44 AM

Thank you to both of you for your feedback. I was basing the size on what I read up on the internet. Gaging from your sizes the average size of 450 inches that they give on the internet is then not big enough?

Drilling holes as you say wont be a good idea - giggle! Totally get where you are coming from in terms of drilling so many holes there wont be a lid left. We have our aircon on between 23 and 24 degrees - will that be ok?

I read in one of the threads on this forum that the biggest bin from IKEA which comes from the SAMLA bin range is ok. The dimensions are 78cmx56cmx43cm - this then would be too small?

What is the minimum size that can be used for a syrian and dwarf hamster? If you used levels would that not double the floor space that the hamster can move around in?

Thank you for your input - really appreciate it.

alpacassei · 06-04-2019, 08:12 AM

The general recommended minimum is 70x40cm for a russian dwarf or Chinese, 80x50cm for a male syrian or robo, and 100x50cm for a female Syrian. The largest Samla bin is okay for a Russian if you mesh the lid. There are also larger DIY cages you can make out of IKEA furniture such as the Linnmon cage or the Detolf hack.

Unfortunately platforms do not count towards overall floor space but I do like to add them to my cages as an extra space for my hammies to explore.

I have a cat as well as 7 hamsters and while she has never shown interest in the hamsters and my hamsters arent stressed out by her presence, I don’t feel comfortable leaving her in a room alone with the hamsters as she still has the instincts to hunt.

Schwartzie · 06-04-2019, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alpacassei

The general recommended minimum is 70x40cm for a russian dwarf or Chinese, 80x50cm for a male syrian or robo, and 100x50cm for a female Syrian. The largest Samla bin is okay for a Russian if you mesh the lid. There are also larger DIY cages you can make out of IKEA furniture such as the Linnmon cage or the Detolf hack.

Unfortunately platforms do not count towards overall floor space but I do like to add them to my cages as an extra space for my hammies to explore.

I have a cat as well as 7 hamsters and while she has never shown interest in the hamsters and my hamsters arent stressed out by her presence, I don’t feel comfortable leaving her in a room alone with the hamsters as she still has the instincts to hunt.

Thanks so much for the dimensions. We live in a small villa and space is limited. Would it be ok if I used my original bin of 59cmx48cm and then placed another one on top of it with a tube between the two? I will also be able to get it out of the way of the cats if it takes up that space.

I will then place mesh on the one side with the tubes connecting or is it better to connect the two bins from the ceiling and floor?

Pebbles82 · 06-04-2019, 12:40 PM

It’s the floorspace that counts unfortunately so continuous floorspace. Also they do much better with one larger cage than two joined together, even if one of those is 80 x 50. Do you know if you want a dwarf hamster or a Syrian Hamster?

Syrian hamsters do tend to need a lot more space due to the size of their things and wheels. Dwarf hamsters can be fine in a 79 x 40 cage but most people go bigger than that.

There is a very good tank style cage good for a dwarf hamster that isn’t too expensive. Solid sided and narrow bars on top. Any cage will need good ventilation so grid or mesh. Main thing would be to keep the hamster on another room and keep the cars out.

This is the Dina multi. The actual footprint is probably more like 60 x 40 due to the sloping sides so it would fit on a small table with some overhang, but is has good floorspace inside for the hamster once you have say 4” deep substrate in there.

Will post the link separately as on my phone.

Pebbles82 · 06-04-2019, 12:42 PM

https://www.portonaquapet.co.uk/shop...a-Multy-M36261

Schwartzie · 06-04-2019, 11:12 PM

Thanks so much! We want to get a Syrian so will look for space that will accommodate 100cmx50cm. If we can't make space will go for a dwarf. What size are your cages?