DIY homemade cage attempt

[Artur26]

Originally Posted by Schwartzie

I find it very interesting that you use the correct terminology in asking if this floor space is appropriate then add you have no idea about floor space but you had the common sense to check it’s size so you weren’t totally in the dark. It’s controversial what you have done...you have created upset where it’s unnecessary.

I also find it strange that the cat has been placed in front of the cages in each picture.

My gut is telling me that this was posted to cause upset and anger. It’s too deliberate and my common sense is telling me that your motives for posting this thread wasn’t ignorance but something else.

Some months ago I was told the Ferplast was not ideal, I tried to improve my hamster's home, I wanted feeback from the "hamster experts", I posted here.. I didnt want to cause anger with to cat, the cat is a cat, cats are curious and he is often near the cage of the hamster, just there looking at the cage watching the hammy running around and playing on his wheel as if he was watching TV. I have 4 cats, 3 dogs, 2 turtles, 2 hamsters. The hammies can't be touched by any of my pets.

And Ive never seen them showing any distress behaviour, they are playful, come to my hand, climb on it, try to climb my arm, never bites or hisses (except if I disturb their deep sleep lol). The hamster in the ferplast usually just sits with his legs wide open, in his sandbath looking at the cat while gromming his fur or eating some brocolli. I couldnt keep my cat from being near the ferplast, I cant prevent him from sleeping on top of the Green Eco Living Habitat either. In the bookshelf even though the left cubicle is half opened he can't get inside or near it, it's not physically possible, specially if that chair is not standing near the bookshelf.

[Artur26]

I was told the minimum according to the " Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA): 'As large as possible'. No minimum given due to lack of evidence (used to be 70cm x 40cm)".

I tried to give more than the ferplast by connecting several cubicles and giving him 20cm depth of wood and paper substract for him to nest (which he does )

And now you say they need continuous unbroken when I thought that it wouldnt make a difference because their natural habitat is exactly some chambers (or cubicles) connect by tunnels.



Again, thanks for the feedback I will try to think of further improvement or other solutions

[stan]

Your large living world eco habitat is 118cm x 78cm, could you not find a secure way to split it into two? That would leave two cages 59cm x 78cm, which is a suitable floor area for a dwarf. For example using a large piece of wood that fills the space, screwing it into the centre. To ensure that the hamsters don't smell each other too much, you would want to seal around the wood with aquarium sealant.

[Shannonmcn]

Originally Posted by Artur26

I was told the minimum according to the " Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA): 'As large as possible'. No minimum given due to lack of evidence (used to be 70cm x 40cm)".

You're not going to get people to approve of this setup with a technicality.

The system of connected burrows in that picture is literally their bedroom, their nest. That's it. You're actually making the point that 20cm of substrate in a little cube to try and recreate that kind of network is woefully insufficient, which I don't think is the point you want to be making.

[alpacassei]

Originally Posted by Artur26

I was told the minimum according to the " Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA): 'As large as possible'. No minimum given due to lack of evidence (used to be 70cm x 40cm)".

I tried to give more than the ferplast by connecting several cubicles and giving him 20cm depth of wood and paper substract for him to nest (which he does )

And now you say they need continuous unbroken when I thought that it wouldnt make a difference because their natural habitat is exactly some chambers (or cubicles) connect by tunnels.



Again, thanks for the feedback I will try to think of further improvement or other solutions

Hamsters dont live in their burrows. At dawn they go out exploring and foraging upto 5 miles from their nests! All their burrow is is an elaborate nest. If you give a hamster enough space theyll actually build a large multi-chamber nest underneath their substrate.

[Artur26]

Does this look better? Connecting both like this?




Is this suitable?

Or do I need to get a 20$ bin 100x50cm and put it in my laundry room?

[mangoandmimi]

As stated multiple times - It is recommended that you have one continuous area of over 80x50cm preferably larger. So no that will not sort the issue. The current setup is not particularly safe so while you get a new cage sorted probably just use the barred cage alone. The bin sounds ok but make sure the interior dimensions are adequate and that you can sort ventilation out whilst allowing for deep bedding (6+ inches).

Don’t know what your laundry room is like but if it is vibrating from machines a lot and hot in there then it isn’t going to be ideal either unfortunately.

[Artur26]

Originally Posted by mangoandmimi

As stated multiple times - It is recommended that you have one continuous area of over 80x50cm preferably larger. So no that will not sort the issue. The current setup is not particularly safe so while you get a new cage sorted probably just use the barred cage alone. The bin sounds ok but make sure the interior dimensions are adequate and that you can sort ventilation out whilst allowing for deep bedding (6+ inches).

Don’t know what your laundry room is like but if it is vibrating from machines a lot and hot in there then it isn’t going to be ideal either unfortunately.

I found that "All hamster forums demand that cage space, which is measured by the area of the floor space, be continuous. (...) However, there is no evidence, other than maybe anecdotal, to support this rule." https://pethelpful.com/rodents/The-B...ster-Cage-Size

Nevertheless, the Ferplast has almost that "minimum recommended size" of continuous floor space. So that plus the bonus chambers should be perfect. Right?

https://imgur.com/gallery/fyPK6hW

[LunaTheHamster1]

Originally Posted by Artur26

I found that "All hamster forums demand that cage space, which is measured by the area of the floor space, be continuous. (...) However, there is no evidence, other than maybe anecdotal, to support this rule." https://pethelpful.com/rodents/The-B...ster-Cage-Size

Nevertheless, the Ferplast has almost that "minimum recommended size" of continuous floor space. So that plus the bonus chambers should be perfect. Right?

https://imgur.com/gallery/fyPK6hW

Victoria quotes the research in this video which may be helpful for you

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHbMa5KVkS8&t=2s

Also just because something is the minimum recommended it doesn't mean that is what you should settle for if you can provide more. Think of it as you living in the tinniest place possible for a human to survive, it doesn't mean you would like it or want to.

[Artur26]

https://imgur.com/gallery/4c17Sew