Suitable mesh?

Shadow Cat · 01-04-2020, 09:06 AM

Hi all

I'm looking to get a new hamster soon. The set up I have is a converted IKEA Samla bin cage. My last little hammy was a Syrian but he was tiny and kind of old when I got him, I felt he lived happily in the bin cage even though I know it isn't the biggest. But now I've been looking around for a new ham to adopt they're all twice the size he was so I've realised I will need something bigger.

I can't find any bigger storage tubs. I'd love an aquarium style tank but it's not affordable or practical. I've been looking at guinea pig and rabbit cages on Amazon and the floor space is perfect but reading reviews it seems the bars are too wide apart for hamsters and people report their pets escaping.

I wonder if anyone here has converted a cage such as this https://www.amazon.co.uk/AmazonBasic.../dp/B0756GBCJ1 for a Syrian hamster. I thought if I could somehow attach some mesh on the outside of the existing bars it would work. But then I worry they may be able to chew through it or hurt themselves if they tried.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

souffle · 01-04-2020, 09:16 AM

You can get cages at a similar cost that are spacious and already suitable for hamsters and do not need meshed. Take a look at the Barney and Alaska on sites like Zooplus. Meshing a cage is tricky and you would need to buy mesh to do for the same cost as one of these
https://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small...ategyid=103079
https://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small...r_cages/284288

Personally we like the Duna Multy maxi which is a tank type cage.

Shadow Cat · 01-04-2020, 09:24 AM

Thank you for replying so quickly!

I like the Duna multy too but it's £100 and I don't want to spend that much. The Alaska cage isn't that much bigger than the set up I have but the Barney one looks good.

It's been a long time since I've kept a hamster in a wire cage, the possibility of escape worries me, it's not something I had to think about with a bin cage. Is it very much different in terms of their behaviour?

Thanks for your help

LunaTheHamster1 · 01-04-2020, 09:26 AM

There is also this cage on sale at the moment. The wheel is not big enough for a Syrian so will need upgrading.

https://www.petsathome.com/shop/en/p...r-and-rat-cage

I know the occasional hamster will chew through these type of cages, but I think that is very rare.
Generally I would say these cages are a lot more secure than they used to be, especially as they are quite a big size compared to lots of inappropriate cages on the market.

When I started keeping hamsters again, all my friends were full of stories about their escaping hamsters, but I think that was possibly because they had them in too small/unsafe cages. Never had a problem with any of my hamsters escaping either the Alaska or Savic Plaza.

Shadow Cat · 01-04-2020, 09:38 AM

Thank you so much for all your help. One final question...

This is the wheel I have https://www.amazon.co.uk/Trixie-6101.../dp/B00365P9NY and from the photos it looks as though it will take up most of the space in the Barney cage or that pets at home one.

Do you think it will fit? Also, should you keep the ledges in the cages?

LunaTheHamster1 · 01-04-2020, 10:31 AM

That wheel will fit in alaska and the Savic PLaza so I am pretty sure it will fit in the barney too. you can take it off the stand and attach it to the bars.
It's down to personal taste and how you want to set up your cages as to whether you keep the ledges or not. I started off keeping mine, but soon resorted to wooden trixie ledges for a more natural look, and also so I had more flexibility about where to put things.