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Old 07-23-2020, 06:46 PM   #1
Aituok
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Join Date: Jul 2020
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Question Is this DIY cage safe for a Syrian hamster?

Hello everyone. First thing to know about me is that I am a minimum wage worker and unfortunately don't have a lot of spare money. I am about to get my first ever Syrian hamster because a friend's hamster has just given birth, and they don't want the babies.
I want this hamster to be happy and well looked after, and I am willing to put in all the work.

I have done a decent amount of research into Syrian hamsters and their care. I know the minimum recommended size, their diet, their minimum bedding,
After plenty of research I was determined to get a nice enclosure for my future furry hamster.

I purchased a decent sized, deep bookshelf. It is wooden with a nice plastic coating giving it waterproof qualities.
I plan on adding a glass/acrylic window on two of the three sections that can be removed, and adding huge holes to the sides of the bookshelf with large mesh over it to create vents. The lower and higher level can be reached by a slanted tunnel to climb in
The lower level will have plenty of room for the hamster to make its bedding.
Up to the left in the middle section is a classic hamster cage attached to the bookcase in case the hamster wishes to leave the bookcase and it would provide more room for the hamster. The cage will be sealed, made sure everything is sanded and unable to cut the hamster, and out of direct sunlight.

My question is, is this safe for my Syrian hamster? Does this design idea I have provide enough air, room, etc? I've been told I should just buy a large hamster cage, but those are expensive and I am (as mentioned before) a minimum wage worker. Is this cage a good idea? I will be getting expert help from someone who does DIY often, but I just want to know if what I am planning will be suitable?
The drawing is not to scale, and the props inside are just examples of ideas for each section. I am absolutely open to suggestions!
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Old 07-25-2020, 04:14 AM   #2
Maker
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Default Re: Is this DIY cage safe for a Syrian hamster?

Do you have all the materials already? As a Alaska cage from zooplus is £33, but i can't help but think all the materials for your setup will come to more than this, mesh is expensive. Also if you can think about putting aside a little money each pay day so you can have maybe £50 saved incase you ever need to visit a vet.
I'm sure there will be others that will be able to give their advice about the setup.
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Old 07-25-2020, 04:35 AM   #3
LunaTheHamster1
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Default Re: Is this DIY cage safe for a Syrian hamster?

It depends, how big is each shelf and the hamster cage you are attaching to the side?
Also, I would be adding ventilation along the front as well.
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Old 07-25-2020, 06:17 AM   #4
Ria P
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Default Re: Is this DIY cage safe for a Syrian hamster?

I agree with Maker. It's probably cheaper to buy the Alaska from Zooplus and then you know that you have a decent sized, well ventilated cage. You'd need to buy a 28cm wheel anyway and a big bottomless house you can make from a shoe box. Add things like bendy bridges and hides big enough for a growing Syrian plus DIY materials and the cost will soon add up. I know because i make bin cages.
You could also check the small ads like Gumtree for a good second hand cage in the right size.
What concerns me about your bookcase design is the fact that it could get quite hot and stuffy in there in the summer. I'd make meshed front panel doors instead of using glass or acrylic but that's providing the bookcase is big enough in the first place.
You can improvise a lot with home made toys and furnishings until you get things as and when you can. Pringle tubes make great tunnels for a Syrian, cardboard boxes with holes cut in make great hides. One of my dwarfs favourite hide is an oilburner from the poundshop. Having a hamster adds a new dimension to shopping because there's a lot of inexpensive stuff you can use.
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Old 07-25-2020, 11:57 PM   #5
cypher
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Default Re: Is this DIY cage safe for a Syrian hamster?

I would be very wary of using anything like this when you don’t know what wood or glue has been used & the plastic coating could be a problem if chewed.
As the others have said diy cages don’t really work out that cheap & you would probably do better to get the Alaska.
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Old 07-26-2020, 02:56 AM   #6
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Is this DIY cage safe for a Syrian hamster?

Agree with the others. The Alaska cage is very good value and suitable for a Syrian and diy cages can end up getting quite expensive in materials. Particularly when it comes to buying Perspex and glass for doors. Although I get the impression you’re wanting to go bigger hence thinking about the bookcase. Depth of a cage/the bookcase is important. A Syrian cage really needs to be at least 40cm deep - ideally at least 50cm deep. With a length of at least 80cm. The floorspace in one area is what counts so adding the area of the different levels together isn’t the same.

A lot of people use Ikea furniture for diy cages - melamine covered. If you like the idea of something bigger then a detolf is one option - if you have the space. £60 glass cabinet tipped on its side with the glass doors left off, so it makes a long tank. You then need to make two lids out of strips of wood and mesh. It works well sat on top of Ikea kallax shelf units.

One larger open area, filled up with enrichment toys and substrate, does work better than smaller area joined together - it encourages normal digging and foraging and nesting behaviours. The Barney cage is bigger than the Alaska and only costs about £50.

A bin cage is another option. The best sized bin is the 145 litre really useful box which is about 80cm x 60 Cm. You don’t need many tools for that - just mesh and a heated knife for cutting.

But one thing to think about as well is access to the hamster and the cage.

Your bookshelf might be suitable but I wouldn’t connect a cage to it. Do you have a photo/dimensions? Most book shelves are too shallow.

If you are keen to do a large diy cage then look up the Linmon cage on YouTube (although I think it can work out expensive). Or think about the detolf or rub bin.
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Old 07-26-2020, 03:00 AM   #7
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Is this DIY cage safe for a Syrian hamster?

This is the Alaska cage

https://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small...r_cages/284288
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Old 07-26-2020, 05:42 PM   #8
Otaku
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Default Re: Is this DIY cage safe for a Syrian hamster?

The Alaska is a great cage and second hand detolfs come up for resale quite frequently so there are much better options and cheaper too as perspex/plexi/glass cut to size is pricier than you may expect - you can get the aforementioned cages for less and they are far more appropriate for a hamster.

The DIY project you have in mind might be okay for a male mouse or a few female mice, but not a hamster I'm afraid.
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Old 07-27-2020, 02:08 AM   #9
Marshmellow
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Default Re: Is this DIY cage safe for a Syrian hamster?

Hi, I just recently bought 2 hamsters one for each of my daughters. The first cage was an old aquarium I purchased for $5 at a yard sale and the second a huge storage bin that cost about $10 that I drilled holes all through the lid. They are both Syrian hamsters and the one thing that became an issue with size is fitting an exercise wheel in. Syrians tend to be large and hence mine needed a 12 inch wheel so keep this in mind with depth of your cage mine is 15 inches and just fits! Honestly unless you already have most of the supplies it sounds like your idea could become more expensive than you may be expecting. If money is the biggest issue I suggest looking into a bin cage. I wish you luck!
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Old 07-27-2020, 05:20 AM   #10
Aituok
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Default Re: Is this DIY cage safe for a Syrian hamster?

Thank you guys! I realize the minimum size is 600 square inches and I bought a 320 "large" cage last week thinking it was big enough! So I bought a second cage and I plan on cutting the backs off and zip tying them together to make 640! Obviously making sure to make sure there's no sharp edges. I hope that will work out!
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hamster, cage, minimum, syrian, room, research, nice, large, adding, bedding, decent, plenty, provide, idea, wage, worker, diy, safe, bookshelf, section, level, bookcase, lower, design, sunlight

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