Sen's extension

[Hannah]

Hiya, i just thought i would warn you about that toy as i have heard that sometimes hammys may get their little feet stuck in the holes. Also what is a tube city? It sounds really exciting. XxX

[Katarina]

Is there not a side opening on your expansion? if there is, you could just buy and extra shelf with a hole for a pipe already in and attach it to the cage over the opening from the inside of the cage and hay presto - that's what I am planning to do in the future. that way you will have an undamaged cage to sell if you ever want to I hope it helps

[Gillzy]

Oh, Hannah, I hadn't thought about the holes in that - perhaps I should just wait until I have a glue gun and jenga bricks and make the crazy contraption that Wofunny did. Thanks!

A tube city isn't a specific thing I just meant it as lots of tubes going everywhere! Just extra places for the hamster to explore. Perhaps expandable to more little rooms.

Unfortunately, Katarina, it is a roof opening. And I was tempted to put the tubes in there, but then realised if I wanted to get in there to get to Sen I'd have to disconnect the tubes (that, and from the roof it would be a big drop from the inside as the FNA doesn't allow tubes connected from the inside (which I'm not sure why not really!). I think the cage is lacking without an option for tubes (and the hole has a cover if it's no longer wanted), I've wanted to put tubes in it since I got it, just never got round to it.

I'm going to try and find a shelf to fit inside it too, the one it came with was wire with a wire ladder and I didn't like it for my dwarves (even after I covered it in cardboard), so took it out and lost it in a house move. It's a 13.5" (34.5cm)x19" cage (48.25cm), which are difficult dimensions to find plastic shelves... my friend is a wood craftsman, so I'm tempted to ask him to make me something

[Katarina]

there are sets of shelfs - wooden shelfs on ebay - I am thinking of replacing my plastic ones whith these! I love the corner ones a lot, too!

PACK 3 PINE SHELVES-HAMSTER RAT CHIPMUNK DEGU CAGE on eBay (end time 01-Feb-11 19:34:32 GMT)

I might be getting these for my bin cage + some other ones with holes drilled in
Good luck!

[Gillzy]

I have a bit of a thing about wooden things in cages. Because I read once that if a hamster catches mites they can inbed themselves in the wood and you can't clean it off... so I prefer getting plastic if I can, and then giving wood chew toys that I wouldn't mind throwing away. Also, Sen still goes through occasional naughty phases and pees in corners not easily cleanable. But thanks for the suggestion, Katarina.

EDIT: I realise I said that my friend would make a wood shelf, but that was as a last resort, because then I'd want to plasticote it etc.

[Gillzy]

I'm opting for the Rydon - Plastic Shelves, which will take up the length and about half the width of the cage. Perfect.

Ladder: I thought this Karlie Climbing Wall/Ladder was cute, £3.49 but free delivery. I'm not a fan of the metal ladders with rungs. And the only plastic ladder I can find is the Ferplast Ramp which is too long. Does the Karlie one look good, and safe? Anyone else used it/seen it?

[Hope]

Looking good! This will give Sen lots more space to explore. The ladder should be fine other options could be this: Trixie Wooden Climbing Wall - Hamster Mouse Gerbil Pets on eBay (end time 24-Feb-11 16:43:58 GMT)
kinda the same but more 'natural' looking if you wanna go for that kinda look, or the bending bridges - I use them for all sorts and do come in handy SuperPet Fiddle Sticks Hamster Tunnel Toy - Small on eBay (end time 11-Feb-11 17:56:52 GMT) , they bend so you could straighten it out to make a ladder.

[Gillzy]

Oh my. I can't stop buying I think I may be addicted to buying hamster things.

I have now decided since she'll be able to have a bigger wheel (as the Fantazia only manages to JUST fit the 6.5" silent spinner.

[I am thinking I will buy a 12" one (or 11" WW). Because I just managed to measure Sen roughly and she's 6" long, and only 3 months old... so I'm best to go for the 12" rather than 8"?

Found this 11" WW Senior for super cheap on ebay. It's bought. Haha. Hope it's not too noisy as I've only ever had silent spinners, but you guys speak kindly of it, so I'm trusting you. ]

EDIT: Ignore all that. Just realised my extension cage is only 10inches high. So 8inch wheel it is. Unless anyone has any better ideas?