Is this a crazy idea for a new enclosure?

namrufmo · 10-10-2011, 04:06 PM

I want a BIG enclosure for my hammy. I think bin cages look awful - at least in a living room. I want something "classy" So I want to buy this cherry bookcase. It's 54" tall, 16" deep, and 32" wide.

I plan to notch out each shelf in the back to make room for a ramp. I kinda drew in what they will look like. I'll add a 1.5" strip of wood around the edge of each shelf to keep the shavings from falling out. I'm going to paint the whole inside in 100% non-toxic Eco Paint. Drill holes for 2" vents on each shelf (1 on the side of each shelf and 3 in the back). Lastly I'll install red LED lights on each shelf and set them on a timer. I've already tested the lights and my hammy doesn't even notice.

Any idea/opinions/advice?

mojolicious · 10-10-2011, 10:09 PM

I idly considered something similar, but the only case I liked was some French Napoleonic thing on eBay which went for £800. I ruled out 95% of candidates because they were too shallow but 16" sounds fine, although I assume that's an external measurement?

The big concern is ventilation. The Zoozone 1's lid is 21.5" x 12.5", which gives roughly 270² inches of 'air'. There are members here who wouldn't consider a ZZ1 or any other tank/bin cage because they believe hamsters require the airflow that comes from a traditional barred design.

Your proposed 5x 2" circular vents gives 16² inches of ventilation per level. Yes, you've airflow on three sides rather than just the top, but if the case is placed against a wall there's really not going to be much air movement coming from that direction.

If you can create a 12" x 3" aperture across each side, and another two in the back, you'll have 144² inches of ventilation. I personally would be happy with that much, and hopefully it wouldn't cause too much structural damage! There's no need to use plain meshing: you can buy decorative punched metal sheets, and if you're confident that the lil' critter can't access them you could use MDF sheet radiator covers, which would be easier to work with and easier to 'blend' with the case. Just remember that the fancier the design, the worse the hole:nonhole ratio will be.

Presumably the shelves are on pegs and can be moved. To my mind any more than two shelves of accommodation would be overkill. I would a) discard one shelf, b) position the remaining two shelves to create two 18" levels (putting the vents out of reach) and c) use the lowest level for storage of hamsterjunk; you can always hide this portion by applying frosted film to the glass.

If the unit is pre-assembled and the shelves are fixed then there's a problem: I doubt any of the levels, with the possible exception of the lowest one, could accommodate an 11" wheel. Oh, and make it impossible to clean, of course...

Just putting a 1.5" strip at the front would make cleaning a nightmare. I'd go for a 4" strip around the whole perimeter of the shelf (more if you're generous with substrate) and create a 'bakers tray' which can be removed and emptied with minimal spillage. Perspex would be a grand alternative, although much harder to work with.

You also need to ensure that there's no space between the shelves and the glass. A small gap will allow muck to fall down the front of the case. A larger gap could result in either a wedged hamster or a full-on Code Red Security Breach…

namrufmo · 10-11-2011, 04:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mojolicious

I idly considered something similar, but the only case I liked was some French Napoleonic thing on eBay which went for £800. I ruled out 95% of candidates because they were too shallow but 16" sounds fine, although I assume that's an external measurement?

The big concern is ventilation. The Zoozone 1's lid is 21.5" x 12.5", which gives roughly 270² inches of 'air'. There are members here who wouldn't consider a ZZ1 or any other tank/bin cage because they believe hamsters require the airflow that comes from a traditional barred design.

Your proposed 5x 2" circular vents gives 16² inches of ventilation per level. Yes, you've airflow on three sides rather than just the top, but if the case is placed against a wall there's really not going to be much air movement coming from that direction.

If you can create a 12" x 3" aperture across each side, and another two in the back, you'll have 144² inches of ventilation. I personally would be happy with that much, and hopefully it wouldn't cause too much structural damage! There's no need to use plain meshing: you can buy decorative punched metal sheets, and if you're confident that the lil' critter can't access them you could use MDF sheet radiator covers, which would be easier to work with and easier to 'blend' with the case. Just remember that the fancier the design, the worse the hole:nonhole ratio will be.

Presumably the shelves are on pegs and can be moved. To my mind any more than two shelves of accommodation would be overkill. I would a) discard one shelf, b) position the remaining two shelves to create two 18" levels (putting the vents out of reach) and c) use the lowest level for storage of hamsterjunk; you can always hide this portion by applying frosted film to the glass.

If the unit is pre-assembled and the shelves are fixed then there's a problem: I doubt any of the levels, with the possible exception of the lowest one, could accommodate an 11" wheel. Oh, and make it impossible to clean, of course...

Just putting a 1.5" strip at the front would make cleaning a nightmare. I'd go for a 4" strip around the whole perimeter of the shelf (more if you're generous with substrate) and create a 'bakers tray' which can be removed and emptied with minimal spillage. Perspex would be a grand alternative, although much harder to work with.

You also need to ensure that there's no space between the shelves and the glass. A small gap will allow muck to fall down the front of the case. A larger gap could result in either a wedged hamster or a full-on Code Red Security Breach…

Thanks! A few comments...there is only 1/16" between the shelves and the glass....definetly not enough room for an escape. The entire unit is 16" so the total inside dimention is 15 1/2"...considering my current tank ( a 20g long) is 12" deep this is a big improvement.

The shelves, minus the middle shelf, are adjustable. I was planning of doing the shelf spacing like this: 13", 11", 13", 11".....that way I could have my two 11" wodent weels in there. One on shelf #1, and one on shelf #3.....

I know Home Depot makes larger vents in different shapes..I'll check them out. I could always add a second round vent to each shelf as well...

namrufmo · 10-11-2011, 01:05 PM

Would adding two of these on the sides of each shelf be better? They're 2 1/2" x 8 1/2"

http://www.amazon.com/Black-2-3-8-5-.../dp/B000MD5O4W

mangoandmimi · 10-11-2011, 01:50 PM

nice idea, but the ventilation definitely needs some altering.. vents are fine for reptiles who need humidity, but in a cabinet behind glass on a hot day with only vents for air, would not be very nice at all

how about cutting out the entire side and filling it with mesh? or well cutting out a big square for each level on each side.

souffle · 10-11-2011, 01:54 PM

I have a friend who made cages from a similar type of bookcase in the UK. He is currently changing back to regular style cages because despite all his efforts in painting and waterproofing the insides plus adding pull out plastic trays you just cannot keep these clean and dry. Hamster wee always soaks into the wood and they wee over the trays and the smell gets awful. You can't clean them easily either and certainly can't soak the wood. He also added ventilation slats but found these inadequate as well as proving rather attractive chew points for hamsters! They can and do chew the wood and escape is not that hard either.
Sorry but I thought it best to point out the pitfalls from experience so you can make a balanced decision.

namrufmo · 10-12-2011, 03:45 PM

I've given the ventalation issue some thought and I think I might have come up with a solution - computer fans. I could mount a small, silent, computer fan to the back of each level (where a vent is) this would pull air in (or push it out).

thoughts?

mojolicious · 10-12-2011, 11:46 PM

Presumably you'd want the fans to draw air into the cage, and would still have ventilation (proper 'open' ventilation rather than louvres) to encourage circulation.

Have you looked at how you'd control the fan speed and switching? There are products such as this (have seen them much cheaper) which have some sort on inbuilt thermal control.

I'd be concerned that by the time you've provided a fix for all four levels then a) you've significantly increased the cost of the project, and b) you'll have something that looks more like a server rack than a piece of furniture.

The more I think about it the more it sounds as though it would be a non-runner (for me, personally).

One think I'd investigate would be replacing the glass with some *exquisite* metal lattice/grill/thing that is...
a) sufficiently 'dense' to be escape proof
b) sufficiently 'open' to allow good airflow and good visibility
c) safe, from both chewability and 'help! my leg's stuck!' perspectives
d) urine-proof
e) aesthetically pleasing

Would take some seaching of architectural supply catalogues to find something that ticks all the boxes, but given the cost of other ventilation solutions you should have the budget for it and you'll end up with something that's still 'furniture'.

souffle · 10-13-2011, 12:43 AM

Personally I would never risk having anything electrically run either attached or near the cage. A hamster can perform the most amazing feats and there would be a risk of it accessing either the electrics or a moving fan. Draughts are more dangerous to hamsters than cold / heat and a fan would not be easy to control. I like the idea above of replacing the glass better.

firedrake13 · 10-13-2011, 06:37 AM

I don't think a computer fan is a good idea personally, they arn't made for this type of thing first off, and secondly you would have to find some way to keep your hamster from being able to put paws, nose, head, ect into moving fan and getting hurt or worse. Also my third concern is the electric run fan, chewing wires and again getting hurt or worse. Fourth concern would be the fan could provide good means of escape. And lastly, as souffle mentioned drafts from the fan running. Imagine this, being a hamster in an enclosed space, a fan running pulling air into your home, and not being able to get away from it.