IKEA Samla lid

corrieberry · 05-29-2014, 01:25 AM

As a lot of you know, I've put Pippin and Molly into Samla bin cages because they were both chewing the bars on their cages. I meshed the top of the cages with galvanised mesh from Homebase. Everything seemed fine, until this week...

They are both now reaching the top of the cage by whatever means necessary (including climbing onto their Sputniks) and chewing the mesh like crazy. It is driving ME crazy with worry and frustration.

I am thinking of buying two new lids for the cages and drilling air vents in the top. I would then also drill airholes into the sides of the bins as well. Would this give them enough ventilation?

I'm at a bit of a loss otherwise. Anyone have any ideas? I love the setup of their cages (including the hand-inserted shelving which allows both of them to reach up to the lids so I would have to take that all out if I were to simply make it impossible for them to reach up). They're both doing their best to test me to the extreme!

**kyrilliondaemon** · 05-29-2014, 06:03 AM

It should be fine, a few others have had to do the same, you'll just need to drill a lot of holes in the cage.

corrieberry · 05-29-2014, 06:04 AM

That should be fine, I love my Dremel...I'm going to have to do another trip to Ikea to get the lids though, my boyfriend will have to come so that he can enjoy the offerings and its not just a solo hamster-mad Corrie wandering around in a daze looking for hamster cage accessories...!

Queen Of The High Teas · 05-30-2014, 03:35 PM

Swap the mesh you've put on for the tiniest gauge you can get. They can't get their teeth in the gaps to start biting at it

.

**kyrilliondaemon** · 05-30-2014, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Queen Of The High Teas

Swap the mesh you've put on for the tiniest gauge you can get. They can't get their teeth in the gaps to start biting at it

.

True for some hams. Others manage it and I'd think that the smaller the mesh the higher the risk of them getting a tooth caught when chewing it, I know of at least one or two who've not only chewed 6mm square mesh (my favourite) but then ended up in the vets with serious tooth problems too unfortunately

Queen Of The High Teas · 05-30-2014, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyrilliondaemon

True for some hams. Others manage it and I'd think that the smaller the mesh the higher the risk of them getting a tooth caught when chewing it, I know of at least one or two who've not only chewed 6mm square mesh (my favourite) but then ended up in the vets with serious tooth problems too unfortunately

I didn't realise they could do that!

What about this then:

STAINLESS STEEL MESH INSECT FLY WASP REPTILE RODENT CAGE VENT VIVARIUM AIR BRICK | eBay

Even my harvest mouse wouldn't get his teeth into that!

**kyrilliondaemon** · 05-31-2014, 10:16 AM

lol that'd definetly stop chewing, the only catch then is that the smaller the mesh size you go the less air gets through it