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Old 04-27-2021, 11:55 PM   #1
Imogen
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Default Tubes for hamsters for a DIY cage?

Hi, me again!

I made a homemade bin cage that has 709 square inches of floor space.

However, I'm looking to add another box for my hamster to explore that's connected via tubing. Reason being that I'm wanting to add on another box is because the main cage he has is filled a good way to the top (with enough space to do his hammy things and sit on his two back legs and stare into oblivious like one does) with his shavings so it contributes to about 10 inches of burrowing depth which he LOVES to dig around in!

The issue with this is, I've had to add a plastic box that his sand bath and hidey house can just about sit and fit on so it makes a wall between a shallow place and the deeper depth, this is because of his drinking bottle and wheel which I had to do to make it fit in. I don't like the uneven bedding he has because it gives quite a steep slope to go down as well as a possible fall which I'm stressed about.

I want this to be even all throughout his cage so that he can dig around the entire bottom of the enclosure instead of limited just over half of it when he could benefit from the full lot of it.

Not only this, since I've filled it up. His dangling toys can no longer "dangle" or his little wooden swing doesn't swing well because it's brushing against the shavings. I wanted to add another box so that I can easily fit in a wheel and have it be a bit shallower than the main compartment to be able to hang some fun toys. I will probably lower it a slight bit once I can add on the box to be able to manage some shorter dangling toys but wouldn't like to reduce the shavings to less than 8cm since I feel it's important for him to carry that natural behaviour.

I looked at some hamster tubing via ebay or pets at home but they come in a big bundle with either a cage or some other un-wanted items and are way too far to collect in person. I looked at some brand new tubing but you get so little for £9 as well as £3 each for one section?!

I've seen people with tubing that has a nestling box in the centre of the tubing which I really liked as you can see in if they're in there but I can't seem to find that or perhaps it comes with a particular cage?

If not, what are some good alternatives to tubing? Preferably transparent so I can see the little guy is ok and can easily see where he is.

I should probably add that he's a male Syrian and he is pretty big. I found with tubing when I owned a female hamster as a kid they can range on the small side and not be comfortable for them to fit in if they're quite a natural biggish size.

I'm also wondering how to fill the holes from where the glass water bottle is hanging? I'm planning to switch to a water dish so it's more comfortable and natural and can make it even throughout all his enclosure.

The enclosure was even at some point, but I had to revert back my idea because the wheel was just brushing against the top and it wasn't as deep as I had liked.




Last edited by Imogen; 04-28-2021 at 12:08 AM.
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Old 04-28-2021, 02:30 AM   #2
LunaTheHamster1
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Default Re: Tubes for hamsters for a DIY cage?

Lots of people connect two cages together with a bit of drainpipe, I'm not sure you will be able to find any that is transparent though, but it will be big enough for a syrian which most of those hamster tubes are not.

To fill the holes from the water bottle you could probably try something like the £1 epoxy resin from poundland that Amethyst (fellow member on here) put me on to.
The only problem with that is you do need to do it in a well ventilated area and ideally leave it 72 hours (although states 16 on some) You don't want the fumes making you or your hamster ill.
An other method is melt a bit of plastic with a soldering iron...

I will link the thread where we discussed this in regards of a broken cage:

Broken Zooplus cage - Advice/ideas welcome.
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Old 04-28-2021, 03:17 AM   #3
Imogen
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Default Re: Tubes for hamsters for a DIY cage?

I like the idea of the drainpipe, it seems perfect, thank you so much! As with blocking the holes, I can probably just cut the hole where the holes are and place the connecting drainpipe there instead.

How have people connected the drainpipe to the bins?
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Old 04-28-2021, 05:01 AM   #4
Ria P
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Default Re: Tubes for hamsters for a DIY cage?

If you want tubing with a nesting box then keep in mind that you'd have to be able to clean it. It can be a health hazard when they start to nest, hoard and pee in tubes. Warmth and lack of ventilation plus moisture creates the perfect breeding ground for harmful bacteria.

Holes are easily fixed with a screw on chew toy or a nut, bolt and washer if the chew toy would be in the way.

The plumbing department of a DIY store has suitable tubes but the tube kit from p@h would be too small for a Syrian. You could get the rat tunnel from p@h though which is clear and rigid.
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Old 04-28-2021, 11:39 AM   #5
Imogen
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Default Re: Tubes for hamsters for a DIY cage?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ria P View Post
If you want tubing with a nesting box then keep in mind that you'd have to be able to clean it. It can be a health hazard when they start to nest, hoard and pee in tubes. Warmth and lack of ventilation plus moisture creates the perfect breeding ground for harmful bacteria.

Holes are easily fixed with a screw on chew toy or a nut, bolt and washer if the chew toy would be in the way.

The plumbing department of a DIY store has suitable tubes but the tube kit from p@h would be too small for a Syrian. You could get the rat tunnel from p@h though which is clear and rigid.
I like the look of the rat tubing, it's large and transparent.

The only thing they sell near me is this
Just a moment...

Reviews say that it has been chewed through before though.

How would you even connect things like this to the bin cage?

Last edited by Imogen; 04-28-2021 at 12:04 PM.
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Old 04-28-2021, 01:47 PM   #6
Ria P
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Default Re: Tubes for hamsters for a DIY cage?

Those expandable tubes are great toys for a hamster playground, i have several but they are far too soft as a connecting tube and easily chewed through.

Petsathome sells the rat tube. I think rat sized tubes are the only tubes big enough for a Syrian.
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Old 04-28-2021, 02:10 PM   #7
LunaTheHamster1
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Default Re: Tubes for hamsters for a DIY cage?

Agree with Ria, they are ok for inside the cage or free roaming but not to connect two cages together.

My friend connected a savic plaza cage to a bin cage by cutting a hole in the bin and the wire of the cage, it was just snug enough to fit the drain pipe in, no way a hamster would be able to move it. I'm not sure if she left details of how/what she did on her iG a/c. i will look tomorrow or fri if i remember and leave a link.

I also know this girl that did it with a tube, look at about 6:43 in this video Upgrading My Hamster’s Cages | Fluffy Hammy - YouTube
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Old 04-28-2021, 04:43 PM   #8
Littlemonster21
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Default Re: Tubes for hamsters for a DIY cage?

I agree that the expandable tubes (ironically called tuff tubes on amazon) are easily chewed through. Whenever I expand the tube I can see almost three dozen little holes in it....
I suppose you could buy a piece of PVC pipe and use that to connect the bins. But it won't be transparent. I think they sell PVC end caps that have an opening instead of terminating so you could attach those to either side. Although that would probably be harder to find.
As for the holes from the water bottle I'm not sure why you would want to cover them since they're so small but you could use a bolt, nut, and washer to put in the hole. It would have to be a bigger diameter though and that's probably a little unnecessary.
I hope you find a solution that works for you!
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Old 04-28-2021, 05:13 PM   #9
Imogen
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Default Re: Tubes for hamsters for a DIY cage?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ria P View Post
Those expandable tubes are great toys for a hamster playground, i have several but they are far too soft as a connecting tube and easily chewed through.

Petsathome sells the rat tube. I think rat sized tubes are the only tubes big enough for a Syrian.
Ah, okay. Thank you!
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Old 04-28-2021, 05:14 PM   #10
Imogen
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Default Re: Tubes for hamsters for a DIY cage?

Quote:
Originally Posted by LunaTheHamster1 View Post
Agree with Ria, they are ok for inside the cage or free roaming but not to connect two cages together.

My friend connected a savic plaza cage to a bin cage by cutting a hole in the bin and the wire of the cage, it was just snug enough to fit the drain pipe in, no way a hamster would be able to move it. I'm not sure if she left details of how/what she did on her iG a/c. i will look tomorrow or fri if i remember and leave a link.

I also know this girl that did it with a tube, look at about 6:43 in this video Upgrading My Hamster’s Cages | Fluffy Hammy - YouTube
Thank you for letting me know how your friend connected her bin cages together, I will try that out!
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