Help me with ideas please?

[WhichHamster]

These are the options for a cage I have available. I may end up just buying one if none are suitable and that is perfectly fine!

First:
Tontarelli Christmas tree storage box | DIY at B&Q

B&Q Xmas tree box.
Pros:
At 37.5cm tall, it can have at least part of it with 12” of bedding. It’s a tank so will contain the “mess”. No bars so my toddler can’t feed through the bars (in case it leads to biting through the bars. Lots of floor space.
Cons:
The width. Okay for digging, sort of but… I’m not sure.

Second:
120cm long Guinea pig cage
Pros:
Floor space. I think it’s about 120x80 (it’s in the attic!). It has “Guinea pig bar spacing” so I would have to attach either 10mm mesh or maybe 14” playpen sides to it? I have both of these and a dremel so it’s not that big an issue.
Cons:
The tray isn’t overly deep. I’ve seen some acrylic splash guards (potentially on mini pets?) but it would have to be a custom order and my measuring skills are shocking.

Third:
Some sort of c&c cage made with the above mentioned panels. 1.5cm bar spacing.
Pros:
I can make it within 10 minutes. I have all the stuff. I can fully customise the layout. I can make 140x70 very easily with whatever height I want so if he’s a massive burrowed he can have 14” plus all the stuff on top.
Cons:
I’m not sure if hamsters would chew correx (corrugated plastic - like a cardboard box but plastic). Does anyone have any experience of this? The only other thing would be some sort of safe skirting board maybe? Balsa wood, it would take 50 million panels.

If anyone wants to help me talk this out, I’d be very grateful!

[Ria P]

What species of hamster are you planning to get? Syrian or dwarf?

There is a thread here called "Let's see your cages" on the Forum under Housing where you can see various set ups in barred cages, tanks, Ikea hacks like the detolf, bin cages etc.

The B&Q christmas tree box would be too narrow for a Syrian's big, rat sized items but could work for a dwarf with a meshed lid and meshed windows. I've converted a similar box myself into a bin cage once.

[WhichHamster]

Sorry, all that info and I left this bit out:

It would be for a nice chunky Syrian

[WhichHamster]

What about this one? In the comments people are saying they use it for hamsters (just not which species)

Form Kaze Clear 138L Plastic XXXL Stackable Storage box | DIY at B&Q

Someone has handily given the interior bottom measurements in the comments which are 48x63cm. Using the measurements the site gives (58.6x78.7cm) and assuming the slope goes up at the same gradient…
At 6” bedding that would be 68.5cmx51.7cm = 3541.45cm^2 floor space. However I’m aware I’ve used the exterior measurements so it could be slightly smaller?
For reference, 80x40cm is 3200cm^2 (472”)

However, after all those calculations, I’ve just realised that you can’t fit 6” bedding plus a 12” wheel in a 17” tall tank unless you lay it down.
Mr Mouse has the same if not sized down tank. He has a homemade shelf in his (a magazine holder) but easily has 4” bedding (he’s a digger but getting old).
I’m sure I’ll get a hamster by 2025 at this rate…

[Ria P]

I've been to B&Q a couple of days ago and a grey very large box caught my eye but didn't get the measurements.

Problem with the Kaze is the same as the large Ikea Samla, they slope a lot, decreasing the floor space.

The 145l really useful box doesn't slope as much and would suit a Syrian. I've converted one before. Wickes used to sell them but i haven't seen them for a while. They are available online so you should be able to get a hamster by 2022. The rub is easier to drill and cut than the B&Q boxes because the plastic is stronger. I use a dremel with the pvc cutting disc attachment.

[WhichHamster]

If I can find a way to link a pic, I’ll take a pic later of Mr Mouse’s tank to show how much it slopes. The reason I picked that one was purely as that’s what he’s in and it’s still like new. I’ll have a look for the RUBs though, are they better quality? If I could get bigger, I would do bigger but I’d rather have a tank-type, light weight cage I think as my L5 vertebrae hates me.

[LunaTheHamster1]

Sadly although that bin sounds really long, I don't think it's wide enough or deep enough for a syrian. You will struggle to fit most 11-12 inch wheels in a cage with that height as most on a stand are a lot higher than 11 or 12 inches (30cm) I know I could only fit the savic orbitol wheel in my zoozone cage. The zoozone is 37cm high. Trixie wheel, rodipet and silent runner wheels would not fit.

Yes, hamsters will most likely chew corrugated plastic if it means they can try and escape.

1.5cm spacing is too wide

you can always use cardboard or grass mats to be able to get more bedding in, but hamsters may chew and will need to be replaced:

This video shows what I mean:
More bedding in a barred Hamster Cage | Cosmic Hamsters - YouTube

Also if you look at the bin cage section of this video, some are suitable for syrians:
Best UK Hamster Cages 2021 - YouTube

I left links in the comments to where to buy

[Ria P]

Originally Posted by WhichHamster

If I can find a way to link a pic, I’ll take a pic later of Mr Mouse’s tank to show how much it slopes. The reason I picked that one was purely as that’s what he’s in and it’s still like new. I’ll have a look for the RUBs though, are they better quality? If I could get bigger, I would do bigger but I’d rather have a tank-type, light weight cage I think as my L5 vertebrae hates me.

You don't need to lift it and you can put it on a dolley trolley to move it if you need to.

Add substrate and a chunky Syrian with Syrian sized furniture and enrichments, lightweight goes out the window anyway.

The rubs' are better quality in my opinion which does reflect in the price.

[WhichHamster]

Originally Posted by LunaTheHamster1

Also if you look at the bin cage section of this video, some are suitable for syrians:
Best UK Hamster Cages 2021 - YouTube

I left links in the comments to where to buy

I’m guessing the non-square Pawhut one (pawhut 2) is no good for Syrians? There’s one on Facebook marketplace for £25 but I discounted it…

[LunaTheHamster1]

Originally Posted by WhichHamster

I’m guessing the non-square Pawhut one (pawhut 2) is no good for Syrians? There’s one on Facebook marketplace for £25 but I discounted it…

As long as it's the big version, you will probably need to plastikote the base (if not already done so) some syrians may chew it though, but I know of plenty of people who use it for female and male syrians.