Question about Cage

[bsippl]

I got a Hamster for my birthday yesterday and I can't decide what cage to keep her in (she is a syrian (sp?) I think).

Right now I have her in this (with a lookout on top):

http://store1.yimg.com/I/petcarecentral_1805_192653548

I like this cage because it's pretty small so I can have it on my desk and watch her in the evening. But, I assume she is going to outgrow it pretty quick.

Since I had a hamster before and my friend still has 2 I have a few spare cages to choose from. We have one of those SAM Safari ones, but I hate the external wheel on them, gets too messy. The CritterTrail cage that's a big wheel, but that one probably also gets too messy easily. Some 10 gallon tanks, a CritterTrail Mini, One, X and Three (I think the Three is too tall, I don't like seeing them drop from the top of the cage to the bottom).

Anyway, which cage should I use?

Thanks

Edit: Forgot 1 cage, it's a 3 lvl rat/chinchilla cage. It's a great cage but with this one the hamster could also drop a good distance from the top.

[prophetdemise]

Check out the post called "storage bin cages" and you can see some more options. If you are going to have a syrian i wouldn't get something with more space. The chinchilla cage would be huge, and i don't know if i would worry about it falling.

[jennawing]

With a syrian, you need to go with the most floor space that you can- the biggest wheel, and expect that at sullsize, they are gonna be too big for bubble tubes like on the crittertrails. SAM tubes are a little roomier, but not much. What *I* would do if I were you- is connect the cage you have now to another cage or to a bin- like pro^ suggested.- using as short a tube as possible.

[bsippl]

I moved her back into the larger cage last night because the wheel in the small one is way too noisy.

Here is the big cage I was talking about:

http://www.petsmart.com/media/ps/images/products/detail/large/i/inP0/inP037127large_fad9.jpg

I should have mentioned that it is VERY small for a chinchilla cage.

[jennawing]

I think that cage is sufficient. I would keep the bedding very thick incase your hammy wanted to make a jump for it and missed. I think you'll find the bar chewing more irritating than the squeaky wheel. By the way, a drop of olive oil on the wheel spindle helps eliminate squeak.

[bsippl]

The problem with the wheel isn't the squeaking, it's shaking. Petsmart has some silent wheels, I'll take a look at those.

What do you guys think about those 10 gallon tanks? I also have a reptile tank which has the same floor area as a 10 gallon tank but is a bit taller and has small vents on the sides and a hole for cables on the back (which I will have to make sure stays closed somehow).

[jennawing]

It would probably work- why don't you try a plastic bin? Way cheap and plenty of room- a syrian needs TONS of room to run around!!!

Here's a couple of mine- one with the lid on so you can see how to ventilate them. OR you can just drill tons of holes in them.
http://www.smartgroups.com/picvault/24254570.jpg/possumbin.jpg
http://www.smartgroups.com/picvault/24297658.jpg/sullybin.jpg

[bsippl]

That looks nice, but I like seeing the hamster and with a bin I would have to put it on the floor and I don't really have have a good spot for a bin in my room.

[suicidaldream]

i would buy an add-a-port for the sam cyberspace cage so u can connect it to one of the other cageswith a tube giving him 2 cages to play in. with the larger cage in the pic u risk him falling and hurting himself.

[SBonnier]

Jennawing, how did you attach the hardware cloth to the covers? Is it riveted or nuts and washers? I stapled mine, but didn't really like the results. Your's look much neater.
SBonnier

[wheels]

You need:
20- #8 1/2" round head bolts
20- #8 1/2" nuts
40- #8 washers
hardware cloth (1/4 inch welded wire mesh)
tin snips or heavy scissors
craft knife or box cutter
screwdriver
drill w/ 3/8" bit suitable for plastic
small wire cutters
scotch tape
duct tape (optional)

Best to first score the lid where you want to cut- go over it lightly a couple of times with the craft knife before cutting through. This pretty much insures you cut where you want to cut. Leave about an inch margin on all sides inside the indented part. I wouldn't cut out the OUTSIDE of the indention, as this is what gives the lid it's stregnth.

Save that piece you cut out- it's your pattern for cutting the hardware clothe!

Now, you'll want to drill holes at each corner, three more on the short ends, and five more on the long ends- ending up with a total of 20 holes evenly spaced. You COULD put more, but this is suuficient. If you put more, you're gonna need more nuts and bolts and washers.

Lay out your hardware clothe and place your pattern on, leaving an inch on all sides and cut with the tin snips or heavy scissors. If you buy this stuff on the roll, it's not gonna want to lay down, so pull out those encyclopedias nobody ever uses now that we all have internet and weight down the corners! Be careful- this stuff it sharp!!!!

You'll want to place a bolt with a washer in each hole. Use a piece of scotch tape to hold them in so you can get it flipped over without them falling out. Once you have it flipped, center the screen- it's gonna try to curl up of course and poke you in the arm. You'll want to put another washer on before the bolt. Start out by doing the opposite center screws and then the OTHER opposite center screws so that the clothe is stretched taught, but hopefully won't warp your lid/frame. Tighten the nuts a little by hand until you have them all on. The small wire snips come in handy because there will probably be some bolts that just WON'T line up to the holes in the cloth and you'll have to take out an offending crosswire or two. Once all the nut and washers are on, you can flip it, take off all that tape, and use your screwdriver to tighten while holding the bolt with your fingers.

The clothe SHOULD fit pretty neatly, but there may be some sharp bent edges or other protrusions. You'll want to trim or bent or even tape down around the edges to make it safer- especially if it's possible for your guys to climb up to the top.
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Copied that from a previous post made by jennawing