Is This Cage Ok?? (Pictures)

[Leahv1]

I am thinking about getting a syrain hamster, and i was wondering if this cage is ok. It is an old bunny cage and the bars are 1 inch apart. I would really like to know what you guys think of it, would i need to mesh it around? or is it to much ventelation?
Legth: 24 inches
Width: 12 inches
Hight: 12 inches
Here are 3 pictures of it:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v650/Leahv1/Bunnycage2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v650/Leahv1/BunnyCage1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v650/Leahv1/bunnycage3.jpg

Please let me know what you think about it.
Leah

[Jennicat]

HOnestly, I think that with cage bars that wide, there's a pretty good chance that you'll have an escapee.

[Leahv1]

Ok so i will have to put mesh around it right? But will the hamster get to cold?
Leah

[Chaos]

It would probably be fine for an adult but a young hamster might escape. Also hamsters love to climb and it looks a little low height-wise.

[J mouse]

He won't get cold if you give him enough nesting material. Use toilet paper, paper towels, and/or tissues.

[Leahv1]

It is taller then a 10 gallon. Plus i have heard that hamsters can fall and kill them selves if it is to high.
Thanks everyone.
Leah

[Chaos]

Pictures can be deceiving I guess, sorry about that. One of my cages bars are about an inch wide, but they're slotted both way. Comparing my three week old babies to it, they could probably get out. So I would say a 6 week+ hamster probably couldn't.

If you want a cheap cage idea, a huge sterillite bin will work. Just cut a hole in the top and put hardware cloth over it and you have a nice large cheap cage.

[o0sapphirerat0o]

also, syrians do better in bin style cages (more room) as syrians can get cage parlysis

http://www.hamsterific.com/IllnessGuide.cfm#CageParalysis

I have my syrian in a 90 quart sterilite bin that has holes drilled high in the sides and in the lid.

If you don't like that you can put 1/2" mesh on the bin (after you cut out holes or squares ;) ) BOLT it where the mesh is on the INSIDE. and smooth aqurium sealent over the rough edges You have a new cage.

Plus if you want to customize you can, add levels (a thick plexiglass held in with bolts) and when you want to move it, or change it, fill the hole up with aquruim sealent and smooth it out.

Plus the bars are dangerous, letting the hamster chew on the bars can cause misaligned teeth and brain damage.

http://www.hamsterific.com/CageBarChewing.cfm

[Zouave]

If you put a ruler or a quarter on the cage we could have some scale and better tell the size. But I doubt if an adult could escape.

[Chaos]

I've never ever seen anything that proves that whole brain damage by chewing bars theory. Hamsters have been chewing cage bars for years, there'd be a heck of a lot of brain damaged hamsters around if thats true. Do you have any pages or proof that supports it?

[o0sapphirerat0o]

Who cares if the whole brain is damaged! I wouldn't want any part of my poor hammies brain to be damaged.

Yes I do, and if you look under It I posted it

http://www.hamsterific.com/CageBarChewing.cfm

I also posted a site about the cage paralysis
http://www.hamsterific.com/IllnessGuide.cfm#CageParalysis


Besides, I would rather have my hammie have a nice warm, safe existance than one of....10 years later......so it DID cause brain damage...... I would rather be like, oh it didn't? Ok, they had lots of space and lots of "toys".


It still misaligns teeth which can cause broken teeth and abseceses in the gums.

Edit:

BTW I love your avatar chaos. :D

[lilforjc]

well I cannot get Hoop to stop chewing on the bars of his cage and I have read all the research and I believe it would take longer for the teeth to grow up into the brain then the hammies live. I would like to see some statistics on hammie's and brain damage/misaligned teeth pertaining to cage chewing. also who knows what they'll be dsaying 10 years from now. doctors and scientists are always changing things up on us...

[Chaos]

I really do see your point. I only have one of mine in a wire cage, but its huge (They told me it was big enough for rats at the store... well its not) so he dosn't chew on the bars cause of all the room. But I don't understand how chewing on a bar could cause brain damage, but chewing on wooden toys/dog treats wouldn't? I do see how they could break teeth though.

And thanks, I was lucky enough to snap the picture. :D

[Leahv1]

I listed the legth, width, and hieght up on the very first post. It is a small bunny cage, the bars are 1 inch apart. It is a bigger then a 10 gallon tank.
I am confused though, can i use it or should i try something else?
Leah

[lilforjc]

I am an overprotective, somewhat paranoid ;) hammie owner, and I would not use it on the off chance that they try to squeeze thru the bars. :)

[Leahv1]

Well since i have to buy mesh in couple weeks, i could mesh it to.
I think i am going to use it. Thankyou everyone.
Leah

[o0sapphirerat0o]

in the words of lil.

I am an overprotective, somewhat paranoid "pet" owner, and I wouldn't let them on the off chance that it DOES somehow hurt my baby, as I would never forgive myself.

I think of it this way, better safe (but still fun!) than sorry ;)

plus in a bin you can MAKE ladders and "jungle gym's" out of left over 1/2" mesh, and constantly change it! :D :D

[o0sapphirerat0o]

grr why doesn't this thing let you edit after 5 minutes!? lol

I have meshed a cage before, it SUCKS. Especially when trying to "mesh" around the doors, it bites to clean, and HOLY crap, when you grab it by the sides it scratches the CRAP outta your arms...lol

Whatever you decide to do I'm sure will be the best descion for your situation :D

[riegfinnid]

i have a cage just like that....and i put my hamster in there when i seperated her from babies..it was going to be temporary until babies grew up then she'd go to her usual cage...
anyway...she escaped!! and she's a full grown hammy.

[riegfinnid]

thank god for my dog who woke me up at 4 am and showed me where she was lol

[o0sapphirerat0o]

My room is "rat proofed" so if any small animals get out of the cages, there is no way out of the room.
:) :D

[lilforjc]

Leah-are you still gonna use that wire cage? a bin at walmart would be very cheap and you don't want you little loves to get out do you? you won't be able to sleep at night knowing at any time one could get out...sapphire-I am not near as paranoid about my dog(s) or my kids or any other pet we've had the privelige to love-these lilttle guys are sooo fragile it makes me feel very protective towards them-don't get me wrong I am protective towards anything in my care, but the lil wee ones are sooo small! do you feel that way, too?

[Leahv1]

My mom is very handy with mesh, and she said she will help me with it. But after we mesh it and it still doesn't look good, then i will clear a bin for it. Thank-you everyone for your advice.
Leah

[lilforjc]

not to bug you, but mesh is hard to get clean and dry...

[Leahv1]

ok, i will try to get a bin, but the bins i have won't fit a good wheel in it. And i can't buy a bin. My dad said no more cages, just the ones i all ready have. what i might do, is after my spinies have there babies and the babies are weaned i can put the spinies in this huge bird cage and buy the hamster and put it in the 20gallon tank. And by that time i sould have alot of money saved up. I think i want a male hamster, because i heard they are more calmer and live longer. And i really want a pet that will fall asleep in my arms.
Leah

[lilforjc]

well I recommend male syrians-did you look on my testing testing thread? I finally figured out how to post pics...anywayI don't know if hammies will fall asleep in your arms.

[KiTTyStiches]

he'd definitally excape