Best ventilation

[hamwolf89]

Well Yuiko has another cage thats so hard to clean and brakes easily, and not to mention i have a cat that can kill the hamster through the bars if she finds a chance to. It has happened before.

I'm sorta being anti one cage right now so i brought out the bin aka other cage. My parents already told me they don't want a bin cage but I'm doing it anyways

I want the new set up exactly like this:

cage: 19" by 13" and 7 1/2" tall
Bin: About 19" by 14" and 13" tall

I'm asking whats the best way to ventilate the bin?
I can't do to much to the lid since i want the cage on top.
thx

[Die Fledermaus]

>> i have a cat that can kill the hamster through the bars if she finds a chance to. It has happened before. <<

I know it has happened before, and that is why if a cat is allowed in the same room as hamsters (which should only occur when supervised) the hamsters need to be in tanks with mesh tops secured with a weight.

It is possible, though not likely, the cat can knock over that top habitat.

I would put things such as this in one corner of a room, and around it on the ground: those fly paper boards, about 6"x8". Cats hate stepping on something sticky, and they will quickly get the idea to stay away. Same thing with balloons stuck to the sides and in areas you want the cat to avoid - and few "explosions" of bursting balloons and the cat will stay away if it sees more balloons.

The bin looks relatively thin, and with light coming though it the hamster might want to gnaw out towards the light. If determined, the hamster can gnaw through. . . and you will have another unfortunate cat vs hamster incident. I only use THICK and OPAQUE dark 20 gallon Sterilite bins.

You obviously can only ventilate this bin, which I deem as unsatisfactory for the purpose of SAFELY keeping a hamster in it, by cutting or preferably melting many holes towards the top that are well out of the hamster's reach. Adequate ventilation will still be a concern, and you will need to air it out frequently (twice a day) and clean the bedding more often.

[hamwolf89]

There is a door i could close, its just that is has gone "sticky" over the years and if not properly closed, with good force it can be pushed open. Just in case it does happen to be pushed open(which is pretty unlikely) i want the hamster to have some extra protection.

And if Yuiko is able to chew a small hole in the bin i could replace it easily.

I like the idea of having a wire mesh towards the top, but in order to obtain that i need my parent to take me and then wuold know what im doing.

[hamwolf89]

i knew sooner or later i would have to ask my parents. Though my mom yelled at me and not being understanding, after she left i went to my father who was. I made a little demo to show him and explained how everything will work out.



pros:
~We don't need to find a water bottle to hang over the bin, or a separate wheel as there provided in the original cage.
~Bin will be easy to clean
~Provides TWICE the amount of space then the cage alone
~provides a safer place of the hamster in case the cat trys to poke her claws through (cage will be behind doors, just that the door is sticky and and sometimes can not be noticeably cracked and possible for the animals to push open)
~the cut hole(for the tub to fit through) Is high up so Yuiko cant 't chew on it and btw the ring will be on the inside so it cant pop out easily
~now the ventilation will be better then my original plan with holes.

cons:
~ The wire mesh thats needed, my dad said he wont buy it if we have to buy like a 50 feet roll at a time.
~ my dad doesn't like the idea to buy the bolts that secures that wire mesh
~could be chew on, etc


Another question. What else can you use instead of bolts to secure a wire mesh? I saw in one picture (searching on photobucket) the this person was using these ties. I was wondering if these were good enough to use. I know they are chew able, but it will be pretty high up.

[Die Fledermaus]

>> And if Yuiko is able to chew a small hole in the bin i could replace it easily. <<

A determined hamster might be able to gnaw a big enough hole to squeeze through and out in one night before you have a chance to notice.

I just realized, that set up is for ONE hamster! Your diagram explained it.

I can but mesh of different gauges at the hardware BY THE FOOT, not in huge rolls. That was how I got thicker screen for the split screens for my gerbils; they gnaw through the usual window screen mesh.

Ties are wires covered in paper. Maybe other types of wire can secure the mesh, if not bolts. I have never been much with home repair. Go to a hardware store and ask them for ideas as to how to secure mesh to a big plastic bin. Maybe really big heavy staples?? If anyone has that kind of staple gun.

Remember also, you can also discourage the cat from getting close or messing with it using the methods I mentioned above.

Good luck and keep us posted.