Minimum Cage Size on the Forum?
Azayles
Posts: 550
Last Online:
Feb 13, 2023 3:21:17 GMT
|
Post by Azayles on Aug 23, 2015 0:33:23 GMT
This is indeed a very interesting topic! This is what PH is all about I think a thread of recommended suitable cages/tanks/bins is going to be far more useful and far more accessible than numbers. I personally would tend more toward suggesting suitable cages than suggesting a minimum floor space size, then have the member have to go off and measure up bins and whatnot. Suitable bins in the UK aren't that easy to get hold of as in other areas, and cages too are difficult to get in suitable sizes anywhere other than online. Zooplus for example has excellent cages than give masses of space When I'm back from leave I'll post some cages available here that'd be suitable And Melodie if you wanna adopt this little pet project ( :-P :-P :-P ) of writing up a thread, that'd be awesome!
|
|
Lizzie
Posts: 70
Last Online:
Dec 6, 2015 22:24:46 GMT
|
Post by Lizzie on Aug 23, 2015 20:47:52 GMT
Should we have different sections of the thread like suitable bin cages, suitable wire cages, and suitable tanks or should it be all in one thread? I know that in the US it's very difficult to find wire cages but I can post a few that I know of.
|
|
Melodie
Posts: 56
Last Online:
Dec 11, 2017 22:25:13 GMT
|
Post by Melodie on Aug 23, 2015 20:59:13 GMT
This is indeed a very interesting topic! This is what PH is all about I think a thread of recommended suitable cages/tanks/bins is going to be far more useful and far more accessible than numbers. I personally would tend more toward suggesting suitable cages than suggesting a minimum floor space size, then have the member have to go off and measure up bins and whatnot. Suitable bins in the UK aren't that easy to get hold of as in other areas, and cages too are difficult to get in suitable sizes anywhere other than online. Zooplus for example has excellent cages than give masses of space When I'm back from leave I'll post some cages available here that'd be suitable And Melodie if you wanna adopt this little pet project ( :-P :-P :-P ) of writing up a thread, that'd be awesome! I would be glad to write up a North American guide of suitable cages if somebody else wants to tackle a UK version since I know nothing about what can be found on that side of the pond It makes sense to have two versions doesn't it? I don't know when I'll get too it, but I'll get it done
|
|
Lizzie
Posts: 70
Last Online:
Dec 6, 2015 22:24:46 GMT
|
Post by Lizzie on Aug 23, 2015 21:13:18 GMT
|
|
Azayles
Posts: 550
Last Online:
Feb 13, 2023 3:21:17 GMT
|
Post by Azayles on Aug 23, 2015 22:39:14 GMT
This is indeed a very interesting topic! This is what PH is all about I think a thread of recommended suitable cages/tanks/bins is going to be far more useful and far more accessible than numbers. I personally would tend more toward suggesting suitable cages than suggesting a minimum floor space size, then have the member have to go off and measure up bins and whatnot. Suitable bins in the UK aren't that easy to get hold of as in other areas, and cages too are difficult to get in suitable sizes anywhere other than online. Zooplus for example has excellent cages than give masses of space When I'm back from leave I'll post some cages available here that'd be suitable And Melodie if you wanna adopt this little pet project ( :-P :-P :-P ) of writing up a thread, that'd be awesome! I would be glad to write up a North American guide of suitable cages if somebody else wants to tackle a UK version since I know nothing about what can be found on that side of the pond It makes sense to have two versions doesn't it? I don't know when I'll get too it, but I'll get it done Or even a global one, but use this thread for people to post links and other info in I can make a UK post when I'm back at the laptop confuser
|
|
ping
Posts: 93
Last Online:
Mar 23, 2017 16:21:07 GMT
|
Post by ping on Aug 25, 2015 23:34:55 GMT
Throwing my spanner into the works here, I really would oppose a "360 sq in" minimum. It really irks me to see this number bandied about on so many place on the internet as "the standard minimum", when really, it's not at all. It was made up on a hamster forum specifically because it happened to be the size of the 20 gallon long, which is (a) bigger than your average Crittertrail, and (b) fairly universal and easy to get your hands on. I don't doubt that this started as a nice idea with good intentions and a clear, not-so-intimidating structure for new owners to aim for, but in reality, it became a set-in-stone rule, a number to reach. People with cages at 355 sq in were told it wasn't adequate and that they "HAVE to upgrade to meet the minimum!!", while those at 360 sq in were told, "hey, no, that's fine, it meets the minimum!" If we have a minimum, I would very strongly want it to be based on a hamster's needs, and on actual research... not on the convenience of the hamster owner. Sure, a 20 gallon tank is fairly easy to find but I honestly *don't* think it's adequate, and to me it seems sheer insanity to base a whole dogma of what the "real minimum" is on this. I'd honestly say, make a gallery. The guidelines should be based on seeing the set-up and recommending, if necessary, upgrades... to which we could point the member to a number of possible options that are suitable.
|
|
Lizzie
Posts: 70
Last Online:
Dec 6, 2015 22:24:46 GMT
|
Post by Lizzie on Aug 26, 2015 0:46:45 GMT
Throwing my spanner into the works here, I really would oppose a "360 sq in" minimum. It really irks me to see this number bandied about on so many place on the internet as "the standard minimum", when really, it's not at all. It was made up on a hamster forum specifically because it happened to be the size of the 20 gallon long, which is (a) bigger than your average Crittertrail, and (b) fairly universal and easy to get your hands on. I don't doubt that this started as a nice idea with good intentions and a clear, not-so-intimidating structure for new owners to aim for, but in reality, it became a set-in-stone rule, a number to reach. People with cages at 355 sq in were told it wasn't adequate and that they "HAVE to upgrade to meet the minimum!!", while those at 360 sq in were told, "hey, no, that's fine, it meets the minimum!" If we have a minimum, I would very strongly want it to be based on a hamster's needs, and on actual research... not on the convenience of the hamster owner. Sure, a 20 gallon tank is fairly easy to find but I honestly *don't* think it's adequate, and to me it seems sheer insanity to base a whole dogma of what the "real minimum" is on this. I'd honestly say, make a gallery. The guidelines should be based on seeing the set-up and recommending, if necessary, upgrades... to which we could point the member to a number of possible options that are suitable. Everything you've said makes complete sense. I guess the one problem is that the only thing I've read says 1550 square inches and above (which is a great size) but we need to find some practical options for people.
|
|
Azayles
Posts: 550
Last Online:
Feb 13, 2023 3:21:17 GMT
|
Post by Azayles on Aug 26, 2015 5:48:55 GMT
Indeed, having a set-in-stone minimum in place isn't the best solution when a few inches either way is the diffence between a pass and a fail. Even better then, to have a gallery of suitable cages from difference parts of the hamsterverse, and members can pick from those cages, or use them as an idea of what is suitable and source their own cage.
|
|
Lizzie
Posts: 70
Last Online:
Dec 6, 2015 22:24:46 GMT
|
Post by Lizzie on Aug 26, 2015 15:34:53 GMT
Indeed, having a set-in-stone minimum in place isn't the best solution when a few inches either way is the diffence between a pass and a fail. Even better then, to have a gallery of suitable cages from difference parts of the hamsterverse, and members can pick from those cages, or use them as an idea of what is suitable and source their own cage. Yes, I completely agree, but what do we consider suitable? For example, I consider a detolf a very suitable cage but somebody else might find one measly crittertrail suitable. I guess what Im saying is that we really need to pile together some studies that show the stress levels of hamsters small cages. That way people can make there own decisions based on those studies. There are only 2 that I know of. Ill try and find some more (if there are any) but post the ones that I do know of down below.
|
|
|