Post by Darren Lim on Mar 9, 2004 23:52:55 GMT -5
Types of cages and caging supplies NOT to use
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The following information was compiled by Fearless (thanks fearless!).
New information will be added as appropriate.
Q: Can I use a C&C (Cubes & Coroplast) cage for my chinchilla?
A: No. These type of cages are made out of materials not manufactured for cages (storage cubes & sign material) the idea of C&C cages was to give guinea pigs more room and us pet owners a more affordable cage, and they work well, for guinea pigs. There are not many other animals I would use them for. Also, the wire spacing of the cubes (a.k.a. grids) is just too large for chinchillas; the chinchillas can and will escape and/or get injured because of the wire spacing size alone. The spacing is 1.5” x 1.5” and adult chinchillas do best with 1” x 2” or smaller. Wire with 1” x ½” or ½” x ½” spacing work well for all chinchillas; babies to adults.
Q: Can I use a cage that has rust on it for my chinchilla? Can I paint a rusted cage?
A: No. It’s best to buy a new cage rather than using a rusty cage or trying to cover the rust. A chinchilla could get sick from nibbling on rusty wire, and it’s best not to take that risk. It’s also easier to clean a cage with wire in new to fair condition than one with rust spots here and there. However, if the only parts of the cage affected are the floor wire and/or cage pan, those can be removed and replaced with new and the cage will be usable. I would never try to paint or coat a wire cage however, since I don’t know of any chinchilla safe paint to use to cover rust.
Q: Can I paint my cage?
A: Yes and no. Yes, but only if it’s a wood cage and you only paint the outside where the chinchilla cannot get to it, and you use non-toxic kid’s room paint. I wouldn’t recommend painting a wire cage at all ever. Not only is it (in my opinion), wasted time and effort (there’s a chance it won’t turn out well at all) and it’s always simpler to buy a new cage.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The following information was compiled by Fearless (thanks fearless!).
New information will be added as appropriate.
Q: Can I use a C&C (Cubes & Coroplast) cage for my chinchilla?
A: No. These type of cages are made out of materials not manufactured for cages (storage cubes & sign material) the idea of C&C cages was to give guinea pigs more room and us pet owners a more affordable cage, and they work well, for guinea pigs. There are not many other animals I would use them for. Also, the wire spacing of the cubes (a.k.a. grids) is just too large for chinchillas; the chinchillas can and will escape and/or get injured because of the wire spacing size alone. The spacing is 1.5” x 1.5” and adult chinchillas do best with 1” x 2” or smaller. Wire with 1” x ½” or ½” x ½” spacing work well for all chinchillas; babies to adults.
Q: Can I use a cage that has rust on it for my chinchilla? Can I paint a rusted cage?
A: No. It’s best to buy a new cage rather than using a rusty cage or trying to cover the rust. A chinchilla could get sick from nibbling on rusty wire, and it’s best not to take that risk. It’s also easier to clean a cage with wire in new to fair condition than one with rust spots here and there. However, if the only parts of the cage affected are the floor wire and/or cage pan, those can be removed and replaced with new and the cage will be usable. I would never try to paint or coat a wire cage however, since I don’t know of any chinchilla safe paint to use to cover rust.
Q: Can I paint my cage?
A: Yes and no. Yes, but only if it’s a wood cage and you only paint the outside where the chinchilla cannot get to it, and you use non-toxic kid’s room paint. I wouldn’t recommend painting a wire cage at all ever. Not only is it (in my opinion), wasted time and effort (there’s a chance it won’t turn out well at all) and it’s always simpler to buy a new cage.