Ventilation mod needed for this hamster home?

[Maz]

I have a NiteAngel enclosure and can confirm that it is on the heavier side. I'm very glad I purchased the wheel attachments to move it around easier since we have it on the floor. The lid/ top is sufficiently heavy that I don't think a Syrian could reasonably lift it- at least not the model I have. However, the pegs that connect the top have slipped out once or twice (this is over the course of a few years of ownership, so I haven't considered it a big deal, but it did happen). It was a situation where I think something had just started slipping out over time and then one time I went to open or close it and realized I had to reset it. Ours has slits across the whole top, but no side ventilation, but it hasn't proved a problem. You can see our current set up in the enclosures thread.

Sorry for any confusion, it was the Night Angel multi room house that has the heavy lid, rather than the Niteangel enclosure

 

[Hamster Haven]

Sorry for any confusion, it was the Night Angel multi room house that has the heavy lid, rather than the Niteangel enclosure

Oh yes!

 

[ross1010]

Hi All, I received the vents for the rear of the cage, and found the screen on them to be quite thin. It's metal insect screen, similar to what you'd find on an old screen door.

Do you think a hamster is likely to attempt to chew through them? I am confident their teeth could cut it, but not sure if they can get that first bite

For scale, these are 3" diameter vents.

 

[Maz]

I am really not sure, but I would think they would be ok. Whereabouts would the vents be - high up? Not that that makes much difference but less tempting than lower down. I haven't heard of hamsters chewing through metal mesh but it's hard to tell how thin it is.

 

[ross1010]

The clearance above the bedding should be about 10-11". Ideally the vents would be maybe in the middle of that remaining height (about 6" from the top... if they're at the top, I'm not sure they offer much benefit.

It's bug screen, so quite thin. I am confident any rodent that wants to chew through it could.

 

[Maz]

Maybe not the best option then. Are there any mouse grid panels?

Something like this maybe?

Mouse mesh air brick panel

 

[ross1010]

Since there are some return fees, I think I'll just place some 1/4" behind it, held in place by the tabs and see if it's an issue.

 

[Maz]

That sounds like a good idea