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I was thinking recently about which cages and enclosures could be the hardest or easiest to fully disinfect after a bug outbreak - eg something like the book lice outbreaks a couple of people have had and the moth outbreak I've had - where every little crevice needs disinfecting.
I found my plaza cages a real pain - they do dismantle but the corner pieces have crevices and grooves in, the bars have a 360 degree surface all round, even if the base is easy to disinfect. It's a slow tedious process. And if they have perspex panels screwed to them, all those have to come off and be disinfected and all the nuts and bolts as well. Although I suppose the perspex replacement panels for the bars might make it a bit easier. I always thought the perspex tank style enclosures like the Bucatstate looked easier, as solid surfaces to spray (although maybe not as easy to dismantle if needed), but as @Magpie found recently, the legs are actually hollow and they were a harbour for the bugs as well - so it did need dismantling.
Neither are too bad though but I can imagine something like a Niteangel Vista or Bigger world or any similar enclosure with tabs and silicone bands, would be a bit of a nightmare and would need completely dismantling. In other words there are some lovely large barless enclosures now, but if you have a bug outbreak - how simply and easy are they to full disinfect every crevice? And there are a lot of crevices and awkward places.
It does make me think that traditional hamster cages, and enclosures like the maxi duna - were designed to be easy to clean. A solid barred top that lifted off in one piece, a simple plastic tray to clean. Or with the Maxi Duna - just a top perspex piece and a bottom tray. Although no bars are easy to disinfect on all sides with so many bars, but easier than dismantling a Niteangel Vista and disinfecting that I would imagine.
So there was some practical science in the traditional style of hamster cages - it's just a shame most of them weren't big enough.
It would be nice if they made something like a taller maxi duna multy! Just a solid top and bottom, no metal bars or hollow legs.
I imagine a wood cage would be even harder to disinfect!
My first two barred cages, before the Savic Plaza - had a one piece barred top that lifted off. One was only an 80 x 50 cage, but the Skyline Barney was a 100cm x 54cm cage and also had a one piece barred top to lift off. Although the bars would still be a pain to disinfect at least everything is visible and accessible and no dismantling - no corner struts or crevices.
On the other hand, if dismantling a plaza cage, maybe most pieces and struts could go in a dishwasher! On hygiene setting. Except hot water and a dishwasher tablet might not be enough and it can take vinegar or pet disinfectant to kill/remove microscopic eggs.
What do people think would be an ideal cage or enclosure, suitable for a hamster and yet also easy to disinfect if needed? Something that manufacturers haven't made yet!
I found my plaza cages a real pain - they do dismantle but the corner pieces have crevices and grooves in, the bars have a 360 degree surface all round, even if the base is easy to disinfect. It's a slow tedious process. And if they have perspex panels screwed to them, all those have to come off and be disinfected and all the nuts and bolts as well. Although I suppose the perspex replacement panels for the bars might make it a bit easier. I always thought the perspex tank style enclosures like the Bucatstate looked easier, as solid surfaces to spray (although maybe not as easy to dismantle if needed), but as @Magpie found recently, the legs are actually hollow and they were a harbour for the bugs as well - so it did need dismantling.
Neither are too bad though but I can imagine something like a Niteangel Vista or Bigger world or any similar enclosure with tabs and silicone bands, would be a bit of a nightmare and would need completely dismantling. In other words there are some lovely large barless enclosures now, but if you have a bug outbreak - how simply and easy are they to full disinfect every crevice? And there are a lot of crevices and awkward places.
It does make me think that traditional hamster cages, and enclosures like the maxi duna - were designed to be easy to clean. A solid barred top that lifted off in one piece, a simple plastic tray to clean. Or with the Maxi Duna - just a top perspex piece and a bottom tray. Although no bars are easy to disinfect on all sides with so many bars, but easier than dismantling a Niteangel Vista and disinfecting that I would imagine.
So there was some practical science in the traditional style of hamster cages - it's just a shame most of them weren't big enough.
It would be nice if they made something like a taller maxi duna multy! Just a solid top and bottom, no metal bars or hollow legs.
I imagine a wood cage would be even harder to disinfect!
My first two barred cages, before the Savic Plaza - had a one piece barred top that lifted off. One was only an 80 x 50 cage, but the Skyline Barney was a 100cm x 54cm cage and also had a one piece barred top to lift off. Although the bars would still be a pain to disinfect at least everything is visible and accessible and no dismantling - no corner struts or crevices.
On the other hand, if dismantling a plaza cage, maybe most pieces and struts could go in a dishwasher! On hygiene setting. Except hot water and a dishwasher tablet might not be enough and it can take vinegar or pet disinfectant to kill/remove microscopic eggs.
What do people think would be an ideal cage or enclosure, suitable for a hamster and yet also easy to disinfect if needed? Something that manufacturers haven't made yet!
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