Easiest cages for cleaning with bug outbreaks

[Maz]

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!

 

[Amy]

Good morning Maz
The Bucatstate is built the same as my Vevor cage. The are pretty simple to dismantle and build up. I do hope i never have to experience an outbreak though

 

[Socks' Mum]

A large wooden cage would be quite difficult to disinfect I would think. I think most cages should need to be dismantled down to the last nuts and bolts. Could moths and lice hide in worn paintwork? Storing potential sources of moths and lice near the cage could be a risk

 

[Amy]

A large wooden cage would be quite difficult to disinfect I would think. I think most cages should need to be dismantled down to the last nuts and bolts. Could moths and lice hide in worn paintwork? Storing potential sources of moths and lice near the cage could be a risk

Scratch scratch 🫪
My worst nightmare

 

[Magpie]

Yes. The bucatstate is relatively simple to assemble/dismantle (much easier with 2 sets of hands) however the entire frame being hollow means lots of additional cleaning and disinfecting which was tricky and very time consuming.

The long horizontal parts of the frame were very difficult for me to clean as I do not have a bath and they don’t fit in the sink!

The legs although hollow do also have internal bits screws etc so even more difficult to clean as not a simple hollow tube like the others. They are all also pretty narrow so you can’t use a bottle brush or anything.

There are also the corner connectors which need cleaned and are fiddly.

I think if you have a bath then I would say it should be a bit easier as you could fully submerge and soak all parts of the frame.

Drying them sufficiently was also a total nightmare!

 

[Amy]

Yes. The bucatstate is relatively simple to assemble/dismantle (much easier with 2 sets of hands) however the entire frame being hollow means lots of additional cleaning and disinfecting which was tricky and very time consuming.

The long horizontal parts of the frame were very difficult for me to clean as I do not have a bath and they don’t fit in the sink!

The legs although hollow do also have internal bits screws etc so even more difficult to clean as not a simple hollow tube like the others. They are all also pretty narrow so you can’t use a bottle brush or anything.

There are also the corner connectors which need cleaned and are fiddly.

I think if you have a bath then I would say it should be a bit easier as you could fully submerge and soak all parts of the frame.

Drying them sufficiently was also a total nightmare!

I do hope it was the last time you had to do this

 

[Maz]

I think any cage, if it has to be fully disinfected due to this type of thing, would not be easy. All cages have ventilation of some kind so bars or awkward slots. I do have a bath but it's still pretty awkward and can't be "submerged" as the cages are so big. The plaza does disassemble so the panels are separate from the struts (like the Bucatstate) but that just gives more single pieces to disinfect individually! I guess even a glass tank has corners and crevices with silicone etc. Although potentially perhaps the easiest to disinfect. But there is still a lid to deal with. I've never got on with glass tanks due to only being top opening.