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Cage progress! #1379701
10/08/14 07:20 PM
10/08/14 07:20 PM
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 237
Seattle, WA
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Beki516 Offline OP
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Beki516  Offline OP
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 237
Seattle, WA
So I got the gliders about a week ago. I also got a loaner Macaw cage, but it had 1" bar spacing. It was dirty, and for four days I scrubbed every single bar to get it clean! I had some troubles with assembly (had to go get screws twice since I didn't know the right size, managed to break one in half yesterday, and one isn't going into the hole so I had to use zip ties)... but it is now mostly together, and all but the floor has been covered in either wire or plastic mesh! I've been working as much as I can each day... I'd hoped to have the gliders in by a few days ago, but it was more work than expected. They will be so happy in there, though!

Here you can see their current, far too small cage in the foreground:


And the cage I'm working on:



Since the wire mesh wasn't as tall as the cage, I couldn't just do the top by putting mesh across the cage top; I had to fit it into the mesh on all sides so that they, well, meshed. As a result, it isn't exactly straight... tounge


Proud adoptive mama of rescues :grey: Pallas and :grey: Zephyr as of 9/29/14!
Current Research, Studies & Resources
Re: Cage progress! [Re: Beki516] #1379703
10/08/14 07:56 PM
10/08/14 07:56 PM
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,138
Lutz Florida
CandyOtte Offline
Serious Glideritis
CandyOtte  Offline
Serious Glideritis

Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,138
Lutz Florida
Quote:
and all but the floor has been covered in either wire or plastic mesh!


Does the plastic mesh on the cage door have 1/2 inch holes? It appears to be larger holes than 1/2 inch. Gliders can get through it if the hole is much larger than 1/2 inch.

What type of wire mesh did you use? The galvanized metal hardware cloth is NOT glider safe because it is zink coated and often has many small but very sharp rough points that can scratch or cut a glider when they rub on it while marking the cage.


Candy Otte
& the Glider Kids
Sassy, Corky, Mehitabel & Missy
Wacco, Yacco, & Dot
Mindy, Kanobles, Elmo, & Chipper

http://www.gliderkids-diet.com

CandyOtte@aol.com
Re: Cage progress! [Re: Beki516] #1379704
10/08/14 08:22 PM
10/08/14 08:22 PM
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 237
Seattle, WA
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Beki516 Offline OP
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Beki516  Offline OP
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 237
Seattle, WA
I'll measure again, but the plastic should be the right size. As for the metal... I don't know. I'll try to find out. What is the alternative to galvanized?


Proud adoptive mama of rescues :grey: Pallas and :grey: Zephyr as of 9/29/14!
Re: Cage progress! [Re: Beki516] #1379705
10/08/14 08:39 PM
10/08/14 08:39 PM
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,138
Lutz Florida
CandyOtte Offline
Serious Glideritis
CandyOtte  Offline
Serious Glideritis

Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,138
Lutz Florida
There really is not a good choice for a metal wire for gliders. There are some PVC coated wire products made by Riverdale that have been shown to be toxic to sugar gliders so they are not recommended unless you know the manufacturer.

Most glider safe cages are powder coated.

The 1/2 inch plastic mesh can safely be used to line the inside of the bars for the entire cage.


Candy Otte
& the Glider Kids
Sassy, Corky, Mehitabel & Missy
Wacco, Yacco, & Dot
Mindy, Kanobles, Elmo, & Chipper

http://www.gliderkids-diet.com

CandyOtte@aol.com
Re: Cage progress! [Re: Beki516] #1379709
10/08/14 08:53 PM
10/08/14 08:53 PM
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 237
Seattle, WA
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Beki516 Offline OP
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Beki516  Offline OP
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 237
Seattle, WA
So even if it wasn't galvanized it wouldn't be safe...? Dear god, I've spent so many hours wrestling that metal onto the cage.


Proud adoptive mama of rescues :grey: Pallas and :grey: Zephyr as of 9/29/14!
Re: Cage progress! [Re: Beki516] #1379726
10/08/14 11:03 PM
10/08/14 11:03 PM
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,138
Lutz Florida
CandyOtte Offline
Serious Glideritis
CandyOtte  Offline
Serious Glideritis

Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,138
Lutz Florida
Plain wire of any kind will begin to rust very quickly once it has glider pee on it. That is why the plastic mesh with 1/2 inch spaces is recommended for glider cages.

I feel like we had this discussion in your first thread about adapting the cage - there were links provided to the plastic mesh in that thread.


Candy Otte
& the Glider Kids
Sassy, Corky, Mehitabel & Missy
Wacco, Yacco, & Dot
Mindy, Kanobles, Elmo, & Chipper

http://www.gliderkids-diet.com

CandyOtte@aol.com
Re: Cage progress! [Re: Beki516] #1379727
10/08/14 11:03 PM
10/08/14 11:03 PM
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 237
Seattle, WA
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Beki516 Offline OP
Glider Explorer
Beki516  Offline OP
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 237
Seattle, WA
I've talked to the friend who I got the wire mesh from. She's been using it for custom cages for years for mice, rats, and rabbits. The mice and rats chewed but never had health issues. There also have never been any laceration injuries, but I'm going over every bit of the wire mesh with my hands to make absolutely sure.


Proud adoptive mama of rescues :grey: Pallas and :grey: Zephyr as of 9/29/14!
Re: Cage progress! [Re: CandyOtte] #1379728
10/08/14 11:11 PM
10/08/14 11:11 PM
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 237
Seattle, WA
B
Beki516 Offline OP
Glider Explorer
Beki516  Offline OP
Glider Explorer
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 237
Seattle, WA
Originally Posted By: CandyOtte
Plain wire of any kind will begin to rust very quickly once it has glider pee on it. That is why the plastic mesh with 1/2 inch spaces is recommended for glider cages.

I feel like we had this discussion in your first thread about adapting the cage - there were links provided to the plastic mesh in that thread.


We didn't talk about rust, or wire mesh at all. I'll look into the rust
issue, but I can certainly coat it with something pet safe to prevent that.


Proud adoptive mama of rescues :grey: Pallas and :grey: Zephyr as of 9/29/14!
Re: Cage progress! [Re: Beki516] #1379729
10/08/14 11:19 PM
10/08/14 11:19 PM
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,138
Lutz Florida
CandyOtte Offline
Serious Glideritis
CandyOtte  Offline
Serious Glideritis

Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,138
Lutz Florida
Does the wire have a coating on it? Just because it is safe for mice, rats and rabbits does not mean it is safe for sugar gliders.

The wire made by Riverside has a rubbery coating over the wire that emits some sort of toxic chemical that caused many gliders to have neurological issues like loss of balance, seizures and many gliders died from the toxic wire - not from chewing on it but just from being in the cage made of the wire.

This community has been VERY leery of any coated wire since that time because unless you purchase it with its original label and can be 100% positive that it not the toxic material it is not worth the risk. The same wire is still on the market and seems to be fine for animals other than sugar gliders (or perhaps we have just not heard of the deaths of other species associated with it.)


Candy Otte
& the Glider Kids
Sassy, Corky, Mehitabel & Missy
Wacco, Yacco, & Dot
Mindy, Kanobles, Elmo, & Chipper

http://www.gliderkids-diet.com

CandyOtte@aol.com
Re: Cage progress! [Re: Beki516] #1379730
10/08/14 11:21 PM
10/08/14 11:21 PM
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 237
Seattle, WA
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Beki516 Offline OP
Glider Explorer
Beki516  Offline OP
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 237
Seattle, WA
It may be zinc coated, but no chemical coating.


Proud adoptive mama of rescues :grey: Pallas and :grey: Zephyr as of 9/29/14!
Re: Cage progress! [Re: Beki516] #1379733
10/08/14 11:51 PM
10/08/14 11:51 PM
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,138
Lutz Florida
CandyOtte Offline
Serious Glideritis
CandyOtte  Offline
Serious Glideritis

Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,138
Lutz Florida
Zinc is a heavy metal and potentially toxic if ingested over time - gliders climb over all the cage surfaces so they are always in contact with it so they will frequently have the residue on their hands. Most of the internet discussions about zinc toxicity are about birds that have become sick or died from zinc poisoning.

To check for sharp spots, use a cotton ball and lightly run it over all surfaces of the wire. If it snags bits of the cotton, then it could cut or scratch your gliders as they climb on it.


Candy Otte
& the Glider Kids
Sassy, Corky, Mehitabel & Missy
Wacco, Yacco, & Dot
Mindy, Kanobles, Elmo, & Chipper

http://www.gliderkids-diet.com

CandyOtte@aol.com
Re: Cage progress! [Re: Beki516] #1379734
10/09/14 12:05 AM
10/09/14 12:05 AM
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 237
Seattle, WA
B
Beki516 Offline OP
Glider Explorer
Beki516  Offline OP
Glider Explorer
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 237
Seattle, WA
I will do that.

I am also going to research the zinc issue. This set-up is temporary, six months at most, but I absolutely don't want to put the gliders at risk.


Proud adoptive mama of rescues :grey: Pallas and :grey: Zephyr as of 9/29/14!
Re: Cage progress! [Re: Beki516] #1379736
10/09/14 12:09 AM
10/09/14 12:09 AM
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 237
Seattle, WA
B
Beki516 Offline OP
Glider Explorer
Beki516  Offline OP
Glider Explorer
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 237
Seattle, WA
And thank you, Candy. As much as I hate hearing that all my hard work might need to be undone, I'd hate it much, much more if I endangered my gliders.


Proud adoptive mama of rescues :grey: Pallas and :grey: Zephyr as of 9/29/14!
Re: Cage progress! [Re: Beki516] #1379739
10/09/14 03:11 AM
10/09/14 03:11 AM
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 237
Seattle, WA
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Beki516 Offline OP
Glider Explorer
Beki516  Offline OP
Glider Explorer
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 237
Seattle, WA
So I just spent several hours researching the mechanics, likelihoods, and actual cases in gliders (of which there may not be any, it seems; I also read about many people who have used galvanized wire cages without problems). My first step is going to be to scrub the bejeezus out of the wire with white vinegar... and I'm going to do this regularly. However, I will step up my already bi-daily scouring of craigslist and freecycle groups for a more suitable cage (and/or pvc pipes to make a cage). Thanks to a surprise emergency room trip last week I don't have money for a new cage large enough right now, unless I tap into the emergency vet fund, which I don't want to do. But I have some never-been-worn jewelry to sell, so that will help, and I'll put that on ebay asap. Bottom line, I was thinking I'd have this set-up for about half a year to a year, but with this information I will prioritize getting or building a new cage within a few months. But based on the research I've done, the risk seems very low given a maintenance regimen and a short duration of use.

I'm going to do more research now, though... despite my "bottom line" planning written above, I'd like a little more confidence about this decision before I put them in there worried

Last edited by Beki516; 10/09/14 03:11 AM.

Proud adoptive mama of rescues :grey: Pallas and :grey: Zephyr as of 9/29/14!
Re: Cage progress! [Re: Beki516] #1379745
10/09/14 09:23 AM
10/09/14 09:23 AM
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,138
Lutz Florida
CandyOtte Offline
Serious Glideritis
CandyOtte  Offline
Serious Glideritis

Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,138
Lutz Florida
I hope the cage will work out well for your gliders. I know I sometimes come across as being negative, but I would rather point out potential concerns to watch for than not say anything and have folks later posting about problems their gliders encounter.

Sorry to hear about the ER trip - I hope you are OK now.


Candy Otte
& the Glider Kids
Sassy, Corky, Mehitabel & Missy
Wacco, Yacco, & Dot
Mindy, Kanobles, Elmo, & Chipper

http://www.gliderkids-diet.com

CandyOtte@aol.com
Re: Cage progress! [Re: Beki516] #1379746
10/09/14 10:19 AM
10/09/14 10:19 AM
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 149
Massachusetts
Hamlet Offline
Joey Member
Hamlet  Offline
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 149
Massachusetts
Becki, Hope you are okay!!

And being devil's advocate is a necessity; alas, one needs opposition in order to illustrate the errors and the strengths in one's judgment. Candy, I greatly appreciate all your contributions to the threads and forum. smile

Last edited by Hamlet; 10/09/14 10:19 AM.

Trust is the quintessential bond, it is the foundation from which love thrives.

Discipline must be learned before desire is to be filled.

Patience is the eloquence of nature, and maturity of thought.
Re: Cage progress! [Re: CandyOtte] #1379753
10/09/14 12:53 PM
10/09/14 12:53 PM
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 237
Seattle, WA
B
Beki516 Offline OP
Glider Explorer
Beki516  Offline OP
Glider Explorer
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Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 237
Seattle, WA
Originally Posted By: CandyOtte
I know I sometimes come across as being negative, but I would rather point out potential concerns to watch for than not say anything and have folks later posting about problems their gliders encounter.


I'd much rather be informed about all the possibilities. I really appreciate your comments here smile


Proud adoptive mama of rescues :grey: Pallas and :grey: Zephyr as of 9/29/14!

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