posted
One of my ferrets is a big fatty. It's not his fault, he's got cancer and he's really bloated from the medication i have to give him.
The thing is...ferrets love to play in tubes. They love chasing eachother around and in and out of these tubes. They have special ones they sell for ferrets, but you can really use any sort of tubing. the problem is, both the ferret specific one and another cardboard tube i have(which is even bigger than the regular ferret one) are too small for him to fit through any more. And there is nothing more sad than playing with all the ferrets, and having him come up to the tubes and sort of stick his head inquisitively. Then either try to go in and get stuck, or just sort of lie there and mope with his head inside the tube. Or just go off to a corner and mope. There are still other games he likes to play, but he always feels left out of what seems to be one of the ferrets favorite pastimes.
So my qestion is, does anyone know of any large tubing material(diameter of 4-5in) that i can purchase somewhere that would of course be safe for ferrets to play in? preferably something that was somewhere between 4-6 feet long, but anything would be nice. I can tell he really wants to play in the tubes, and it kills me to watch him not be able to.
Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001
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Um, Strider, will you be at all upset if I laugh at the topic of conversation?
Seconded, sorry.
((Strider's ferret))
My first thought was PVC as well. You can get transparent ones, and I'm sure a 4-5in diameter would be no problem. Hardware stores, sometimes electrical supply stores (do they make conduits that big?), and definitely trades suppliers will have them.
It should also be possible to drill air holes pretty safely.
Posts: 1762 | Registered: Apr 2006
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posted
In Home Depot you can get stuff called Quik-Tube. It is available in 6", 8", 10" and 12" diameters and sold in four foot lengths. I'm not sure how suitable it would be, but it's an option.
If not, PVC down-pipe tubing is available in various diameters and lengths.
Failing that a good snoop around your local hardware store should provide something.
Good luck, and all the best for the poorly ferret!
Posts: 892 | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
Go to HomeDepot/Lowe's or other builder's supply store, and ask for yard drain pipe / yard drainage pipe / yard drain tube / yard drainage tube / sewer drain pipe / sewer drain tube.
They should have them in 3inch, 4inch, 5inch, and 6inch diameters with either perforated (on one side) or closed sides. Standard length for sale is 10foot. A LOT stronger than the comparable-diameter cardboard shipping containers I've run across. Might be less expensive even; been too long since I bought yard drains for me to remember.
You might be able to get some free scraps to see if the large ferret will fit through. If not, buy a couple-or-three of different size joins, test them on your pet, and return the ones you can't use.
There's PVC which will eventually degrade (especially in sunlight) to become even easier to break (by stomping on it) And a tough black plastic which lasts considerably longer (with a name I've lost on the tip of my tongue). The PVC is fairly translucent to light. If there is light falling on the outside, the inside won't be dark even if you shade the ends. The black plastic is fairly opaque to light. If there is light falling on the outside, the light will enter only through the ends. Or through the side holes if you get the perforated.
And there are flexible, lengthwise-expandable yard drain pipes/tubes, though I think they only come in 3inch and 4inch diameters.
Plus there are are various joins to put the tubes/pipes together into traversable shapes. (Do not glue if you intend to use them for pets. They fit quite tightly together without such permanent welding.). If you ever have a project which requires welding them together permanently, the joins must be of the same type of plastic as the pipes/tubes. The glue/solvent which welds one type of plastic together isn't made to work on the other.
And there are flexible, lengthwise-expandable yard drain pipes/tubes; though I think they only come in 3inch and 4inch diameters.
So it's quite easy (and relatively inexpensive) to put together a sturdy "HabiTrail" for larger animals. Unless you want see-through tubes that are as break-resistant as PVC or black plastic. In which case, it ain't cheap anymore.
I'm fairly certain that both types of plastics are safe for ferrets (they are for humans), but check with your veterinarian (or ferret specialist) anyways.
For other readers. Not so sure about hamsters/rabbits/etc, which'll gnaw on almost anything. I don't think they'd be poisoned, but plastic shavings might block them up if they swallow too much. Check with a veterinarian. I'm sure someone's tried making rabbit tunnels out of them.
posted
Oh, that poor little guy! I'm glad that there are so many viable largish tube options to choose from. If none of the suggestions so far work for some reason, I'd suggest just going to a large hardware store and browsing.
Posts: 16059 | Registered: Aug 2000
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posted
Apparently, people call the same product by different names. Except the perforated will contain either yard or drainage or both in its name.
BTW: 'black plastic' describes the inside of the pipe. The outside can have a paint-thin cover of white.
Posts: 8501 | Registered: Jul 2001
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Yes. But they're not cheap. Probably not a good choice for this job.
Just also wanted to reemphasize what aspectre said about PVC degrading in direct sunlight. Just something to be aware of, although I doubt your ferrets are outside much.
Posts: 5462 | Registered: Apr 2005
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posted
I understand that the Govt of Iraq has some Aluminum Tubes they are selling cheap.
Buy 10 and get a free invasion at no extra charge. (The cost of the insurgency is not covered by this limited offer)
Posts: 11895 | Registered: Apr 2002
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posted
Nothing much to add to what the others have said (was going to suggest dryer vent hose, but I don't know if it's made in a big enough diameter), but just wanted to send some virtual lovins to your ailing fuzzbutt. *lorbes* I hope you can find something that'll let him romp with his buddies again soon Posts: 957 | Registered: Aug 2002
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Last time he was weighed at the vet I think he was around 4.5lbs. I'd guess he's up about 5lbs now though, if not more. It's not just the medication that makes him bigger but also all the tumors from the lymphoma(he's had it for over 2 years now) that permeates most of his body.
Thanks for all the suggestions. he'll be one happy critter if I can find something.
After reading the OP I was all ready to come offer my expertise as a plumber's wife - gots all kins of pipes just sitting in my garage right now, in fact...but you've all covered the bases pretty thoroughly and I have nothing to add.
Hope you find something that words for him Strider!
Posts: 14428 | Registered: Aug 2001
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posted
hmmm...okay, back from Lowe's. the pvc tubing they had was just a bit too small. looks like i need at least 5" diameter. there were tubes that were a large enough diameter like aspectre said, but 10 feet is just way too long. how easy is something like that to saw? everything else they had didn't have a large enough diameter.
i guess i can also go out to home depot and see if they have anything different, like the stuff anti-maven suggested.
Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
Much easier than sawing wood. But use a handsaw : power saws can easily melt the plastic. After sawing, lightly sandpaper the ends to remove burrs&edges.
Posts: 8501 | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
Many hardware stores will cut it for you, into two or three chunks, if you don't have a handsaw.
Posts: 7954 | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
Also what about corner and T joint fittings? You could maybe line those up together without using any of the large pipe. OR definitely if you get it cut into smaller chunks get a couple of elbows to make it more interesting for him.
posted
My original posting was delayed by looking for illustrations&prices and by looking for cardboard mailing tubes. The mailing tubes at the appropriate sizes seemed expensive for what you get get.
And a confession: I've used a 12inch power miter saw with a fine cut blade to cut drainage pipes. Few people own such tools. Of the power tools that many homeowners have: The jigsaw does tend to melt the plastic; causing rewelding and large beads, which have to be sandpapered off to properly fit in a join. Not worth the extra time. And the hand-held circular saw can easily catch&buck in the hands of someone inexperienced with cutting large diameter plastic pipe, especially using the types of blades that a homeowner typically possesses. That bucking can shatter PVC, and endanger the circular saw user.
Posts: 8501 | Registered: Jul 2001
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posted
i checked out mailing tubes, and while they would work great, i can't seem to find anywhere where you don't have to buy in bulk.
I'll go back tomorrow and see if they can cut the tubing for me. otherwise i have some friends with the proper tools.
looking around at Lowes today i began envisioning huge ferret play environments. We'll see how that goes. Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001
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quote:The mailing tubes at the appropriate sizes seemed expensive for what you get get.
Well, sure, if you buy them. But if you asked at a local business likely to receive things in tubes, I bet they'd give you some of theirs that stuff came in for free.
Posts: 21182 | Registered: Sep 2004
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Last time he was weighed at the vet I think he was around 4.5lbs. I'd guess he's up about 5lbs now though, if not more. It's not just the medication that makes him bigger but also all the tumors from the lymphoma(he's had it for over 2 years now) that permeates most of his body.
Thanks for all the suggestions. he'll be one happy critter if I can find something.
quote:Can he still move fast enough to chase the other ferrets?
no, he wouldn't really be able to chase the other ones about the way they normally do...but he moves pretty well. he's got a funny little woddle when he runs, and he's obviously not that fast, but when he's excited you can tell the difference. for instance, when i let him out of the room, he still books down the hallway as fast as he can. His major problem is that he has a lot of trouble getting around on non-carpeted surfaces, which mostly isn't an issue, now that i've rigged up their cage so he has more traction on the different levels.
So I don't know that it's a matter of him " playing with the other ferrets in the tube" as much as it's him "playing with the other ferrets in the tube." Or just playing in the tube. He's mostly a solitary player now anyway. He doesn't usually like the other ferrets intruding on his play time, except for a few very certain games he still likes to play with the others.
Posts: 8741 | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
What about the flexible tubing that is used for dryer vents. I think its about the right size and sense its flexible one could form it into fun shapes that I'm sure would entertain teh ferrets.
Posts: 12591 | Registered: Jan 2000
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posted
You might also keep an eye out for some material to line the bottom of the tubes with, if you do go with PVC. Maybe buy some very short widths (6-12in) of the industrial carpet they sell on the rolls -- you should be able to get that precut at the same time as the pipes.
If you line just part of the tube like this, you may want something to keep the tube from rolling. Even just a few little tiny wooden blocks superglued to the outside of the pipe would stabilize it and make it easier for him to run through inside on the carpet liner, I'm guessing.
Posts: 14017 | Registered: May 2000
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posted
Hi, A different option is to purchase what is called Hardware Wire and form the tubes by hand. Hardware Wire is like metal screening but it is strong enough to sift earth with. The spaces between the wires are maybe 1/4 inch or larger. With this material there would be no air hole problems and you could see the poor guy at all times incase he needed help. You have to be handy with wire cutters and needle nose pliers.
Also use this instead of Chicken Wire. Chicken wire is very thin comparatively.
Good Luck, Goram
Posts: 15 | Registered: Jan 2007
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quote:Originally posted by Strider: i checked out mailing tubes, and while they would work great, i can't seem to find anywhere where you don't have to buy in bulk.
I'll go back tomorrow and see if they can cut the tubing for me. otherwise i have some friends with the proper tools.
looking around at Lowes today i began envisioning huge ferret play environments. We'll see how that goes.
The post office will send you mailing tubes for free; I think the minimum order is about ten. They look pyramidal, but still tubular. USPS StorePosts: 433 | Registered: Feb 2005
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posted
While it will melt slightly, you can use a dremel tool to scribe a line around the PVC pipe. A simple hacksaw will do the rest. (or can do it to begin with though it's easier if you start with the dremel.
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