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Subject: Re: Galvanized Cages....Everyone resond!
Posted by Larry Hardy on January 16, 1998 at 15:33:44:

In Reply to: Galvanized Cages....Everyone resond! posted by Jessica on January 13, 1998 at 13:50:32:

: My father made me a galvanized cage, the dimensions are 2 feet wide, 2 feet deep, by 3 feet tall. Is this okay? The wire spacing is 2 x 1/2. I have heard not to get galvanized wire cages, but unfortunatly it is too late for me, I just heard that. Well, right now, my baby glider is in a rabbit cage with P.V.C. coated wire. When the glider gets bigger and is transported to the galvanized cage, what will happen? My father will not build a large P.V.C. coated cage, because the one he already made was over $100. Any suggestions? I am desperate, 1 person tells me galvanized is fine, another says the oppisite, I need some direction!!!! HELP!

I have a galvanized cage and clean it often, as the sugar gliders wet on the sides and you the urine CAN break down the galvanized material into a form of zinc which CAN be ingested by the gliders IF they gnaw on the cage AND are using a STRONG bite into the metal. Birds have been known to run into a problem with ingesting zinc and other heavy metals. Having said that, it should be noted that birds are notorious for chewing on a cage and have an extremely strong bite with a very strong beak and are probably more prone to getting the zinc into their systems. With this in mind, you should always available a SAFE type of branch for your SG to chew on, it is only natural. I have observed my SGs gnwing on side of cage occassionally, but they quickly become disinterested because I ensured that I had a branch available at first and they are always using it. Anyway, that's my opinion on the subject and I am really not going to worry about it too much unless they start shewing on the cage more. Additionally, you could always house them in the cage until you could afford something else, even in birds, it takes a long time for the heavy metals to affect them.

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