Sealing the bottom of a Niteangel Vista cage?

[hamsworth]

I finally sprang for a Niteangel Vista cage. I'm putting it together and I stopped when the directions said to put tape at the bottom of the enclosure. I've been reading and some people have said that their hamsters or mice will chew or tear away that tape. Others say that they didn't use the tape at all and now sand and pee drips out the bottom and also gets under the plastic sheet on top of the wooden panel. Some owners suggest sealing it off with aquarium sealant but then you can't take it apart. Someone replied that their hamster made a goal of tearing up all the sealant.

What are good ways to seal the bottom of the cage? What about taping only the outside? And if I use sealant, is there a way to remove sealant for the off chance that I have to move and want to move the cage in its original box?

[hamsworth]

After reading Luna123's DIY guide, I bought some 100% silicone sealant and a caulking gun. I went around the bottom of the enclosure and also a few inches up the back. It was a bit messy, so I used a plastic scraper to get rid of some of the excess silicone. I am a little worried that a hamster will gnaw at the silicone and ingest it and become very sick, but I didn't see anything bad online other than someone's hamster that would gnaw at the silicone and put it aside.

When I poured a cup of water around the edges, nothing leaked out that the bottom I could see. The water also ran towards the front a little.

I've got to finish putting it together, but I'm glad I used the sealant rather than the tape that came in the box. It does mean I can't take the enclosure apart if I need to. If I move, I'll have to wrap it in a moving blanket to make sure it doesn't crack.

[ForgetfulBreeze]

After reading Luna123's DIY guide, I bought some 100% silicone sealant and a caulking gun. I went around the bottom of the enclosure and also a few inches up the back. It was a bit messy, so I used a plastic scraper to get rid of some of the excess silicone. I am a little worried that a hamster will gnaw at the silicone and ingest it and become very sick, but I didn't see anything bad online other than someone's hamster that would gnaw at the silicone and put it aside.

When I poured a cup of water around the edges, nothing leaked out that the bottom I could see. The water also ran towards the front a little.

I've got to finish putting it together, but I'm glad I used the sealant rather than the tape that came in the box. It does mean I can't take the enclosure apart if I need to. If I move, I'll have to wrap it in a moving blanket to make sure it doesn't crack.

Make sure that it is AQUARIUM sealant!! It might not be animal safe and have harmful chemicals if not!

[hamsworth]

Gah. It's 100% silicone all-purpose sealant. I saw both aquarium 100% silicone sealant and all-purpose 100% silicone sealant mentioned on DIY posts, so I thought all-purpose would be fine. I've got a little one in there now.

[Kikya]

I just use the tape, honestly, even if they chew it a bit, I've never had an issue. It's not like duct tape, it does breakdown. I do think you need it so you don't get stuff underneath the sheets. I've used it for over a dozen hamsters and no one ever got sick from nibbling the tape.