New degu owner - DIY cage questions

[laura2602]

Hi there,
I am planning on getting a couple of degus in a few months time and wanted to make sure that I had a suitable cage ready for them. I was looking for a cage to buy and after looking round this forum I found a couple but I much prefer the DIY ones shown. 

I was wondering if someone could give me a rough idea of the sort of cost that goes into making a DIY degu cage? Also, am I better starting with a base such as a ready made wardrobe/drawers or vivarium (like this www.amazon.co.uk/Pawhut-Reptile-Vivarium-Terrarium-Habitat/dp/B00FTWN4Y8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1427590405&sr=8-2&keywords=terrarium+wooden) or start completely from scratch?


Thank you for all your help in advance!  

[moletteuk]

Hi Laura, welcome

Cost depends quite a lot on the choices you make for materials, like MDF vs melamine faced furniture board, glass or mesh doors etc. I can recommed you get a Wickes catalogue and a Toolstation catalogue and price up some of the main components.

Conversion or adaption depends on your confidence at DIY and what you have in mind and what you can find to convert. Some of the vivs you can get now look pretty good and stacking a couple together can give you a good result pretty quickly. I have seen them in the flesh, so it's difficult for me to comment on value for money or how long lasting they are compared to a full self build. I will say I wouldn't use OSB either in self build or in a viv like the one you linked, the surface is too rough and gives 'chompy' degus too much to get hold of and chew. The walls need to be dead smooth.

[laura2602]

Thanks for your help!
I've actually decided to buy an Aventura cage for the time being mainly due to the fact it will be easier to transport when I move after graduation next year. The plan is to build a DIY cage when I graduate so I know I wouldn't have to move it!

I'm not able to get them for a couple of months yet as I am on rotation but it hasn't stopped me buying them things already...I'm finding it hard to be patient! Also, would you recommend getting 2 or 3 degus? I've heard mixed thoughts and wondered what peoples opinion on here was?

[jamiee]

The aventura cage is just about big enough for three degus, but two degus would be very comfortable in this space. I am not sure on the behavioural side of things, but with the space, I would recommend two degus, or maybe adding in extra shelves for three.

[moletteuk]

10% off at Littlepetwarehouse with TY40 code, I'm not sure how long it is valid for, but it's working today.

I would always recommend three, I think you get better social dynamics, you still have a viable group if one of them unfortunately dies young, you have options if they don't get along so well, they look so perfect snoozing in a pyramid pile!

You would need to extend the half shelves of the Aventura into full ones to make the most of the space for a group of three.


I costed up a DIY cage the other day, I think you can build something up to 1.2m x 0.6m by 1.2m tall, plywood structure, melamine shelves, mesh doors for about £140.