degu cages - minimum size?

[fred]

This came up in another thread yesterday, but it may be useful to have a more general discussion of the issue. When I was reading up before getting my first goos, I also looked at a lot of information in German. I was quite surprised to find major differences in recommended minimum cage sizes. For example the German Veterinary Association for Animal Protection suggests 100 x 50 x 100 as the minimum size for 2 degus. Keeping degus in a P@H Thickets House cage could even be considered an offence under animal protection laws there. I therefore wrote in the other thread that “the P&H cage should be a definite NONO.”

After that I did some searches of earlier posts on this forum and realised that there seems to be a quite widespread view that the P@H cage is OK as a permanent solutions. I also found a post with the astonishing sentiment that a (different) cage was “too big” There are of course also lots of statements that the bigger the cage the better. However, it seems to me that people new to degus can easily get the wrong impression. This would be a shame, this forum being such a great source of information to newbies like I.

[kovu07]

I agree with you on the P@H cage, its just not suitable enough for Degus there isn't enough height, and when you put a wheel, house and a food bowl in there you're left with hardly any floor space.
My cage is

Height - 75
width - 70
length - 115

And I wouldn't have more than 3 in there, even though Degutoipia's cage size tool says 2-6 Degus would be ok.

[Kat]

I got my first degu as an adoption from pets at home. At the time I was recommended the large gerbilarium and would have bought this had it been in stock.
I bought the thickets house cage and thought that this was a huge cage for my pet. But after seeing him live in that cage I quickly realized that it was far too small. As kovu07 once you've got all the "furniture" in, there isn't much left.

I now have 2 degus in a stack of 3 conected pets at home cages and feel that this is much more appropriate for their needs.

Kat

[kovu07]

It worries me that some of us Degu owners, like you Lianany2kuk feel the cage is too small for one degu but other owners feel the P@H cage is fine for 3 or 4 degus. A friend of mine has 3 Degus in it, and she refuses to believe it is too small.

[deguconvert]

For the most part, the P@H cages are frowned on, however, we do try to be considerate of the financial means of the people asking. Sometimes it is something that has to do for a short while (temporary measures), until better accomodations can be found or made. Most often, those who start with the P@H cage have done so under the recommendations of the staff at P@H, not due to members on this forum.You will find that most members here will gently encourage others to look for another solution/cage if at all possible. There are members that have gone out of their way to help find cages as well.

Cage size, surfaces, contents, foods and treats are all of high importance to the members here, and I can say quite confidently that new members that don't know these aspects of degu care, learn them here and are soon able to share their growing knowledge and experience with others. Although we do use the degutopia cage calculator, we all use the german one and generally will tell people that a cage leaning toward the larger size is best when it comes to degu health and happiness. If a cage was deemed too big, it was not likely that the cage was too big for the purpose so much as too big for the space in which it would reside.

[amie]

I have five degus of my own and my cages measure: 140cmH 94cmL 61cmD. I have two of these cages. Stefan and Damon live in one and Sammy and Dean live in the other. Although I only have two degus in each cage, I thnk it could house up to four in each cage. I don't think I'd go with Degutopia and put seven in each though. I prefer the Ocotodons calculater myself, it's fairer to the degus needs

I have a pets at home cage and to be honest, I hate it. It came with the girls and it's far too small. If the degus are getting 5 hours+ out of the cage everyday, then I think it could make a great NEST for two degus. I've had attach another cage on top of the pets at home cage and I still think it's too small with the extra cage. They're hopefully going to their new home soon (theyre rescues) and I'll be buying them a bigger cage to go with).

The pets at home, in my opinion, makes a great temporary home for two degus, or a good cage to have spare, but never a permanent home.

All just my opinion of course!

[kovu07]

The other thing which I don't get about the P@H cage is why it is so expensive, for what it is I would think it should be about £40 rather then nearer £90.

[deguconvert]

I agree!

[kovu07]

Glad it's not just me, I just feel that there doesn't seem to be much to it, to make it worth the 90 odd pounds they sell it for.

[fred]

Deguconvert, it was not my intention to criticise the forum and its contributors as a whole. It is a great resource and fun to read. I fully appreciate that most of the community will have views like those expressed by kovu07, KAT and amie. I was only concerned about what I perceived as the view of a sizeable minority that may confuse people new to degus. Hopefully this thread will help to reduce this. Btw, the “too big” I mentioned was meant in general but it was immediately rebuffed by another member.

[beckie]

I did spend a full £90 on the p&h cage as I took the advice of the staff - this was before I found this site. It was fine while they were still small, but as they got bigger they needed more space. I bought a bigger cage but now am looking at the liberta tower. Actually I can't decide, it's either the liberta happy house chinchilla tower or the liberta large cage or the liberta explora. If anyone has any of these I would love to hear any opinions, they are all good sizes and around the same price. Can anyone help me make my mind up?

[deguconvert]

LOL! . . . Ok, Fred . . . I'll put Momma Bear away. Sorry if I was rather brisk, or harsh in my reply. I have so much enjoyed this site since I joined, and was helped immensely by many members while struggling to come to an understanding of the three goos I was caring for. SO VERY different from the hamsters and gerbils that I knew growing up. We were recently . . . slammed . . . in another forum, so my defenses are maybe on higher alert than usual.

[kovu07]

Deguconvert, what other forum? I have only been able to find this one.

[amie]

It was a forum for dogs.... LOL.

[kovu07]

Oh ok that makes sense. Sorry I forgot that people on here have other pets, my appologies.

[fuzzymum1]

May 10, 2011 16:13:25 GMT beckie said:

now am looking at the liberta tower. Actually I can't decide, it's either the liberta happy house chinchilla tower or the liberta large cage or the liberta explora. If anyone has any of these I would love to hear any opinions,

I have the explorer and apart from the crappy plastic trays they have they're a fantastic cage. I have 4 female goos in it and they are really happy in there. They have loads of hammocks, hanging rope/wood toys, boxes, tubes, a silent spinner wheel and a flying saucer wheel along with extra perches etc and the usual water bottle, sand bath, hay rack etc. I love how the whole of the front of the cage can open - it makes cleaning and access great.

I made deeper wooden trays for mine and they've made a huge difference to it.

[beckie]

I'm really rubbish with diy so making trays would be out of the question (trust me, I'm better off leaving alone, I make things worse) do you have any suggestions on what I could put in instead? I thought of ceramic tiles but I'm not sure how to secure them down safely.