Modified cage for babies

[ra]

Last night it became very clear I would have to do something to modify my cage for the baby Degus.

I'd clipped some heavy cardboard about 5 inches high around the bottom of the cage so they couldn't grab a hold of the top ledge of the cage bottom and chin themselves up and out.

That was fine last week...now they not only climb the cage wires, they are now climbing the ramps to the higher levels! Unfortunately they are still small enough to fit through the cage wires. So off we go to get some hardware cloth (wire mesh-like with either 1/2" or 1/4" holes.) with 1/4" holes to wrap the entire sides of the cage with. Works great. Allows good lighting and air flow through the cage. Cut the doors out and then wired hardware cloth to the door wires too.

I never planned on babies but this cage modification will be good for the adults too. Keeps them from flinging bedding out of the cage all over the place.

[Bosley]

I'm in need of ideas - ours are currently housed in an aquarium (that's how we aquired them)...not ideal but we are not in a position to upgrade yet. We have 4 degus currently (1 newborn).

[ra]

There are directions on how to add a caged section to your aquarium on www.degus.org I believe.

Our current habitat is a three level Chinchilla cage labeled "My First Home" by super pet. Bought it at PetCo here in the States. The only problem with it is the base is plastic and Mocha quickly began chewing holes in it! My husband and Dad fashioned a base guard by lining the sides of the base with aluminum flashing. They rolled and hammered the top edge over so no one gets cut on a sharp edge. It's worked great.

I did email one of the cage.com companies and asked if they could modify their multi-level Chinchilla cage replacing the plastic floors on the levels and the plastic base. I haven't heard back from them as of yet.

[taz13]

We, have our boys in an aquarium. So when it was time to expand, my husband built an addition.

Made of interlocking wood three sides and the front is chicken wire. The top is a screen recommend by the pet store.

My husband cut a circle in the bottom in the middle. They get from one level to the next by the way of tree branch and a piece of 1 X 1 that sits at the top of the aquarium.

The addition is mounted on the lip on the aquarium inside. When it comes to feeding, just side a little bit and reach in.

They have been living like this for about 5 months and little damage to the wood.