tish
Warbling Degu
Posts: 33
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Post by tish on Sept 23, 2017 11:35:44 GMT
Hi guys, I need to find a carrier to put 2 degus into for a 50min car journey (and any future vet visits). Unfortunately the people I am taking the degus from do not have any travel cages, they suggested using my cat carrier but these are plastic and I'm not very confident that it will make the journey if both girls decide to have a good chew! Do you have any suggestions? I'm not the best at DIY so preferably something I could purchase and easily modify if necessary!! I need to have it ready for next weekend Thank you Tish
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Post by ntg on Sept 23, 2017 11:58:43 GMT
I'm having good success with the really useful boxes. They're smooth on the inside so the little chew monsters can't get an edge (unless there are little edges on the inside where the clips go).
Generally for vets visits I use a 19L/24L box for two degus, but I got an 85L one from B&Q that's about 70x40x40cm for long journeys and may become my vet visiting carrier if my ridiculously long goos don't stop chewing that edge I mentioned earlier.
To add extra ventilation other than the stuff that gets under the lid I just heated a screwdriver up over a gas hob and drove it through the plastic lid about 16 times.
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Post by moletteuk on Sept 23, 2017 18:51:23 GMT
I think other people have modified metal wire cat carriers.
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Post by zenaida on Sept 24, 2017 2:44:54 GMT
I know you said you prefer not to DIY, but in case you might consider it, here's an example: deguworld.proboards.com/post/154547/threadI made that one and the thing I really love about it is that it is secure enough for a degu to overnight in it if necessary.
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Post by Karma on Sept 24, 2017 22:06:04 GMT
I use a plastic carrier for my guys but it's only a 20 minute travel and yes there are holes where they chewed. I think they would be fine in a 10 gallon tank. My guys never move around when they are in the car - hide under the blanket in a tube and stay there. Including the hour ride when I moved to Okotoks (they were in my old 30 gallon tank). If you are going to need to regularly take them places there are some super fancy bird metal cages but they will put you back $150 or so.
You could also look for one of old Hagen hamster starter cages - the bars go right down to the bottom so they can't chew on the plastic. You would just want to attach a cord around the whole so the bottom doesn't accidentally pop off.
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Post by bouncy on Sept 25, 2017 12:52:46 GMT
I use a plastic-coated wire cat carrier. I've replaced the base with wood, and put sides to the base to keep substrate in. Works well, they''ve never escaped, and can't chew through it!
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tish
Warbling Degu
Posts: 33
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Post by tish on Sept 25, 2017 18:48:42 GMT
Thank you for the advice guys, I'll see if I can grab a temporary box for now that will handle the drive. I can't foresee them travelling very often, only the odd vet trip when necessary so my main concern is this initial trip in case the girls turn out to be big chewers when on the move!!
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Post by zenaida on Sept 25, 2017 19:02:33 GMT
I have only done one trip with my girls (to bring them home). But I have seen reported multiple times: they usually hide for the trip. They are taken from their home, it smells weird, and this is a new person, so they just dig in deep. This post is from when I brought them home: deguworld.proboards.com/post/154693/thread Note the brown and white cardboard box in there. In the third picture, 5 out of 6 are hiding in there and it is a super small space. They never came out the whole 45 minute ride. Let alone be bold enough to chew things. My experience seems to be common when they are first coming home. Now, down the road for vet visits, especially if one of them goes frequently enough to get used to the experience... well all bets are off!
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Post by ntg on Sept 25, 2017 19:52:31 GMT
Just because I've had a different experience with some of my lads... Sherlock and Watson spent the ENTIRE 2-2 1/2 hour journey from Tyne and Wear to Edinburgh being very active and nosy rather than hiding. Venk on the other hand barely left his house unless we stopped the car. You don't really know ehat they're going to be like until you get them in that situation
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Post by zenaida on Sept 25, 2017 19:55:45 GMT
Thanks for correcting me. There really is no way to predict how they will react.
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Post by misscatafer on Sept 25, 2017 20:46:30 GMT
Mine have all been really active during travelling too, Toby and Boo both spent much of their journey from their old homes enjoying the views out of the windows when in their cages. We use a shop bought pet carrier from an independent pet shop for the vets, it cost around £10 I think. It does the job, but is made of plastic and they have made a good job of it, lots and lots of chewing and trying to see what is going on during those journeys!
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Post by bouncy on Sept 25, 2017 21:10:51 GMT
Scaredygoo is very active when we're in the car, too. The most active I've seen him!
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tish
Warbling Degu
Posts: 33
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Post by tish on Sept 27, 2017 12:39:54 GMT
Well turns out the lady I was supposed to be taking them from has changed their mind and have decided to keep them.
So I guess I'll put this on hold until I find the rights goos for me!
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Post by moletteuk on Sept 27, 2017 16:37:57 GMT
Oh, that's a shame. I'm sure some more will turn up.
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Post by deguconvert on Sept 28, 2017 18:01:02 GMT
I'm so sorry! That a huge disappointment for you! I hope you were notified before making the trip over.
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tish
Warbling Degu
Posts: 33
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Post by tish on Sept 28, 2017 18:59:33 GMT
I'm so sorry! That a huge disappointment for you! I hope you were notified before making the trip over. Fortunately yes, I was due to collect them on Saturday and messaged her to check it was all still ok. Very disappointing but I'm now searching elsewhere for rescues, and I've found this custom built cage which I'm going to be collecting on Sunday which looks incredible!!! So maybe it was meant to be I've also just received some items I ordered in preperation, so at least I'll have everything together when I do get them!! imgur.com/GdwSzgs
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Post by Bexi87 on Sept 28, 2017 20:03:06 GMT
Cool. What are the dimensions of the cage?
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tish
Warbling Degu
Posts: 33
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Post by tish on Sept 28, 2017 20:09:47 GMT
Cool. What are the dimensions of the cage? I'm not sure of dimensions, but it's bigger than the one I was going to be taking with the 2 girls. I put a link on my post to a photo of it, should be plenty big enough. He custom built it for his own goos
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Post by Bexi87 on Sept 28, 2017 20:20:23 GMT
I saw the picture but you can't really see how big it is. It's probably worth asking for the dimensions. One so you know how big it is and two you can plan ahead if it needs modifications. The picture is quite dark so my first thought would be lights?
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tish
Warbling Degu
Posts: 33
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Post by tish on Sept 29, 2017 6:25:38 GMT
I'll ask him but not sure he'll have them to hand, the cage is in storage at the moment so he won't be able to measure. As I'm collecting Sunday and now have no time restraints on picking up some goos I will have plenty of time to get organised. Once I have the cage I'll measure up and post photos, suggestions are always welcome although I'm not very good at DIY!!!!
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