Joining Two Liberta Explorer 2nd Edition Cages

[davethedegu]

Hello helpful people,

I have ordered a second Liberta Explorer 2nd Edition to attach to my existing one. I'm super excited!!! So I am thinking super thick zip ties to join both stands and wire to bind round the top and bottom join of the cage?? Not sure on what wire thickness I'd need either. Anyone have any other suggestions on securing two cages? It shouldn't be too difficult since the measurements will all be the same.

[moletteuk]

Sounds great!

I think wire of about 1mm should be strong enough but still flexible enough to wrap tightly. I have a feeling you might be able to buy special clips to do that job, but I can't bring any details to mind, maybe somebody else knows.

The only difficulty I can think of is if missing out the central walls makes the cages less structurally sound, but I'm sure can make up for that with a rod or something if necessary.

[bouncy]

Try jubilee clips! Made from metal, easy to use, job done!

You will need to put some sort of structure in where you join the two. This is predominantly because the trays sit on ledges built into the frame. Builder's metalwork available in Bunnings (best selection), Wickes, or B&Q fixed using the existing screw holes in the frame should work well.

[winic1]

Depending on how the original cage screw holes space out, you might use metal mending/joining
plates and screw them on into the original structure's holes. We have done this when joining bird cages, although I think hubby had to alter the holes in a mending plate to make them fit just right. There are also metal zip ties.
For one of our cage joins, we wanted to keep the cages on the wheeled base, which means the cages themselves don't touch as there is base-frame in the way. We bridged the gap between them with plexiglass panels (because I didn't want to lose any of the view, finches are small). The panels were screwed on using the existing cage holes. For degus, you would need to use something they couldn't chew out of, metal or metal mesh, or else structure it so that they couldn't get their teeth on an edge to start chewing. But basically we just filled in the gap, all four sides around (top, back, bottom, front) with wood or plexiglass, to make it one solid cage.
Otherwise, you don't use the bases, and join the cages directly. Or, alter the bases to join them together in such a way that the cages join directly, which usually means taking off one side of a base and using L brackets to join it to the intact side of the other base, drilling new screw holes where needed.

[davethedegu]

Thanks guys

[davethedegu]

Okay I did it but I did it vertically... I have quite tall ceilings... I will show a picture tomorrow when the sun is up and lighting is better, they are having a wail of a time

[bouncy]

Fantastic! Sounds like you're in an old victorian house.

I actually wrote to liberta a while ago, asking if they would make an add on module, based on how the cage is put together, but they didn't even bother to reply.

I can't wait to see them!

[davethedegu]

I wish. It just has a really weird design.
Anyway, Taaaaadaaaa:

[bouncy]

Love it! With so much space, I wonder if their occasional rendezvous are like strangers

[deguconvert]

WOW!! It must be kind of hard to find them in there if they aren't making any noise!

[savvy]

It looks fantastic!

Just one question..... how do you clean the upper levels?

[misscatafer]

Wowie! It looks fab, so much space!!! I bet you need a step ladder to clean up there, they probably love being so high up don't they just be very wary of those wire ladders, as others have had limbs trapped and broken in them. You have done a great job, they must be so so happy in there!

[davethedegu]

Well I used a chair to get up there with the bedding but cleaning it out will be done with great difficulty... Yeah I just used ledges for the upper levels but I ordered some more so I can take out the wire stairs, tbh they don't even use the stairs, they hate how noisey they are.

I lose Dave a lot cause she's quiet but Flash always makes himself known. Also what is everyone's thought on the plush bed I have? I saw that they can die on the soft woolly material but mine haven't pulled at it yet and I haven't had the heart to take it out cause they love cuddling... I also don't want them to get hurt though

I really (in the future) would love to but another two and expand to the side but I'd definitely have to think about the logistics of it

[bouncy]

I love the bed. My big boys have had a few like that, and they love to snuggle in there with the contents of a loo roll. They do get a bit wee soaked and chewed, and generally last about six months.

Oh, and if only they knew their white tube was a loo waste pipe. Can you imagine the looks of incredulous disgust you'd get from them?

[davethedegu]

It's good to know you've had one in your boys cage, luckily it was on sale for 3 quid so I won't be heart broken when it gets sacrificed.

i know! They love that tube, they themselves kind of use it as a waste pipe

[misscatafer]

£3!!! I wish I had room for one! I bet they fit a snuggle safe in too

[davethedegu]

Yeah! Pets at home had a sale ^^ they love zooming round the little gap inside where the main pillow meets the sides

[Bexi87]

Okay. Now I’m jealous!

[davethedegu]

you might not be after I break a bone trying to clean it today 😂

[moletteuk]

Lol I hope you have a step ladder! Looks great

See how you get on with the base at floor level, if they aren't using that level so much it looks like you still have a few inches of headroom for you to be able to lift the base off the floor a little. Or you could put some solid edging round the bottom (some degus don't feel secure at floor level). We very recently had a forum member with a degu leg broken on those ladders, so definitely swap those or attach a solid backing to them so legs can't fall through.

Have fun seeing how they use the space