Bar Spacing/Cat Playpen

[pbbdegu]

I was wondering if the Midwest Cat Playpen (60 x 91 x 127 cm) would be big enough for two goos. BUT the MCP has a wire spacing of 1 inch, so I'm afraid of escaping goos.

[moletteuk]

You will need something solid and smooth sided for a pen, unless the pen is also fully covered by a lid. Smaller degus might get through 1" bar spacing, but all degus can climb mesh anyway.

[bouncy]

The mesh on the front of my cage is just under a square inch. I haven't had escapees, even with the five week olds, although there was 10-15cm between the floor and start of the mesh.

[pbbdegu]

The pen has a top. It’s not really a pen, more of a cage.
www.amazon.com/MidWest-Adjustable-Platforms-Removable-Leak-Proof/dp/B000I1M76Q?th=1

Edit: The cage will be the future degus’ home. It isn’t just a play area.

[savvy]

Depending on how many degus you have, it's going to need a lot of work to make it a suitable home for them.

My big concern isn't the bar spacing, although that could be an issue. You are going to have to add levels, possibly a minimum of 3, in order to get the required minimum CARA.

Also the doors locks don't seem very degu proof. I'm not sure how long it will take them to figure out how to open those.

Others may have a different opinion, these are just my initial thoughts.

[bouncy]

I agree with Savvy - there's a lot of work to make this into a degu home. Even the bottom tray would need replacing because it's made of plastic. By the time you have adapted it, you won't have saved much. Have you looked at www.amazon.com/-/de/dp/B0054U8UGW?

It's already got a secure locking mechanism, and I'm sure you can get feedback from other members on here who also have this cage.

If you still want something different, have a look at large parrot cages. They often don't have large doors, and you will still need to make floors.

[deguconvert]

Ditto Savvy and Bouncy.

[pbbdegu]

You’re probably going to disagree with me when you read this.

1. The DFN is 3 words: way too expensive. I have a SUPERtight budget (750 USD for all supplies and degus for startup costs). At most the cage could be $160. That’s a SINGLE level Critter Nation
2. The Degutopia cage calculator says the MCP can house 6 degus, when you say it’s too small for 2.
3. People use the MCP for their chins or goos and they say it is perfect!

[bouncy]

It sounds like your best approach may be a self build? Or to convert a piece of furniture.

Degutopia was written over a decade ago, and hasn't been updated as our understanding of degus has expanded. The author (Chloe Long?) became seriously ill as it was last updated, and died last year. We have to remember how much space goos are used to - they're ground animals with huge burrow networks and large territories. Degu care is much more advanced in Germany than the UK, and their cage recommendations are even more spacious. We stand as a compromise between the two.

We DO understand budgetary limits and, now we know them, can try to make suggestions to offer you and your goos the best of lives together. We are not experts, just experienced owners from a day when less was known about goos, there was a lot of misinformation out there, and are trying to stop new owners from making the same, often expensive, mistakes that we did

[bouncy]

It's not quite wide enough, but with careful placement of full levels and ramps, it could work. You even have the possibility of a basement extension in the future.
www.petsmart.com/small-pet/cages-habitats-and-hutches/cages/prevue-pet-products-feisty-ferret-habitat-5121843.html

[bouncy]

Not sure of diy skills, but I had a build that started like this
www.amazon.com/-/de/dp/B00XXNR43M

I covered the shelves in sticky backed plastic, used the bolt holes to cover the sides and back in ply (and also covered against wee), but you may prefer perspex, then made a panel to cover the front with fold down doors with mesh that matched up with shelves. Et voila, one goo proof habitat! All you need is a hammer, saw, screwdriver, and wire cutters or pliers, use machine screws and nuts to fix panels,  oh, and a small drill to make fixing holes in the panels! 

[pbbdegu]

Nice!!! Is it possible to give me step-by-step instructions for the cage?

[bouncy]

Of course! I'll PM you in the next couple of days. I made it up as I went along, but I'm sure I can work it out again

Oh, and a better prices unit....

www.acehardware.com/departments/storage-and-organization/shelving-and-shelving-units/shelving-units/5405832