In this short series I am going to be consolidating the list of Degu Enclosures from another page on the site into the main blog, then removing the old page.
Here is Marks enclosure in the UK. A very tall glass fronted enclosure with storage space underneath for all those degu goodies!
Pictures and info about this enclosure after the break.
Facts about the enclosure
160 cm tall
60 cm deep
98 cm wide
23,520 cm Total floor space
Kept in the living room (roughly 23°C)
3 windows
sliding doors
4 full size levels
hay, wood shavings and finacard bedding
cost £280.00 to build ($450.00)
What kind of accessories do you use Mark? John Hopewell metal wheel, custom made hammock, two ladders (one as a ledge and one as a ladder), nesting box, Terracotta three way drain pipe, Rope ladder, Coconut shell, Hanging toy, permanent sand bath, Terracotta roof tile, branches, stones, stick ladders (from pet shop for chewing), deep substrate (for digging), ceramic tiles (under the drinking bottle to help keep claws down).
Mark's Testimonial on DIY Housing
Initially they were very overwhelmed by the new surroundings - we put them in the top level with the wheel, as they have always used that as a comfort blanket (it took one of them half an hour before she ventured downstairs). They were so used to only having two levels in the Thickets cage that they didn't find the two lower levels for a while. Since then they have loved it - in particular the digging pit full of natural materials. They have all been much calmer. The best thing for us is having had a custom made hammock commissioned for them some months ago; they never used it, now they are sleeping in the main section of it.
For our part, it is great to see them no longer obscured by cage bars. Of course, the fact they have more than double the CARA and lots more things to think about is very rewarding.
The build was very exciting - due to bad weather and other financial commitments it took longer than I had hoped. We were glad to get the living room back, but the advantages of cleanliness, aesthetic appeal and the satisfaction of knowing our Goos are well looked after and provided for is great.
I would do it all again, in fact I have decided on a few design improvements already which can be implemented quickly and cheaply - like adding lighting to the cage.
The cost could have been lower but as you can see, it has pride of place in our (fairly) newly decorated living room - we wanted it to fit in with our lives, rather than dominate them (like the cage did).
We can now also have the Degus out to play on a more regular basis, which has been our long term goal.
Providing detailed guides on how to construct and build degu enclosure, vivariums and cages. This blog has a focus on stimulating and creating more natural habitats for degus...