FN - one or two levels for one chin?

[poha_b]

OK... you guys and your FN's have swayed me! I like the fully opening doors of the FN and the solid bottom (I want to move from aspen shavings to fleece). I have bought a chin spin from Quality Cages and my boy loves it, but I'm not to keen on the wire bottom floor (yes, yes, he would have ample resting spots) and the smaller doors (for cleaning and rearranging purposes). He's mostly litter trained, in the bigger cage, I'd get him a bigger litter pan.

He is currently in a Super Pet cage with 2 shelves; with the floor, he has 3 levels. It measures 29.5" long x 17" deep x 30" high. I'm thinking he will be sad if I downgrade him into a one level FN which is 36" long x 25" deep x 38.5" high (but the cage itself is only 24" high). The double cage (#182) ends up being 62" high, 2" higher than me!

Do you think he would be sad in "downgrading" to the one level FN? Or should I just get the two level and be done with it and just be extra careful if I need to move it? At night, he loves to sit on the top level and chill out.

 

[Amethyst]

The total overall space will be larger, so I don't think he would be sad, yes it's shorter but only by 6 inches. One level is plenty big enough for a single chin, however bigger is always better. If cost isn't an issue I'd just go with the double, it's much cheaper then getting an add on later if you decide you want it. Also if worse comes to worse and the size is just too big for you you can take the top unit off and put the cage top on the bottom unit.

If you mean move it as in moving it to clean, it's on wheels and pretty stable, it wont tip over, I move mine all the time to clean around and under it. If you are talking about moving with it, the top unit comes off pretty easily making it just as manageable as two single ones.

 

[Chinmama]

We have two chinchillas in one FN and they each have their own level. I think one level is plenty of room if you add enough stuff to maximize all the space. If we had the room for two FN's, I would totally let each chinchillas have their own two level cage. But really, one level is plenty.

 

[poha_b]

Thanks Amethyst & Chinmama!

Amethyst - I meant move like....moving the cage to another room. I'm going to have new kitchen cabinets installed this year and since I live in a small apartment, so it's like a kitchen living room, so I will need to move him to the bedroom during the day and the last thing I want to do is tip over this 100 pound monstrosity. Good to know I can take it apart too!

Chinmama - yay I think height-wise, he'll still be able to look out from the single FN but I think he will be so happy in the double.

I'm budgeting for this and I'm not in a rush. Nothing is wrong with his current cage, I would like to have the new cage before one of the doors breaks (they attach with loops onto a cage bar and I can see the usage has rubbed off some of the powder coating and there's rust under the looped bar). I think it's mostly my allergies that made me investigate options (he was already re-homed once and I wouldn't do that to him again) for him and me.

 

[Chinmama]

Here are ours in their single levels. This is when they first moved in, they've changed probably 100x since then.

 

[poha_b]

Oh wow, Chinmama, those are awesome! It looks like I'll have to wait longer, Amazon is out of stock and trying to push the Critter Nation as the "new" model. I've read that the bars aren't as strong as the FN. Plus, I have a boy and no plans to get any more so I don't need the smaller bar spacing.

 

[Chinmama]

Our cage came from here: www.ferret.com

They have great sales from time to time, so keep an eye out for a good deal if you have some time before you need to buy. I think we got our double unit for $140-ish, including shipping.

 

[poha_b]

I will check, but being in Hawaii, we don't get those free freight deals. That's the only reason I prefer Amazon, the costs are right there when I'm logged in. Looks like the FN 182 might be on back order (probably why Amazon doesn't have any). I book marked it so I can drive myself crazy.

I might go ahead and order all those fancy fleece thing since those usually take a few weeks for the person to make. I'm definitely going to get a tube, my boy loved the cardboard one. I took it out because of the mess he was making (then peeing on) LOL

 

[Shenanigans]

Hawaii makes things more difficult. Try keeping an eye out on craigslist or local stuff like it. I've found some good deals on used cages that way. I've gotten a double feisty ferret and a double critter nation I'm planning on scrubbing up and taking some rustoleum (a de-ruster, a rust preventive and a galvanizing spray) to when it warms up this summer.

 

[poha_b]

Thanks Shenanigans! I check but some people have no idea what a chin is and try to put them into a rabbit cage there aren't many people who have them here, I think it's too much work.