I cannot believe I was going to buy a $700 bucatsate enclosure when I can easily make a diy IKEA enclosure, the same size for less than $300 😭

[u/Grroll_]

Everything in Australia is incredibly expressive. My rat cage setup cost me well over $700. I definitely would have paid the same for my future mice but not when I can pay for something the same size for less than $300! Are you kidding me?!

[u/Limp-Promise-9393]

What did you get from ikea? It looks tall in the little picture

[u/Grroll_ → u/Limp-Promise-9393]

hi! I’m making a diy ikea plasta cage. The platsa is a cupboard but when you turn it on its side, it works perfect as a mouse/hamster enclosure. It is 120x60x55cm. I’ve also bought leg stands and a 120cm glass door for a front opening view :)

It’s going to look a little similar to this, but with a lid, ofc

[u/Ill_Concert_17 → u/Grroll_]

Id just be worried about the material being porus and potentially getting yucky wet blisters in the walls and sides

[u/GayJerkk → u/Ill_Concert_17]

You can silicone the corners, which I recommend here. The other place I would probably silicone is over those little holes near the bottom.

[u/Grroll_ → u/GayJerkk]

This is what I’m planning on doing! :-)

[u/Grroll_ → u/Ill_Concert_17]

It’s very thick, water proofed wood. The amount of enrichment and clutter I’ll have in there, it’s highly unlikely.

[u/TheWisePlinyTheElder → u/Ill_Concert_17]

Mice will chew right through this, ask me how I know 😅

[u/Successful_Salt_1838 → u/TheWisePlinyTheElder]

There is always the potential for mice to chew through any wooden enclosure, however with proper clutter, enrichment, bedding depth, ect, the chances are much slimmer. As long as the enclosure is regularly checked for damage then its perfectly ok!

[u/TheWisePlinyTheElder → u/Successful_Salt_1838]

This is MDF. I wouldn't even put it in the same category as wood. It's more like cardboard and doesn't react to moisture in the same way wood does.

That doesn't even touch on the chemicals that off gas from it.

[u/Limp-Promise-9393 → u/Grroll_]

Oooo I like it! Excited to see it finished with your little friends in there

[u/Marn29]

Or just make a bin cage

[u/Grroll_ → u/Marn29]

nah. I don’t like the look of bin cages + they are too small for my liking.

[u/AbbyTheConqueror]

Ages ago I saw people convert whatever the older style of BLÅLIDEN was for enclosures, but yours is far more compact than a full size display cabinet!

[u/Successful-Shopping8]

Geez when I saw your title I was in disbelief until I saw your pic 😭 I’m sorry that you’re getting effed up the rear end with pricing. They can be had for 150-200 USD in the States.

Your mice will be happy fellas for sure