Assembling & Disassembling a Double Critter Nation!
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- Äas pĆidĂĄn 22. 08. 2024
- Join me as I disassemble and then reassemble my double critter nation! Hope you enjoy!
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Thank you! I was searching for a disassemble video but I could Not find ANY besides this one!
You are so clever! I never realized a cement mixing pan would fit so perfectly in the bottom! What size is it? How many gallons? That is really good to know as it adds some depth to the bottom so that they can't as easily spew poop and bedding all over the floor in your room. I have the standard Critter Nation pan in mine and although I don't use paper or Aspen in that cage I'm always having to pick up poops off the floor around the cage and some pieces of cereal and food bits they kick out.
I'm planning on getting an add-on cage for my single Critter Nation at some point so I can put more of my rats in there. My 3 bin cages end up costing me quite a bit for the Aspen bedding on a monthly basis, but am using fleece in my Critter Nation. I don't like that only Kaytee sells 8 Cubic Foot bails and theirs is very dusty. This month I purchased 6 smaller bags of the Dr. Foster & Smith brand to total 30 Lb. equivalent of the Kaytee brand and hoping it will be a better grade of wood. The Kaytee brand has a better unit price but I really don't like that it doesn't stay fluffy for more than a day, as the chips are rather large.
Thank you! The cement mixing pan is the large one from Home Depot, 36 by 24 inches. I used to cut them but I find it works better if you just muscle it in there. I use yesterdays news in my cage and even when I had the normal pans it wasn't too terrible because this bedding is pelleted and pretty heavy so it doesn't fall out as easily, but the cement pans still make it much easier to keep the outside area clean and bedding free.
Thank you for this. I'm getting a double one used for $100!! Been looking for a year now. This is exactly what I needed.
That's awesome - congRATs on the new cage!
Getting my DCN this Wednesday so happy i found this video. Thank you.
just got one today for my sons and wanted to put in the mixing pan and i'm SO glad you showed how! my sons are gonna be happy!
Thank you for this. I was on the fence about getting a critter nation because they looked so cumbersome but you made it look very easy! What ever doubts I had are gone and I wonder why I ever had any in the first place.
First time I've seen it done, and the cement tub fits perfectly? I also didn't know. I had thought that maybe it left small awkward spaces on one or more sides. But this entire visual was extremely helpful. Thanks!
It does! Its the large cement mixing pan from Home Depot, the 36 by 24 inch one. I have cut them in the past but I find this much easier!
This is brilliant. Mine arrived today and I've got an assembly buddy lined up. Cement pan is so much easier and than making a perspex tray. Must get one.
Awesome! Wish Iâd had this helpful video when I assembled my double critter nation. A rubber mallet does help for sure.
I know this is an old video, but thank you for making this video! I just got a used one and was freaking out cuz I realized it didn't come with any hardware... turns out it's because it doesn't have any! :)
Glad to hear it helped - I know the feeling, back with my first unit I swear I spent 30 minutes trying to figure out why one peg wouldn't go into a hole. turns out the cage just warped in the mail and a good few wacks with a mallet got it in - but it was way harder than it needed to be and I really wish the cage mentioned how useful having a mallet is!
@@ShadowTheRat I'm gunna have to remember where I put my mallet! LOL
Thanks for this! Planning a move soon and was worried about how I was gonna get my giant Critter Nation cage out of my apartment (either to sell, or to take with me--I haven't decided yet; I've been using it as a plant house since my ferrets passed on).
I know this video is old but thanks! I gor rats a couple years ago after watching you (and did a crap ton of research don't worry). My first pair had one blind guy in it that couldn't navigate so well so i have never tried this. With my three rats i have now, decided it would be a good time to try it out. They love it! Thanks!
Going to go bick up DCN today from fb market place thats already put together! This will help me take it down and put it in my car! I kept googling what tools i needed with no finds! Thanks!
I have two female rats and just got this cage and it was easy to assemble but no one ever mentions that you need two persons if you wan to attach stuff to the back of the cage. As this cage is so big and deep.It is a minor thing. I live alone so it makes it hard on me to attach items to the back. I love this cage so do my ras but just wanted everyone to know
Wow thanks for this! Adopted some rats from the humane society this week. My first pair of rats in a long time. They had some health issues so I had to keep them in a smaller enclosure. Lost the instructions for the DCN glad I checked your channel. Going to put this together today.
CongRATs on your new rats - the DCN is such an awesome cage for them and I bet they'll love it!
Thank u! This was extremely helpful in how to take one down. :)
This will help me when I get my critter nation ! Thanks so much for showing us this process ... âșïž
Glad to hear!
THANK YOU FOR THIS VIDEO!!!!!!!!
Thank you! đ Really helped!
Oh, my goodness! Thank you so much for this. I bought my DCN already assembled and thought it would be a total PITA to disassemble for storage (I'm taking a rattie break).
Oh my gosh I'm loving the cement pan as a bottom! I was just wondering if that would work when I saw people on instagram removing the floor and building Plexiglas tubs that sit on the shelf below. I was concerned not having the floor grate would effect the structure of the cage though but the way it sits on there I feel like it shouldn't? Have you noticed any issues? I already have had my cage put together for years, do I need to totally disassemble it to take the floor grate out?
It doesn't affect the structure at all, in fact the grate really plays no part in structure to the point that now that I'm not using the shelf or wheels it sits loose on the floor. The side pegs which connect the side panels and the roof is really what holds the cage together.
Anyways to put in the tub this way you do unfortunately have to take apart the bottom unit. You can take off the top unit as one piece by grabbing it in a "hug" and then pulling up and out, but the bottom needs to have all 4 sides removed before you can slide out the grate. Then you can reassemble everything and push the cement pan into place.
Alternatively you can put it in like I show at the end of this video - that is by putting it on top of the grate. You do loose some space this way though so if your using the shelf and wheels then I'd use it without the grate.
Honestly though as much as I like the cement pan since I'm not using the cage wheels or shelf I'll be switching to the deep bass equipment pans soon. They're a bit shorter but good quality and made from metal so no rat can chew out. And while I haven't had any chewing issues with the cement pan itself that's always a fear of mine and so I want to switch as soon as I save up for them (they're definitely expensive but from what i've seen worth it!)
I'm getting this cage soon for my rats! Currently their cage (I used a calculator) can comfortably hold 7 rats (my cage is currently overcrowded with 9, which was a recent thing, and I feel bad about it) and I heard this one can comfortably hold 15! I know for sure they'll be happt about it.
I have boys, which I'll get theirs later, but for now I'm getting their crowded cage taken care of! đ
TY! for taking the time to show how the cage is put together. Sometimes paper instructions just don't cut it. U need to see it being assembled. Also sharing some of the things U use was great too. If U would PLS, give more info on Y U use these items in another video. If U already have TY! & PLS! add that link to this video.
Thanks :)
What items would you like more info on?
@@ShadowTheRat U do a great job with Ur videos as far as info. I know U have anothers with items for the cage. In this video when U mentioned what U use U didn't cover explanations as to Y they are being used. I just thought maybe adding links to those videos. So we can get a good understanding behind the items use. Like, the tubs are better cuz they will prevent bumble foot. Also I have been reading up on care for rats & wanted to share some info that U could implement. I wish I had this info weeks ago. Ratfanclub.com & petrat.org visit the vet info sheet. It has needed info for the vet. Again I wish I had this info weeks ago. I love Ur channel & how much U care for Ur rats. TY! for sharing & PLS! keep them coming. God Bless!
@@ShadowTheRat I was also wondering what bedding U use in the cage. There have been so many diabetes on what to use & I just wondered what works best for U. If U already have a video on this U can add it to this page, maybe?
You make it look so easy! Iâm trying to figure out how to assemble without the base so that when I add a level, I can still reach the top. (Making my double into a triple) Itâs been about 10 years since I assembled my cage!
Iâm struggling so hard with attaching the back panel right now! It looks so much easier without the bottom, I might just get the cement mixing pan
Thanks!
Thatâs a amazing cage! When I get my ratties in the future Iâm definitely getting one of these! Where did you get it from? Was it from the website or was it previously used?
Its the double critter nation, probably my favorite cage for rats in my opinion. Its about $250 new off amazon but I got mine used off facebook marketplace for a great price of $70! I did actually buy my single critter nation new off amazon 2 years back for $120 and that one is still going strong.
You can find CN's on pretty much any website that sells rat stuff, including amazon, chewy, dr. fosters & smiths, and so on. Petsmart also has a cage called the "all living things multi level small animal home" that's actually just a double critter nation with the all living things brand slapped on (its a good choice if you want a new double critter nation as its about $30 cheaper than the ones sold online).
If your looking for a deal people use these cages for everything from rats to degus to ferrets, guinea pigs, sugar gliders, birds, and more so its not all that uncommon to find a used one for a good deal off craigslist or FB marketplace. Just be sure you get the critter nation and not the ferret nation - only difference is the bar spacing with the critter nation having 1/2 inch bar spacing and the ferret nation having 1 inch bar spacing. Young/small adult rats can often slip through 1 inch bar spacing so its best to go with the 1/2 bar spacing of the CN (plus this means you can use it with rats of any age)
Thanks for the video. I recently bought a second hand critter nation cage, but hate the grates!
I feel that - those grates make me so unhappy lol, I've now changed the setup several times and I always hate putting in the grates! Thankfully I can usually avoid them, and so usually I just use side shelves and hammocks and such to prevent any potential falling injuries.
Nice,
I found a double critter nation on craigslist but only want on half of it but I knew It was a good deal thanks!!
You can always keep the second half to use later, or resell it if itâs in good condition. Personally Iâd keep it because you never know if youâll use it later - I went from 4 rats to 12 in a short time period (not expected, kinda just happened to find rats needing homes lol) and I had to upgrade from a single CN to a triple and it was great that I had another CN (this used one) in the closet to use.
@@ShadowTheRat I was planning on keeping the second half beacuase I want a hedgehog and if I like having 1 I will get 2!!
You really need to get 2 rats to start, theyâre very social and itâs not fair on them to keep them alone. Hedgehogs on the other hand are best kept solitary and 2 rats are fine in a single CN so you can definitely split it that way.
@@ShadowTheRat Oh I know you keep rats in pairs I was talking about hedgehogs XD
I was planning on for rats I would get a 3 story citter nation for 2 I like to spoile my animals
How'd you end up getting the side in without a rubber mallet? That's the part I'm struggling with and need some help
very helpful!
What size plastic tub do you use on the half shelf?
okay im a bit late to ask.. but where can i get the black litterbox on the bottom? i really like it! i hope you know!
Can you please tell me where you got the tray that you put in the bottom? Love it! I'm getting my addon on Saturday and CANNOT wait to assemble it! I'm also making the toilet paper bridge and the net that I do believe you did the tutorials on! My girls are gonna be so excited to have so much more space in less than a week!
I have bought a savic royal. Is there a big difference between CN and Savic royal cages?
This is so helpful!
Glad to hear! :)
do I have to use the stand in order for the cage to work? or can I just use the cage on its own?
That stand isnât necessary, you can see that mine is just on the floor with no stand or wheels: m.czcams.com/video/PwiHhzaYSlc/video.html
Hi, Iâm getting a CN soon and planning on putting the mixing bin in the bottom without the grate. Is it a separate piece that i just donât install or is it something that needs to be cut out?
Its a piece you just don't install/remove - the grate slips into holes on the 2 long side pieces and open holes on the 2 short side pieces and the cage can be put togethehr without it. I also have a much better video showing an easy way to put in the cement tub here (and would recommend doing it that way instead of how I did it in this video lol): czcams.com/video/gfdPzVldy1A/video.html
@@ShadowTheRat thank you! Iâve seen that other video lol. It was definitely helpful so I donât have to fuss while putting it together. I havenât seen many videos of people setting it up so I wasnât sure what pieces go where and how much you have to assemble right out of the box
I've got this one and it's all put together for my rats. But once the last one goes I'm going to try either finches or doves and I was looking for information on possibly removing the middle grate for flying space. I haven't watched the full video yet but she said she's not using the grates so I'm hopeful that I can keep this cage and reuse it.
Edit: looks like I can. That's great. If anyone has tips on finches or doves in an apartment please let me know.
Very late comment but I hope you see this...I inherited my double critter nation from a friend and it comes apart pretty easily for the most part, but I just cannot get the sides out. Itâs like there are little plastic or rubber stoppers keeping them cemented in there. Theyâve almost like rusted on and the plastic/rubber is breaking off on the edges. I feel like they werenât necessary to assemble or maybe they were meant to be removed before assembly? Do you have any tips for this? I really want to take the middle grate out so my boys can have an open cage for extra climbing and foraging opportunities
Hi how do remove the wire racks from the bottom I just got one and donât want the wire rack on it do you just not do that step of putting it in or what
You need to remove (unhook) 2 of the sides, and then you can slide it out.
Is the disassembly the same process as the ferret nation?
If its the newer model then yes - the older model uses screws (same goes for the older critter nation), but the newer one is the same as the newer critter nation (newer meaning made in the last 8 or so years).
Cool!đ
I'm afraid the person who assembled my cage glued everything together because it definitely does not come apart this easily. I thought I would have to use tools or something.
So I got a critter nation cage and atm Iâm assembling it and oh god I did not realize how big it was I am hugging and puffing trying to get all the heavy pieces together lmao
Heh I feel this - the cage is huge, and pictures make it look so much smaller than it is! Even after assembling and disassembling many of them I feel like its always a bit of a workout, especially because there is always that one peg that just refuses to go in nicely and has to be hammered on (I very much appreciate rubber mallets after getting this cage lol)
@@ShadowTheRat I donât have a rubber mallet so I had to use a normal hammer lol my parents thought I was tearing the cage apart
What size of mixing pan did you get?
The 20.9 gallon 24 by 36 inch large cement tub from home depot. I currently use the bass equipment metal deep pans though and I like those more because they fit the cage perfectly and can't be chewed - the cement tub was definitely cheaper though and so I used it for a few years before getting the bass pans last year.
As for the side shelves you can use 28 quart storage bins and they fit pretty perfectly.
Thank you Soo much!!
took me and my bf over hour put my 2and Critter nation together i wouldnt have been able to do by myself lol
I think it gets easier the more you do it. I've now assembled and disassemble this DCN 4 times (once with help, other 3 times alone) and I've disassembled and assembled my SCN quite a bit more (especially when adding that DIY section). At this point it only takes 10-15 minutes max to do either one which isn't too bad.
#EarlyNotificationSquad
Hi, i know this is an old video, but i was just kinda wondering, after assembling and disassembly so many times, does it ever become looser?
It seems to - my current 4+ year old single unit was a total butt to assemble the first time, but now its quite easy to take apart and put back together. I've only disassembled/reassembled it maybe 5-6 times now, but its a nice change.
Hi could you give me the exact dimensions of the cage high width and length
I'm here trying to put up my double critter Nation cage except one of the sides won't go on and I've been trying for 2 hours
Mallet time! Sometimes you have to give it a few good wacks lol - and if the peg is super bent you may need to wack it into shape as well. It can really suck putting them together out of box since they are usually so warped, but after doing it a few times they typically slide together easier. All that is to say it really helps to have a mallet to hammer pieces into shape or pegs into holes if they are a bit warped - I didn't show that here, but when I first put it together I also had one peg that just would not go in and hitting it with a mallet a few times when it was over the holes really helped
So these cages do not have screws? Iâll have to be picking up one in the next few days and Iâm not sure if Iâll need to bring tools.
Alyssarae Llenas bring a rubber mallet
Hii idk if you still answer questions? But I really need help. I wanted to know if the middle pan (the pan with the whole on the right side to give access to top and bottom unit), is that pan naturally loose? Or does the critter nation come with something to hold the pan still? I insert the grid, and then I just put the pan on top of the grid but it's kinda loose and it made me wonder if I have to put something to make it stay still or it's just naturally loose
Its naturally loose. If you get the bass pans they fit much more snuggly (I use bass pans now and they're a huge improvement over the CN pans or any alternative imo, but definitely a bit of an investment due to the initial cost), but otherwise the pans that come with the cage are free sitting and a bit loose so they can move a bit.
Is it the same if you have two single ones?
What size storage bin did you use for the small shelf
28 quarts
Thanks Shadow for making this video. I will use it when I get my SCN. Since this is a DCN I will have to follow what to do when you first put them on. Also I wrote a question in yesterdayâs video about ways you can interact with Rats other than training will you give me some device on it please?
The Rat Crusader do you know where i can get a SCN or a DCN?
@@charnej9775 you can get them off Amazon. You can also check Craigslist.
@@ccdeeelove6360 What is Craigslist?
@@ccdeeelove6360 And my mom says she is not gonna buy me one because i have a kind of bird cage but without the stand things at the bottom and when i open the cage the thing doesn't really go flat is you know what i mean
Charn'e I going to get mine off amazon when I am reday. I herad it is the number one rat cage in the world!!! I recommed using this video to help you figure it out. Although if you have one or two rats yu sould only get a SCN instead of a DCN.
can someone help me? I have two adult girls and I currently have a double. I'm considering taking down the second level because its a huge pain to clean both. what should I do?
Since you only have a pair a single should be just fine. Alternatively I donât know your bedding or such but I have a triple with 5 rats and I only have to clean it once a months (if that) so if you switch up your bedding and such it might be worth keeping the extra space so you can clean less frequently
No because how the fuck do I get that red piece out of the way?
Are the grate holes too big for a syrian hamster?
Nope! This bar spacing can be used for dwarf hamsters, so Syrians definitely canât get out.
Only issue is the cage pans arenât good for bedding so youâll want to get he cement tubs so you can give the hamster enough space to burrow. You might also consider setting the cage up horizontally like I currently do instead of vertically as seen here as hamsters really need the floorspace way more than the height (so do rats to be fair but theyâre a lot more agile and so can utilize vertical space better).
I am looking at ferret and critter nation cages and not sure what to get? I want to start off with one level and then within a couple months add another level on the cage. Unfortantly I don't know what models I need. If someone can help I would be grateful? I am adopting young rats this week and need a cage like that.
You want the critter nation - the main difference is really just bar spacing and which way they run. Ferret nations have 1 inch bar spacing with bad running vertically (so any young rats and even many small or medium adults can easily slip out unless you add extra metal mesh which from experience I can tell you really sucks to do) while critter nations have 1/2 inch bar spacing and the bars run horizontally with the bar spacing being goo enough to house even 2-3 week old rats (and since rats donât wean until 3.5 weeks and shouldnât be rehired until 5 weeks minimum if not 6, this means that the critter nations is perfect for babies and adults alike! You can even house dwarf rats in the critter nation and they only get to the size of a 4-5 week old standard rat!)
Anyways to save yourself the hassle of modifying a cage with large bars you definitely want to go with the critter nation. Start with the single if youâd like and later on you can buy an add on. The add on is basically a single but without the roof and with the cut out pan (the way these cages work is that you are supposed to build each new unit on top of the prior unit meaning you just need one roof for multiple units. Some people like me prefer giving their rats more horizontal space as well (something a regular CN is good at but I prefer to provide more because rats are natural ground dwellers) and in that case you can get 2 singles and connect them sideways for a cage measuring 6 feet long by 2 feet high and 2 feet wide. In that case you must modify the cage a bit but itâs pretty simple - you just donât attach one side of both units, slide them together, and attach with zip ties for extra security. If you want an example of this sort of cage I currently have an L shaped triple critter nation thatâs Ive done quite a few cage tours of on here)
Anyways to sum it up critter nations have smaller bar spacing which is great for rats of all ages while ferret nations have large bar spacing that only works for some adult rats unless modified. You want the critter nation in your case because you are getting young rats and canât know when or even if theyâll ever be large enough to keep in a ferret nation (many of my girls have never gotten large enough and even my neutered guy could squeeze pretty thin when he wanted to).
@@ShadowTheRat Alright thank you so much! I honestly appreciate the information will look into it now I know the difference.
What is the spacing through the bars
Its 1/2 an inch, so suitable for rats of any age (I've had 30 gram 4 week old rats in mine).
I also have a video here that goes over more detail for the critter nation if you're interested: czcams.com/video/qfZ8gQopv50/video.html
@@ShadowTheRat ok thank you
@@ShadowTheRat also does it have a water bottle space
@@athenamia4561 Itâs a huge cage so yes, it has tons of places to put water bottles. In fact I show several bottles in it in this video along with in my other cage videos
Did you think I can separte my ferret at top and my chinchilla down second levelÂż?
Wolf pack no because there is a hole in the middle so unless you buy a new tray to separate the levels I wouldnât recommend it
@@minaquinters198 ohhh thx never know that.
Wolf pack np đ
Ahhhh it sucks that you can't find critter nations in Sweden... ;-;
Wait, you found one there? I literally searched for one there but couldn't find one! Wow, thanks for the advice! ^^
Amazon ships around the word try getting one on that.
The Rat crusader Its best to not buy DCN's outside of the US/Canada (unless you find a cheap one used) because shipping will cost more than the cage itself. Instead most countries have their own version of the DCN or other good rat cages and for the UK and Europe those cages are the Savic Royal Suite and the Liberta Explorer. Personally I really like the Savic Royal Suite because it comes with build in bedding guards and because the XL one is actually larger than the DCN because instead of a storage shelf underneath they just made the cage larger.
Allright Shadow I did not know that.
How tall is a double criter nation in cm??
Around 130 cm without the stand, and 160 cm with the stand.
can you please give me a link
I want a cage like that but i don't know where to get one because i live in South Africa
Maybe you can order it online?
@@sigsimsxo3559 Where online? Amazon or Olx? Or other places online?
@@charnej9775 Yeah something like that! Do any critter nation on Amazon ship to South Africa? x
@@sigsimsxo3559 I don't know :(
@@sigsimsxo3559 But my mom says she isn't gonna buy me one :( :( :(
Titled wrong. So ur not assembling as it supposed to be assembled. So how can u show how to assemble when ur modifying the assemble to suit UR needs.
Beverly F. Uhh, what? I assembled the cage as is lol, all I changed were the pans! And those just plop right onto the cage grate so itâs not exactly something you need to see. Now if you look at my current version of this cage then that is modified - itâs connected in an L shape so I left out 2 side doors and I donât use the wheels or shelf at all. Thatâs the nice thing about this cage, you donât have to modify it to change things up because itâs modular.
@@ShadowTheRat u start video with half crate assembled. I found one where the lady had everything in packed & organized so she could show u parts BEFORE she started assembly. Plus she provided the list in her written description. It was a longer video but clearer than mud on how to assemble from box to complete but didn't have to watch her unbox everything either. She had the camera set up a little farther away so u could get a clear picture of each part & how it fit together. I'm not stupid but when I want a tutorial on how to assemble something I want the complete assembly directions not halfway thru & a clear picture of the parts that come in the box. I bought this cage in box but no instructions. Just want clear instruction. Sorry if I offended but urs wasn't the only video that had the camera too close or didn't give clear complete instructions. I just got frustrated trying to find someone that gave me the look at all parts BEFORE the assembly began without a bunch of blah blah blah or unpacking before.
What size do you get for the cement mixing Pan to use as the bottom?
Its 26 inches by 24 inches by 8 inches - the large cement tub from Home Depot here: www.homedepot.com/p/Large-Mixing-Tub-26101/301943160
Just a warning but its a very tight fit - if your in the US I'd recommend the metal bass equipment pans instead just because they can't be chewed, fit the cage perfectly, and are incredibly durable (I've only had mine 1.5 years now but I've spoken to people who have had them for 10+ years)