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Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / July 2007Advice on cages needed.
I'm looking at buying my rats a cage (it's actually a dog crate) that has spacing between the bars of 1 inch (2.5cm). The bars run vertically. Is this spacing too large for adult rats? Here's a link to the cage: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Metal-Tube-Pet-CAGE-CRATE-CARRIER-w-wheels-LARGE-DOG_W0QQ itemZ280132265757QQihZ018QQcategoryZ20745QQcmdZViewItem Thanks in advance. Dewi > I'm looking at buying my rats a cage (it's actually a dog crate) that > has spacing between the bars of 1 inch (2.5cm). The bars run [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Dewi 1" bar spacing usually works for adult males. No babies and no petite females though. I like the pull out tray, and the coating looks quite durable.  SignatureJoanne Owned by 26 rats. Webshots: http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70 ------------------------------------------------------- ~Ignorance is not innocence but sin. *Robert Browning* I had a cage which had bars about 3/4 inch, and my adult male rat could (and frequently did) fit through the bars. Remember that if their head can go through then they can fit their bodies through since their bones are not connected (at least that's what I've been told). I wouldnt get it, or I'd get it and make sure that you added bars to it, or you added mesh to it to prevent them from getting out. I probably wouldnt get it, because you never know what is going to happen and if you get a smaller rat. I had to go buy a cage last week that had smaller bars on it because I had one to many excape attempts. Just know, they want to get out, and with bars that big, I can totally see them getting out! Personally, I prefer Martin's Cages, http://www.martinscages.com/. They have cages specifically designed for rats. Our four boys are in two Rat Skyscrapers. And our six girls are abusing the two Rat Lodges that I stacked on top of each other to make a four foot high monster cage. When selecting a cage, there are some calculators that help you decide what size to get. There's a nice one at the UK Fancy Rat Society's site, http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk/information/habitat/cagecalculator/. I find the calculators somewhat deficient, however, because they figure cubic volume. I prefer looking at the amount of floor space because my rats spend *most* of their time on the floor. For instance, the calculator above says I can put four rats in a two foot square cage. But I'd rather only put in two unless there are two levels, and even then four might be tight. Get a cage with multiple levels, or make levels out of sturdy wire mesh. Rats love to climb and many levels gives them room to run around. SignatureMark Tomlinson "I'm not a trouble maker; I am a catalyst for change." > I'm looking at buying my rats a cage (it's actually a dog crate) that > has spacing between the bars of 1 inch (2.5cm). The bars run [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Dewi > I'm looking at buying my rats a cage (it's actually a dog crate) that > has spacing between the bars of 1 inch (2.5cm). The bars run [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > > Dewi Thanks for your advice everyone. It's a pity about the bar spacing being too wide, as the dog crate looked like it would have been easy to clean. We would have added shelves to make better use of the space. So I bought this cage: http://cgi.ebay.com.au/GIANT-CAT-FERRET-BIRD-RAT-CAGE-EXCLUSIVE-UNIQUE-DESIGN_W0 QQitemZ170129525601QQihZ007QQcategoryZ106216QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem It's not 100% what I wanted, mainly because it looks like it will be annoying to clean. But it is the cheapest large cage I could find with small enough gaps between the bars. Neil will add more shelving. So Ren and the 8 babies will eventually move in there. I still have to pay for the cage (the painful part), which I will do tonight. Dewi :) >>I'm looking at buying my rats a cage (it's actually a dog crate) that >>has spacing between the bars of 1 inch (2.5cm). The bars run [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > Dewi :) Oh but it's a monster cage! The ratties will have so much fun!! :) SignatureJoanne Owned by 26 rats. Webshots: http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70 ------------------------------------------------------- ~Ignorance is not innocence but sin. *Robert Browning* >> I'm looking at buying my rats a cage (it's actually a dog crate) >> that has spacing between the bars of 1 inch (2.5cm). The bars run [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Thanks for your advice everyone. Our cage has horizontal bars with 1" spacing - though the gaps are actually 7/8ths". At the request of the breeders we buy from we keep our youngsters in a separate cage with smaller bars until about 10 to 12 weeks. Even so, they can get out the big cage until maybe five or six months old - however they never do more than climb the outside then go back in. In our case the cage is away from anything they could climb onto & at least 16" off the floor. So far we've had no youngsters that were willing to jump that & as we have no other pets the only worry would be them getting stuck between the bars. > It's a pity about the bar spacing being too wide, as the dog crate > looked like it would have been easy to clean. We would have added [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > So Ren and the 8 babies will eventually move in there. I still have > to pay for the cage (the painful part), which I will do tonight. LOL It looks to be a lovely size, though the ebay title has me worried. I can't help but wonder if they mean one to keep a cat, ferret, bird & rat in there at the same time. SignatureMichael m r o z a t u k g a t e w a y d o t n e t > It looks to be a lovely size, though the ebay title has me worried. I > can't help but wonder if they mean one to keep a cat, ferret, bird & rat [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > Michael > m r o z a t u k g a t e w a y d o t n e t LOL I never thought of it that way. I did think it weird and quite awful that people would keep a cat in such a small cage. Dewi > > It looks to be a lovely size, though the ebay title has me worried. I > > can't help but wonder if they mean one to keep a cat, ferret, bird & rat [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Dewi <snip> LOL I never thought of it that way. I did think it weird and quite awful that people would keep a cat in such a small cage. That's the size cage shelters here keep cats in. I don't think they meant for homes, just quarantine, vets, things of that nature. It really is a great size for ratties! Okay, I am thinking about getting the Pet Mansion from Coast Cages. Here is a link to it (even though the pic enlarger doesnt work). They said they will take the wheel out if I want them to, and will paint it any color I want. http://www.coastcages.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4&produ cts_id=46&zenid=3f51b8d154def4cfaa625f612622f9c9 or you can see it better at ebay with this link: http://cgi.ebay.com/THE-5-STORY-RAT-MANSION-HIGHEST-QUALITY-CAGE-ON-EBAY_W0QQite mZ290143108970QQihZ019QQcategoryZ116396QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem What do you guys think? > Okay, I am thinking about getting the Pet Mansion from Coast Cages. Here is > a link to it (even though the pic enlarger doesnt work). They said they will [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > -- > Message posted via PetKB.comhttp://www.petkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/rat/200707/1 Definitely get the wheel removed if they are willing to do it. There is a post in another rat group about one of those wheels killing a rat. The poor baby's head got stuck inbetween the wheel & the cage wall- the parents weren't home and the rattie died. > > Okay, I am thinking about getting the Pet Mansion from Coast Cages. Here is > > a link to it (even though the pic enlarger doesnt work). They said they will [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > rat. The poor baby's head got stuck inbetween the wheel & the cage > wall- the parents weren't home and the rattie died. I also wanted to add- Make sure you ask about bar spacing with the Coast cage. Some people have had problems with escapes. Here is the link for Martin's Cages- for roughly the same $$ they have the R-690( Rat Tower) or for $58, including pvc coating, there is the H-600RH (Rat High Rise) IMO, it would be worth looking into the shipping. Ask about wired floors- they will remove them if needed. http://www.martinscages.com/products/cages/rat/ > Okay, I am thinking about getting the Pet Mansion from Coast Cages. Here is > a link to it (even though the pic enlarger doesnt work). They said they will > take the wheel out if I want them to, and will paint it any color I want. That looks like a nice cage to me. Your other post suggests you're interested in cheap cages. If you're willing to spend a little time, you can easily build your own. Here's a description of how I built ours: http://www.casualhacker.net/rats/cage.html For even cheaper, you could skip the PVC and just use 1/4" hardware cloth and cable ties to make an enclosure. Then inside there you can put whatever you want for your rats (including the old cage with the door open). They won't be able to get out. Tim SignatureTim Newsome nuisance.at.casualhacker.net http://www.casualhacker.net/ > For even cheaper, you could skip the PVC and just use 1/4" hardware cloth Make that 1/2" hardware cloth. Tim SignatureTim Newsome nuisance.at.casualhacker.net http://www.casualhacker.net/ |
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