Pet Rat Cages?

Question

Can you people please reccomend cages for me. it could be for any animal, but still suitable for a rat. i would like something with several levels. please provide a link and a price. you can include aquarium toppers and anything like that if you want to.

i am looking for the $40-70 range.

Answer 1

The cheapest, and minimal size for two female rats would be a guinea pig cage like this:
http://www.mgpr.org/MGPR/PigCages.htm#M
and it would be within your budget. Some accessories and time out of the cage and it would be suitable. Shelves can be added to make levels and more floor space.
http://www.pet-shop.net/html/ratcage.html

I have one of these cages. I like it a lot, and I made a couple of alterations to suit the rats. It's just outside your budget.
http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441781611&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302047888&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023695&bmUID=1168037816510&itemNo=1&In=Small+Pet&N=2047888&Ne=2

After that, the cages are well out of your price range and that would include our beloved Martin's cages.

Be aware of bar spacing when you buy a cage for female rats. Any more then 1" spacing and a female rat can squeeze between the bars.

It is not recommended to house rats in aquariums due to the lack of ventilation. Other rat keepers have reported that even with a Martin's Topper their rats are still spending most of their time in the aquarium bottom, defeteing the purpose of a larger cage.

Habitrail cages are generally too small with all those plastic pieces getting in the rat's way. And yum, so much plastic to chew on.

More info on buying cages for rats:
http://www.afrma.org/house4mousep3.htm

I've come across many of your rat-related questions and I sure do admire the homework you are putting into getting a couple of rats as pets.

I see that I missed one of your questions when you were specifically asking for me. I'm sorry but I never came across your question in that looooong list of "General-Pets" questions. You're right, Yahoo! Answers really does need to have a catagory just for rodents. Don't think it's ever going to happen though, because I, and others, have never got a response from them on this matter.

spazrats
http://spazrats.tripod.com

Answer 2

Like Noner said, you won't find a good cage for that price. You'll find cages.. but not good ones.

When buying cages for rats - bigger really is better. And wire is preferable, because of the ventilation (amonia build up from their urine not only stinks, but can cause respiratory illnesses. If you get an aquarium be prepared to clean it every 2 days) and because they'll stay cooler in summer.

Also like Noner said.. The best cages you can get (in America) come from Martin's Cages. Trust me. The initial expense may be higher but once you get one of these cages, you'll never buy anything else.

The R-640 ($35) is probably the smallest I'd recommend, and would suit 2 rats. (I do hope you have at least two, because rats can get depressed on their own, and often just.. stop living). I'd really, really recommend spending the extra $8 to get it powder coated, too, because they'll chew the wires (and everything else on the planet!) and it's so much better for them than galvanised. The $10 for a flip-top lid.. I dunno, it's up to you. It does make cleaning easier, however.

If you can spend a little more, I'd really recommend the H-660HR ($46). I have my girls in the R-695, but I'd really love a Ruud R-699 - it's about as tall as me and I think my rats would go insane!

Hope this has helped!

Answer 3

For your price range I suggest looking to a 10 gallon aquarium with a cage topper from Martins Cages.

I kept my rats in that for a long time before I got more and upgraded to a better cage.

The cage topper I had was the One-Story 10 Gallon Topper (RT-610) at http://www.martinscages.com/products/cages/toppers/ but they come in more stories as well as toppers for larger aquariums.

Rats need a lot of room to run in, and they need a cage that is well ventlated. Putting them in a small plastic box is a no-no so I do urge you to get the largest cage you can find for your price range.

Answer 4

For rodents it is best to get them the plastic tubing and plastic cages, because the clean up is much easier...

You can start with a cage and then when you have more money to invest then you could get the other tubes and such, If you feel that the rat needs more room to play and explore...

Another thing to consider is the plastic comes very clean and there is not the worry of trying to clean around the wire cages, whereas, they have so many undercuts and crevices that are hard to get really clean...

Answer 5

You wont find a great rat cage for that price. I just bought my rats a new cage and I paid $130 for it. I got it at Petsmart. I would sugest looking around Ebay. Good luck.

Answer 6

Well the ones I see at my animal care class look suitable enough, they have a tank and then this piece that goes on top that has a couple of ramps. They like it and remember to put some toys in there for them :). Good luck with the ratties and remember they like to be kept in pairs (same sex unless you want little babies)

Answer 7

http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441777992&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302047888&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023695&bmUID=1167964759029&itemNo=17&Nao=12&In=ALL&N=2047888&Ne=2

it's $19.99, and they sell it at petsmart. you can buy it online too!

there's also this one for several levels. it's 44.99 though. it's also from petsmart.

http://www.petsmart.com/global/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524441778957&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302023695&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=2534374302023695&bmUID=1167965026166&itemNo=13&Nao=12&Ntt=cage&In=Small+Pet&previousText=cage&N=2023695