im hoping to get a couple of pet rats soon and have been looking around for cages, but they all seem too small, what would be the ideal size for two rats?
2007-02-25 00:00:30 · 15 answers · asked by superbike 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
The majority of rat keepers enjoy the Martin's cages R-670 or R-680 made with the specs of a solid floor.
http://www.martinscages.com/products/cages/rat/
How about a chinchilla cage?
http://www.qualitycage.com/chinchilla.html
Next best is a guinea pig cage accessorized with some extra shelves for more floor space.
http://www.mgpr.org/MGPR/PigCages.htm
http://hometown.aol.com/bunsnpigs/myhomepage/business.html
More rat cages including homemade cages:
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=rat+cages&ei=UTF-8&fr=ks-ans&ico-yahoo-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAqFmYLsucJ9Ju1A_wytuo5cazKIX%2FSIG%3D111gjvvgj%2F*-http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch&ico-wikipedia-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAjrR1DDgyctRMOV346dKZz4azKIX%2FSIG%3D11ia1qo58%2F**http%253a%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSpecial%253aSearch&p=rat+cages
Remember that adult female rats can squeeze through the bars of a cage if the bar spacing is 3/4 of an inch or wider.
Baby rats are safest in tote cages, or large hamster cages, or 20 gal. aquariums with a critter cover. Baby rats are little escape artists.
http://www.dapper.com.au/articles.htm#cage
http://www.futurepets.com/cgi-bin/FULLPRES.exe?PARTNUM=PR2030C&LARGEVIEW=ON
Sandra Beasley and the Spaz Rats
(Rattery, Rescue, and Rat-care Expert)
http://spazrats.tripod.com
"my life has gone to the rats"
2007-02-28 19:47:18 · answer #1 · answered by spazrats 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A two level one is best. I have one from Coast Cages thats called the Rat mansion and it's amazing. The bottom tray is super easy to clean, and once a month or so I just stick the whole cage in the shower and rinse it off to get it super clean. My rats love the built in wheel too (rat-sized, not the puny hamster one). Oh, and I bought mine at Petco, so it's readily available. And the post above about hamster cages... ABSOLUTELY NOT... they are not big enough for rats, they will get stuck in the tubes, wheel, etc... get a rat cage, not a little hamster cage!
http://www.coastcages.com/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=4&products_id=46&zenid=f0613f1ccab792c52f43f16c58c44fd4
2007-02-25 03:41:23 · answer #2 · answered by blue_angel_1400 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most cages for rodents are far too small, as you have rightly said in your query. Having had rats myself, I used two breeding cages for budgies, having adapted them for the 2 rats' use; they had more room in which to climb and plenty of space for branches to gnaw, etc. However, these days it would probably be easier to find something of the size used to either chipmunks or chinchillas, make sure you check they cannot chew through to the Great World outside! They are healthier and happier with large as possible play areas, and much more fun for the owners, too! All the best - handle them often though (giving them tasty treats) when you first have them, once they are settled in their new home, and they will be great pets. Ours were fantastic, great fun and just having little dogs, they were so tame.
Have fun
2007-02-25 00:19:19 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
We have two rats, and have an awesome cage. It's wire and you put it on top of a 10 gallon fish tank. It's 3 stories total, and is really nice. Here is a good site for rat cages and supplies:
http://www.martinscages.com/products/cages/rat/
Also, on the lines of a wheel to run on..... There is a kind on wheel called Wodent Wheels, that are great for rats:
http://www.martinscages.com/products/accessories/exercise.htm
By the way, rats are GREAT pets.... they are personable, smart, and really nice. Good Choice =) Good Luck =)
2007-02-25 02:19:06 · answer #4 · answered by I ♥ SCHOOL! 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You dont need a cage for rats if they're not that large. Dont have to. Use a giant fish tank for now ! Find fish tanks at yard sales FIY also hehe and seal the cracks with glue and theyll be happy in there.
Drill a small holes in each tank sides for attach a flexible piece of wire to lid for a failsafe anti-pop lid.
Some cage sellers who want money will say fish tanks have "no ventilation" but they're fine as long as you don't ever cover over the wire lid entirely !
Worry about about a cage someday later as if placed somewhere safe a fish tank does fine. Ask a pet store dealer for screen wire lid for fish tanks. Good luck with your rat pair!
2007-02-25 04:03:12 · answer #5 · answered by Dane Aqua 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The bigger the better. But a good rule to follow is 2 cubic feet per rat minimum. It is difficult to get a good rat cage at a pet store, much easier online to get what you need.
Check out these sites, lots of good info.
http://www.qualitycage.com/rat.html
http://health.ratzrus.co.uk/cagecalc/
http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/careofrats/tp/tpratcages.htm
2007-02-25 00:38:17 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Mate of mine had a double decker cage for two rats which was about 2x2x2 feet. The rodent residents seemed to be happy with it. They were taken out and handled at least once a day.
2007-02-25 00:06:34 · answer #7 · answered by Del Piero 10 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rats need big cages as they are large rodents and are very active.
Basically buy the biggest cage you can afford and that will fit in your house.
2007-02-25 08:34:05 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
crittertrial cages. they're suitable for rats, hamsters and other small animals too!
but my old hamster, Coco, ran away and then died because he chewed through it. they're only made of plastic u c, and a few rats could easily bite through it.
just buy a cage suitable for dwarf hamster because they're pretty small, like rats
so after my experence, I advice people NOT to buy crittertrial cages.
2007-02-25 02:53:14 · answer #9 · answered by xchocolate-rainbowsx 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I made one out of an old wardrobe and still didn't think it was too big for them, in the wild their territory extends for miles. You could maybe connect two smaller ones with chinchilla tubes?
2007-02-25 02:26:34 · answer #10 · answered by sarah c 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋