The Rat Room

It’s really quite simple… rats need good air ventilation so cages are really the only habitat suitable for rats.
Tanks are usually too small, have no shelves and have very poor air flow.
Rats thrive on lots of interaction and being part of the family. A tank limits his involvement, not only can’t he see properly but he can’t smell nor hear when in a tank. Rats need constant mental stimulation, as they are highly intelligent.
Wire cages are the best but need to be a good size. I know the old saying goes 2 cubic feet per rat but honestly, even that is too small. Rats are active animals, they need room to run, climb and explore. His habitat needs to contain several nesting areas as well as a clean spot for his food and water.
For two rats, start with a base of 30 x 18… the height is important as well, this means it can hold shelves or levels as well as hammocks and other nests and beds.
Be careful of the bar spacing. Babies, females and small males can squeeze through a 1″ gap in the bars.
Unfortunately most cages with suitable bar spacing aren’t big enough and mainly suitable for hamsters.
Luckily, there are a few cages available to the pet rat and these cages are great.
Martin’s cages make an excellent rat cage.
Midwest’s Critter Nation is also an excellent cage for rats.