Cage help :)

[Jordan]

Hello, I'm hoping to get a pair of rats in the not so distant future. Just currently researching and getting all my information straight before I do. So any information given would be massively appreciated.

Does anyone have the thicket cage that pets at home were selling for degu's? As far as I can tell it is unsuitable for degu's but seems to be the right dimensions for rats. I do however want to double check this and find out if any moderations would need to be made to this cage to make it rat friendly. I have picked one up cheeply it's roughly 3ft in length by almost 3 ft in hight. I figured it was worth buying anyway even if it's not up to par as it can be used as temp cages for my other pets.
I have seen two or three of these exact cages being sold near me within the last week. So it wouldn't be difficult to buy another and attach the two together.

 

[SQ]

You will want a huge cage - the bigger the better …. at least 4 or 5 cubic feet in size (there are cage calculators on the internet) with a base at least 30 in by 18 in and height with large levels …. but bigger then that is better. There are some decent cages designed for rats that people in the UK have

Check out the habitat section for ideas such as https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/cn-pictures-show-em-off.10041/ and https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/martins-vs-ferret-nation.1127/#post-18452

 

[jorats]

36 inches in length is good. But you will want to add more levels and remove that wood. Rat urine on wood is the worst!

 

[SQ]

I don't know if your cage is powder coated, but you will want a cage that is powder coated - paint is baked onto the wire
because like wood, galvanized cages will smell bad ……

 

[Jordan]

36 inches in length is good. But you will want to add more levels and remove that wood. Rat urine on wood is the worst!

Would I be able to cover the wood with something to keep them as levels?

 

[Jordan]

I don't know if your cage is powder coated, but you will want a cage that is powder coated - paint is baked onto the wire
because like wood, galvanized cages will smell bad ……

I'm not sure there doesn't seem to be any paint on there just wire I believe

 

[SQ]

I'm not sure there doesn't seem to be any paint on there just wire I believe

If it is a clean cage then you could look into the cost of getting it powder coated ….. but it would probably be less expensive to buy a better cage for rats ………………. a galvanized cage will be a waste of money in the long run

 

[Jordan]

If it is a clean cage then you could look into the cost of getting it powder coated ….. but it would probably be less expensive to buy a better cage for rats ………………. a galvanized cage will be a waste of money in the long run

Hi thanks for the reply. Do you have a bit more information on this because I'm struggling to understand what this all means. Thanks! X

 

[jorats]

I personally have found that galvanized cages tend to hold on to the urine smell longer and it's harder to get it clean.

 

[SQ]

you might also be able to paint the cage … I have never done so but some people have
You would need to use a nontoxic paint safe for animals