New Cage

[pinkie1205]

I got my ratties new cage today. It's the Large SuperPet First Home cage. The dimensions are 30x18x16. I typed it into a cage calculator and it said it would hold up to 2 rats. I'm not going to post a pic yet because I think I"m going to modify it a lot. First I want to cut the top off and attach hinges and locks so I can open it from the top. I want to reinforce the sides where it just "snaps" together. I'm definitely going to add a second floor, I just don't know how I"m going to do it. I think I might make it half wood, then the other half just put a hammock. I don't want it to be too cluttered.
When I took it to the counter the girl asked me what kind of pet I had. I said a rat. She said, you're putting a rat in this cage?? me thinking she meant that it was too small I said, it will be okay for right now. Then she said, don't you think it's a little big??? I laughed and said, you know that cage over there that petco is selling as a first home for rats? It doesn't even hold one comfortably and besides rats are better in pairs, and this cage will hold 2 rats comfortably for now. She just gave me a dirty look. Why is it at pet stores, the people that work there are just idiots off the street but they think they know everything???
I was looking at a marchiroro cage but it was a little out of my budget. Even though it was only $10 more than this one, that's $10 I spent on a big bag of aspen...LOL...I'll post pics of this cage when I'm done, I think it's going to turn out great

[Fane81]

yes, it can be terrible at pet stores sometimes!lots of times when i get rats the workers say,"this for a PET?!?! and i seriously want to just scream but anyway! it sounds like you got a very nice cage for you rats and will be making it even better with your improvements. good luck wth the second story. how are your ratties enjoying their new home? have they been in it yet?

[pinkie1205]

He seems to like it. I made a hammock out of an old pillow case and zipties for now. He doesn't really know what the hammock is yet, but I think when I add the second floor, he'll use it more. I had to put the food dish in front of his house because I don't think he could find it. He's eating but not that much, but he's going to the vet soon anyway. I put in a WHOLE roll of toilet paper and he's made a nice little mess of that. i think he likes his cage and during the day when I'm not home, I put his cage on my bed in front of the TV so he can watch it.

[pinkie1205]

Heres the pic of the cage I got
I already added a hammock, that was made out of an old pillow case and attached with zipties, I'm going to cut a square out of the roof and try to find something to cover the metal spokes, and attacked hinges and locks. i want to add a second level, probably made out of wood, then reinforce the sides where the cage snaps together. I don't know when I'm going to start this project...lol...but I think it will make the cage great.
I like this cage. The quality is pretty good, but I think mine will be better with the modifications. I really like marchioro cages, and this one was about $10 cheaper and pretty decent. I would have bought the other cage, but I spend that $10 on a big bag of aspen. I really like marchioro cages though and I strongly recommend them...I had one before.

[untold]

hey, Pinkie, remember me?
I'd love to see his cage after you modify it.
I don't have any rats but my hamster is in bin cage around 3' x 1'.
Good luck at the vet!

(- yesterday's tomorrow)

[pinkie1205]

I'm glad you ventured onto this site

[Roxy]

what does the cage look like now?

[pinkie1205]

LOL, I haven't had the chance to work on it. I should be doing it soon, probably when it gets warmer out. I'm on spring break and you'd think that I would be fixing his cage, but I caught the laziness bug...LOL...I'll post pics of it when it's finished and I'm going to post individual pics of the mice.