Rat cage: yes or no?

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What do you think of this second hand rate cage I found? I'm trying to get the rat babies set up properly, and a nice enclosure is a good first step, I think.
Also, they're asking $70 for it. Would those of you with experience in purchasing rat cages say this is a fair price? If it's not, then what? They're open to offers.
TIA

19990325_10154677310096301_4154839897118324224_n.jpg
 
is this short term or long term?
The shelves have pee rivers and cage is rusted so not worth a lot.

If a rat can get their head through bars, they car usually get their body through the bars so you need very small bar spacing or you will need to cover the outside with hardware cloth.

What is the L W and H ?

You might want to look for a Midwest critter nation second hand
 
I wouldn't do it -- looks to be in bad shape, and $70 could go towards a much nicer cage like a Critter Nation. Or haggle to get it lower. Should definitely not pay any more than $30-40 since it's in such bad condition.
 
I wouldn't. I know exactly what cage that is and it sells for $70 new: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CETSHN2/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20

I bought it as a temp/travel cage and it's actually quite nice! It folds up (which is what I needed) and has small (half inch) bar spacing. It's actually quite heavy when folded up but is a decent size for a fold up cage! 30" tall, 18" deep, and 30" wide which can hold 2 rats comfortably but I've used it for 5 rats for a night or two when traveling. I suggest taking all the levels and putting them side by side to make one big platform.
 
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For under a $100 on eBay you can get a 52" tall:
You can make your own that's wider for more running space for the same amount. He has room to climb and run around up and down and just on the ground. Merlin loves it. At the bottom I have an old button up he liked. So I keep it there with some tissues for cold nights by the Beach California is cold at night. Use oak or plastic or kiln dried white pine. Otherwise pine isn't too good for them. View attachment 20180110_094128.jpgView attachment 20180103_094022.jpg
 
That is an interesting cage primobellator.
What are the dimensions?
How easy is it to clean?
What are you using for bedding?

You might want to add a house, hammocks, tubes (4 inch diameter drainage pipe cut to 18 inch lengths is great in the cage and in the play area with T connectors), a solid 12 inch diameter wheel, boxes, a water dish that can not be upset (can't tell if you have one), a few corner litter boxes on the various levels (for litter and also safe places to sit, hide food, build nests etc), etc ....... there are some interesting ideas in some of the pictures posted of peoples cages in various threads on this forum.

I recently read a warning that rats have gotten part of their bodies stuck in toilet paper rolls and suffocated .... so they suggest that if you use toilet paper (or paper towel) rolls, that you cut them lengthwise.

Please know that not only is it normal for rats to chew wood, but they will pee all over the shelves and ramps in your cage and they will soon stink.
- If you do decide to replace the shelves at some point, you might consider using sturdy baking cooling racks cable (zip) tied on and covered with dollar store dish drain trays cut to fit and cable tied on - I have found this to work well, although they will hew the plastic so the dish drain trays will need to be replaced once in awhile.
...... and you can purchase the ladders that come with the critter nation cage separately or get some powder coated ramps made by martinscages.com
........ an industrious rat will be able to quickly chew his way out of the wooden cage top so you may want to replace it with a removable wire lid. If your bin came with a lid, you might be able to use it if you cut out the center of the lid and cover the hole(s) with attached wire or baking cooling racks
.......... It may just be the pictures but it looks like a rat could get out where your two cages meet.

Hope you post some pictures of your rattie boy(s) enjoying their nice cage
 
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He isn't a big chewer. The dish are ceramic. One plastic. He hasn't chewed them. Seems to know it's where food is. And he won't hang at the very top to chew. He chews his toys a hit and chew treat. He goes to the bathroom in the small detachable cage. Use the paper bedding and easy to clean. With power vacuum or heavy duty. Easy to wash too.
 
That is an interesting cage primobellator.
What are the dimensions?
How easy is it to clean?
What are you using for bedding?

You might want to add a house, hammocks, tubes (4 inch diameter drainage pipe cut to 18 inch lengths is great in the cage and in the play area with T connectors), a solid 12 inch diameter wheel, boxes, a water dish that can not be upset (can't tell if you have one), a few corner litter boxes on the various levels (for litter and also safe places to sit, hide food, build nests etc), etc ....... there are some interesting ideas in some of the pictures posted of peoples cages in various threads on this forum.

I recently read a warning that rats have gotten part of their bodies stuck in toilet paper rolls and suffocated .... so they suggest that if you use toilet paper (or paper towel) rolls, that you cut them lengthwise.

Please know that not only is it normal for rats to chew wood, but they will pee all over the shelves and ramps in your cage and they will soon stink.
- If you do decide to replace the shelves at some point, you might consider using sturdy baking cooling racks cable (zip) tied on and covered with dollar store dish drain trays cut to fit and cable tied on - I have found this to work well, although they will hew the plastic so the dish drain trays will need to be replaced once in awhile.
...... and you can purchase the ladders that come with the critter nation cage separately or get some powder coated ramps made by martinscages.com
........ an industrious rat will be able to quickly chew his way out of the wooden cage top so you may want to replace it with a removable wire lid. If your bin came with a lid, you might be able to use it if you cut out the center of the lid and cover the hole(s) with attached wire or baking cooling racks
.......... It may just be the pictures but it looks like a rat could get out where your two cages meet.

Hope you post some pictures of your rattie boy(s) enjoying their nice cage
I completely undo toilet paper rolls apart he chews on it but it's not a cylinder more spiral like. His body pushes it apart easily.
 
That is an interesting cage primobellator.
What are the dimensions?
How easy is it to clean?
What are you using for bedding?

You might want to add a house, hammocks, tubes (4 inch diameter drainage pipe cut to 18 inch lengths is great in the cage and in the play area with T connectors), a solid 12 inch diameter wheel, boxes, a water dish that can not be upset (can't tell if you have one), a few corner litter boxes on the various levels (for litter and also safe places to sit, hide food, build nests etc), etc ....... there are some interesting ideas in some of the pictures posted of peoples cages in various threads on this forum.

I recently read a warning that rats have gotten part of their bodies stuck in toilet paper rolls and suffocated .... so they suggest that if you use toilet paper (or paper towel) rolls, that you cut them lengthwise.

Please know that not only is it normal for rats to chew wood, but they will pee all over the shelves and ramps in your cage and they will soon stink.
- If you do decide to replace the shelves at some point, you might consider using sturdy baking cooling racks cable (zip) tied on and covered with dollar store dish drain trays cut to fit and cable tied on - I have found this to work well, although they will hew the plastic so the dish drain trays will need to be replaced once in awhile.
...... and you can purchase the ladders that come with the critter nation cage separately or get some powder coated ramps made by martinscages.com
........ an industrious rat will be able to quickly chew his way out of the wooden cage top so you may want to replace it with a removable wire lid. If your bin came with a lid, you might be able to use it if you cut out the center of the lid and cover the hole(s) with attached wire or baking cooling racks
.......... It may just be the pictures but it looks like a rat could get out where your two cages meet.

Hope you post some pictures of your rattie boy(s) enjoying their nice cage
He can't. Get out. The inner is perfectly intact and closed. The outer is literally right on top of it.View attachment 1515617377720.jpg
 
That is an interesting cage primobellator.
What are the dimensions?
How easy is it to clean?
What are you using for bedding?

You might want to add a house, hammocks, tubes (4 inch diameter drainage pipe cut to 18 inch lengths is great in the cage and in the play area with T connectors), a solid 12 inch diameter wheel, boxes, a water dish that can not be upset (can't tell if you have one), a few corner litter boxes on the various levels (for litter and also safe places to sit, hide food, build nests etc), etc ....... there are some interesting ideas in some of the pictures posted of peoples cages in various threads on this forum.

I recently read a warning that rats have gotten part of their bodies stuck in toilet paper rolls and suffocated .... so they suggest that if you use toilet paper (or paper towel) rolls, that you cut them lengthwise.

Please know that not only is it normal for rats to chew wood, but they will pee all over the shelves and ramps in your cage and they will soon stink.
- If you do decide to replace the shelves at some point, you might consider using sturdy baking cooling racks cable (zip) tied on and covered with dollar store dish drain trays cut to fit and cable tied on - I have found this to work well, although they will hew the plastic so the dish drain trays will need to be replaced once in awhile.
...... and you can purchase the ladders that come with the critter nation cage separately or get some powder coated ramps made by martinscages.com
........ an industrious rat will be able to quickly chew his way out of the wooden cage top so you may want to replace it with a removable wire lid. If your bin came with a lid, you might be able to use it if you cut out the center of the lid and cover the hole(s) with attached wire or baking cooling racks
.......... It may just be the pictures but it looks like a rat could get out where your two cages meet.

Hope you post some pictures of your rattie boy(s) enjoying their nice cage
I'll post. He's asleep now. Heard some like to sleep high. But he likes to burrow. That's why I have the old button up. He hides there. Or the tip of the tube. He runs so fast but I do feel he needs a buddy. Especially when I return to work.
 
I completely undo toilet paper rolls apart he chews on it but it's not a cylinder more spiral like. His body pushes it apart easily.

I would suggest cutting it length wise as was suggested by others and previously repeated by me .... That is what I plan to do if I should ever use toilet paper rolls
 
He can't. Get out. The inner is perfectly intact and closed. The outer is literally right on top of it.View attachment 5194

I meant where the larger cage and the smaller commercial cage meet ..... but it could just be the picture

It is obvious that you have put a great deal of thought, creativity, planning and work into this cage :)
 
I meant where the larger cage and the smaller commercial cage meet ..... but it could just be the picture

It is obvious that you have put a great deal of thought, creativity, planning and work into this cage :)
It secured. We screwed a piece to the cover that bends over the side and covers that part.
 
That is good .... in the picture it looks like there is a gap near the bottom but I guess it is just the picture and the angle :)
In the last picture it looks very secure the way you have it all fitted together. :)
 
That is good .... in the picture it looks like there is a gap near the bottom but I guess it is just the picture and the angle :)
In the last picture it looks very secure the way you have it all fitted together. :)
He is a good climber but thank goodness he can't climb plastic. I can't wait to get a buddy. Male one correct? And younger or same age?
 
That looks like a fun cage but... the wood will absorb all urine from markings and all rats dribble. It will have an foul odour soon enough, be prepared to change up your wood. That smell/ammonium is not healthy for the rats or you.
 
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