New Ideas for a deeper pan for critter nation cage

Hi everyone,

So, my rats are the queens of mess making. I can't keep fitted blankets on their double CN cage cause they shred them and then hide under them, throwing any poop right out onto the floor.

I swapped to using a large, very deep pan that I got from home depot on the bottom and the CN scatter guards on the top large level. The scatter guards did pretty much nothing and were messy to clean. And the small levels have nothing so I have to sprinkle bedding on them which quickly gets knocked out. My floor is ALWAYS a mess. I dont know what to do. Seriously thinking of getting a different cage...but that makes me sad cause I really love my CN.

Does anyone have ideas. Someone had mentioned coroplast before but it was more money then I had to spend. If I were to get ahold of it, how much would I need.

Also is plexiglass an option?

Other ideas?

Thanks so much!

I think some people get bass pans and paint them (not just ant kind of paint. I forget which kind. but it's something like rustoleum). it'll take awhile for the paint to cure though (like 4 - 6 weeks, I think).

coreline said:

I think some people get bass pans and paint them (not just ant kind of paint. I forget which kind. but it's something like rustoleum). it'll take awhile for the paint to cure though (like 4 - 6 weeks, I think).

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Thanks for the reply. I have thought about doing that before, but I think the height is too low for my girls. They are amazingly good at making a mess. It is actually very frustrating. :-(

Plus they take so long to cure if you paint them.

they use those cement mixing pans? the large ones is all i know, they are plastic and like 13.00 at the home depots around here.

hopefloats said:

they use those cement mixing pans? the large ones is all i know, they are plastic and like 13.00 at the home depots around here.

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Thanks for the reply! I actually have one of those for the bottom level.- it works very well, but I dont have anything for the top level of the CN or the two smaller levels (less important, but I would love to figure something out). I tried to buy a second one and cut it out to fit the top level (I have the double critter nation) but I thoroughly messed that up. :-(

Now im thinking about getting some smaller sheets of coroplast (the larger sheets are way to expensive) and cutting sides and attaching them with zip ties.

I dunno if it will work. :-(

I need to do something like this too, my kids make such a mess!

how do people cut that coroplast stuff?

and what does a cement mixing pan look like?

I have those sheets inside my cages I will take pictures tomorrow. Are you trying to keep bedding in the cage?

Petunia said:

I need to do something like this too, my kids make such a mess!

how do people cut that coroplast stuff?

and what does a cement mixing pan look like?

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I have no idea how people exactly cut the coroplast, but I heard it wasnt too hard?

Here is the link for the mixing tray. http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R ... 3923975305

It pretty much fits on the bottom level. I asked my boyfriend (who is pretty handy) to help me trim one long side to make it easier to fit. The pan is very deep so it works well for keeping bedding in. Now I just need to figure out the other levels. lol

hopefloats said:

I have those sheets inside my cages I will take pictures tomorrow. Are you trying to keep bedding in the cage?

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Pictures would be great! And, yes, I am trying to keep bedding and poop in the cage. I have young children so it worries me the way they kick it out. I have to vacuum multiple times a day to keep the bedding away from my toddler and I had to get a shop vac because the bedding kept breaking my regular vacuum. :-(

I am hopeful that I will find a better way to keep the bedding in.

I use coroplast cut and binder clipped onto the cage. You can kind of see it here

And here on the right


Specifically, I got a sheet of coroplast, cut a 6 inch or so tall strip using a utility knife, placed it around the pan and binder clipped them onto the cage. I have also done this for the shelves as well and it DOES work extremely well!

Here are some metal things that I had from a while ago serving the same purpose on the shelf as the coroplast did - these are just sturdier which prevents my girls from pulling up the fleece and hiding under it... I had used coroplast until I found those again.


Hopefully this helps. These are pics that I just had on my photobucket. If you require more specific pics let me know and ill take a couple

Good luck! Don't get a different cage - this problem is really fixable! And CN's are wonderful!

crumbilina said:

I use coroplast cut and binder clipped onto the cage. You can kind of see it here

And here on the right

Specifically, I got a sheet of coroplast, cut a 6 inch or so tall strip using a utility knife, placed it around the pan and binder clipped them onto the cage. I have also done this for the shelves as well and it DOES work extremely well!

Here are some metal things that I had from a while ago serving the same purpose on the shelf as the coroplast did - these are just sturdier which prevents my girls from pulling up the fleece and hiding under it... I had used coroplast until I found those again.

Hopefully this helps. These are pics that I just had on my photobucket. If you require more specific pics let me know and ill take a couple

Good luck! Don't get a different cage - this problem is really fixable! And CN's are wonderful!

Click to expand...

Thank you so much! Those pictures are great and helpful! I have been trying to find coroplast that I can get locally without spending too much money.

Is the following product the same thing? It is affordable and large, so if it is the same (or a safe alternative) I will go ahead and get it, hopefully today! :-D

horselo285 said:

Thank you so much! Those pictures are great and helpful! I have been trying to find coroplast that I can get locally without spending too much money.

Is the following product the same thing? It is affordable and large, so if it is the same (or a safe alternative) I will go ahead and get it, hopefully today! :-D

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No problem.

Did you post a link to a different product, or did I miss something? >.<

I got the coroplast at Home Depot, but I think Rona has it too. To do a full double CN I think it cost under $15... It wasn't too much, but this is in Canada, I'm not sure how building materials prices compare.

Also, prior to using coroplast I used cardboard. While it DID do the same job, I had to replace it more frequently as it began to smell after a couple weeks plus they enjoyed destroying it :giggle: This might be a good temporary solution until you are able to find coroplast or something equivalent to it.

crumbilina said:

horselo285 said:

Thank you so much! Those pictures are great and helpful! I have been trying to find coroplast that I can get locally without spending too much money.

Is the following product the same thing? It is affordable and large, so if it is the same (or a safe alternative) I will go ahead and get it, hopefully today! :-D

Click to expand...

No problem.

Did you post a link to a different product, or did I miss something? >.<

I got the coroplast at Home Depot, but I think Rona has it too. To do a full double CN I think it cost under $15... It wasn't too much, but this is in Canada, I'm not sure how building materials prices compare.

Also, prior to using coroplast I used cardboard. While it DID do the same job, I had to replace it more frequently as it began to smell after a couple weeks plus they enjoyed destroying it :giggle: This might be a good temporary solution until you are able to find coroplast or something equivalent to it.

Click to expand...

Wow...im a mess! I totally forgot to post the link! lol It was the largest one I found at home depot but im not sure if it is the same thing as coroplast. lol

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/sto ... =202771364

Thats it

crumbilina said:

Thats it

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YAY! I can afford that so I am very excited!!!! I am going to order it and pick it up hopefully later today.

Thank you SO much! I am so hopeful that this will work!

coreline said:

I think some people get bass pans and paint them (not just ant kind of paint. I forget which kind. but it's something like rustoleum). it'll take awhile for the paint to cure though (like 4 - 6 weeks, I think).

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for Bass pans, the paint IS Rustoleum and it needs to cure for 2 weeks.

No matter how deep your pans are, they will manage to make some level of mess. That's what bratty ratties are good at!

kscanuck785 said:

coreline said:

I think some people get bass pans and paint them (not just ant kind of paint. I forget which kind. but it's something like rustoleum). it'll take awhile for the paint to cure though (like 4 - 6 weeks, I think).

Click to expand...

for Bass pans, the paint IS Rustoleum and it needs to cure for 2 weeks.

Click to expand...

super late response, but thank you! I thought it was 4 - 6 weeks.

I've got my CN on order and may get bass pans later, good to know it's 2 weeks and not a month! I'm familiar with rustoleum, but have never used it.

do you need to let it cure for an extra week or two if you do 2 coats? maybe that's where I got my super high numbers lol.

Omg Petunia that is brilliant! I want to do that, but at the same time I like seeign thme sitting on the levels and stuff, from the side fo the cage so I dunno. But it woudl stop the poop everywhere