Well, there are some people on here that I haven't met or seen before on rat forums, so I thought I'd post the story of my cage. I started off with a standard, 2-story FN, as seen here. Oh, and wow @ the amount of food in there. I guess I was still free-feeding at that point :shock:
I decided I wanted a bigger cage for my growing clan, but still wanted to use the FN. Since I live in the attic room, and don't like the idea of not being at eye-level with the rats, a third level was a no-go. I started pondering the idea of getting a second FN and attaching it to the original one. I examined my cage and realized that I couldn't do that without severly (and permanently) altering both cages. I thought about it for a while, and made up my mind that it would be best for the ratties to expand the cage that way. So, I purchased my second FN, and immediately took it home, put it together, and broke it
With only a hammer and a flat-head screwdriver, I was able to remove the wire on one full side of each FN. In all honesty, it doesn't take too much work to get the wire out! It's only welded in 3-4 places on each side.
Mmm, mangled.
After a couple of hours, I had both FNs done by way of wire removal. That's when the exciting moment came - putting the two together! I just used some standard electrical/zip ties, which are actually very strong. Once I finished that, I just kind of stood there in amazement. I knew it was going to be big, but wow.
The only "problems" I've come across with this monstrosity of a cage, is the fact that there's a 2"-3" gap in the middle, between the floor pans, where it's just the frame of the cage. It's not an issue at all - I just put folded-to-size fleece between the pans, therefore evening out the gap so it's level with everything else, and then just put a towel over it. The other small thing, is the casters. In the middle the casters from the two cages are right up against each other. It doesn't create too much of a problem with me, since the only time I move the cage is to get behind it some to sweep/clean.
Here are some pictures of the final product. I love my cage
I decided I wanted a bigger cage for my growing clan, but still wanted to use the FN. Since I live in the attic room, and don't like the idea of not being at eye-level with the rats, a third level was a no-go. I started pondering the idea of getting a second FN and attaching it to the original one. I examined my cage and realized that I couldn't do that without severly (and permanently) altering both cages. I thought about it for a while, and made up my mind that it would be best for the ratties to expand the cage that way. So, I purchased my second FN, and immediately took it home, put it together, and broke it
With only a hammer and a flat-head screwdriver, I was able to remove the wire on one full side of each FN. In all honesty, it doesn't take too much work to get the wire out! It's only welded in 3-4 places on each side.
Mmm, mangled.
After a couple of hours, I had both FNs done by way of wire removal. That's when the exciting moment came - putting the two together! I just used some standard electrical/zip ties, which are actually very strong. Once I finished that, I just kind of stood there in amazement. I knew it was going to be big, but wow.
The only "problems" I've come across with this monstrosity of a cage, is the fact that there's a 2"-3" gap in the middle, between the floor pans, where it's just the frame of the cage. It's not an issue at all - I just put folded-to-size fleece between the pans, therefore evening out the gap so it's level with everything else, and then just put a towel over it. The other small thing, is the casters. In the middle the casters from the two cages are right up against each other. It doesn't create too much of a problem with me, since the only time I move the cage is to get behind it some to sweep/clean.
Here are some pictures of the final product. I love my cage
