Custom rat cage

[DeesBalls]

So many of you know i recently got a pet rat, i named it Chase... (stil forgot to do a sex check) but ill make a profile: thread for him...

this is for caging... i really want to build something for him, since the cages i find at pet stores are over priced and boring... however, i want to use plywood....

my question is this.. if i was to build something around 3'x2'x2' out of plywood, with 2 levels, would this suffice... i would maybe get another one so (2) total... im just worred that he could chew through the plywood??

any help or insight much appriciated!

[EmbraceCalamity]

I still think you should just go with the bookcase idea. It's probably cheaper and less time-consuming. ;)

But as far as the chewing issue, that depends on how exactly you'd have it set up, how much of a chewer your rat is, and what you offer him to chew. I'd suggest buying a couple different things for him to chew that are flavored. I have my rat in her bookcase enclosure now, and she hasn't done any chewing. A rat can't chew a hole through just a regular piece of plywood. They have to have an edge to grab onto, so minimizing those areas would be helpful. If you only have those on maybe the edge of the levels, I don't think you'd need to worry.

~Maggot

[DeesBalls]

I still think you should just go with the bookcase idea. It's probably cheaper and less time-consuming. ;)

But as far as the chewing issue, that depends on how exactly you'd have it set up, how much of a chewer your rat is, and what you offer him to chew. I'd suggest buying a couple different things for him to chew that are flavored. I have my rat in her bookcase enclosure now, and she hasn't done any chewing. A rat can't chew a hole through just a regular piece of plywood. They have to have an edge to grab onto, so minimizing those areas would be helpful. If you only have those on maybe the edge of the levels, I don't think you'd need to worry.

~Maggot


well, i have alot of left over plywood i can use from when i built my reptile room... however, i do have a small 2 shelve bookshelf i could use... would you use it tall wise, or longer wise? (hope that makes scense)

[EmbraceCalamity]

well, i have alot of left over plywood i can use from when i built my reptile room... however, i do have a small 2 shelve bookshelf i could use... would you use it tall wise, or longer wise? (hope that makes scense)Well I cut holes in the shelves and stood it up (it's a tall, almost floor-to-ceiling bookcase), so she has four levels to crawl up and down, which gives her lots of room even if it's not very wide. Plus it takes up a lot less room.

~Maggot

[DeesBalls]

you have pics?

[KORBIN5895]

The problem with a vertical enclosure is that the rat will have less floor space ( with litter) to poop and pee on. That makes it a pain to clean. I recommend covering your floor in linoleum or vinyl I'd you go with a higher enclosure. Also a rat can chew through the middle of a piece of plywood if they want, mine did.

[DeesBalls]

The problem with a vertical enclosure is that the rat will have less floor space ( with litter) to poop and pee on. That makes it a pain to clean. I recommend covering your floor in linoleum or vinyl I'd you go with a higher enclosure. Also a rat can chew through the middle of a piece of plywood if they want, mine did.

well, i have the old bookshelf/bookicase my gecko use to be in, so its already sort of set up... i will give that a shot, see how it works, and go from there, right now anything will be better than the 10 gall hes in .

[KORBIN5895]

Can you put removable wire floors in instead of solid floors? It will definitely be better than a 10 gal. I also recommend getting a second one as they are quite social.

[DeesBalls]

Can you put removable wire floors in instead of solid floors? It will definitely be better than a 10 gal. I also recommend getting a second one as they are quite social.

possibly could... i would say like maybe closet shelving, (the wire stuff) i could put in the bookshelf for a floor to a second layer...

and i was going to get a nother one, i just dont want a bunch of babies lol. right now i have a girl, so could i get another girl?

[KORBIN5895]

You sure can get another female.

As for the closet shelving that may work great. Especially if you make it removable for cleaning.

[DeesBalls]

You sure can get another female.

As for the closet shelving that may work great. Especially if you make it removable for cleaning.

i will look into that... i will go ahead and get the cage ready and we will go from there.

good, i didnt want to have 100 babies lol. and i thought 2 females might get aggressive.

[EmbraceCalamity]

The problem with a vertical enclosure is that the rat will have less floor space ( with litter) to poop and pee on. That makes it a pain to clean. I recommend covering your floor in linoleum or vinyl I'd you go with a higher enclosure. Also a rat can chew through the middle of a piece of plywood if they want, mine did.Rats can be easily litter trained. I kept my girl in paper bedding before, so I put dirty stuff in a box, and she's been using it as a litterbox. Plus if the shelves are removable, it's not hard to clean if necessarypossibly could... i would say like maybe closet shelving, (the wire stuff) i could put in the bookshelf for a floor to a second layer...

and i was going to get a nother one, i just dont want a bunch of babies lol. right now i have a girl, so could i get another girl?Rats are social animals. Having another one wouldn't do any harm, as long as you make sure they're both females. I thought about it but I really don't need another pet. XD
you have pics?http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h74/MidnightRainbow/Ratcage.jpg
http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h74/MidnightRainbow/Ratcage2.jpg
Keep in mind I just did it so I'm still figuring out what works. There will be other stuff put in there soon. She's got a digging box with grass growing in it that goes in the bottom, and I'm gonna make a house and stuff.

~Maggot

[DeesBalls]

thats awesome. I will be doing somehting like this, just 2 floors totatl though. getting the snake room cleaned up and getting my new torts cage situated and all that today... maybe start tomorrow.

[EmbraceCalamity]

thats awesome. I will be doing somehting like this, just 2 floors totatl though. getting the snake room cleaned up and getting my new torts cage situated and all that today... maybe start tomorrow.I had taken old sheets and used velcro to attach them to the shelves so she wouldn't be on the bare wood, but she promptly ripped that all up (and pulled it down to the corner to make a bed, as you can see).

~Maggot

[DeesBalls]

I am not too sure what ill be using for bedding or whatnot... i would like to use some carpet, and aspen and different stuff around the cage, but we will see.

[EmbraceCalamity]

I am not too sure what ill be using for bedding or whatnot... i would like to use some carpet, and aspen and different stuff around the cage, but we will see.Just make sure it's very secure, or it'll be ripped off. I think I'm probably gonna just leave it bare as it is now, since it really doesn't seem to bother her. Especially since she'll be getting more things in there soon to hang out in/entertain her. But if you put carpet or some kind of fabric in there, it has to be removable so it can be washed, which is why I used velcro.

~Maggot

[DeesBalls]

here is a pic of what ill be using for the cage...it will be the bookshelf on top, the bottom cage is getting redone for my tortoise... please excuse the mess, i am cleaning the basement out :( fun times.

http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy336/DGilliland22/2012-11-11_15-20-50_864.jpg

http://i805.photobucket.com/albums/yy336/DGilliland22/2012-11-11_15-20-43_526.jpg

[EmbraceCalamity]

Do you have plexiglass over that? I can't tell.

~Maggot

[DeesBalls]

on the top half.. i should of stated that, it has plexiglass doors on the top, i had a gecko in there before, and i need to redo it obviously....

[EmbraceCalamity]

on the top half.. i should of stated that, it has plexiglass doors on the top, i had a gecko in there before, and i need to redo it obviously....What kind of gecko did you have in there? Just out of curiosity. :)

~Maggot

[DeesBalls]

She was a female snow gecko. I traded her though, geckos are not my thing, so i traded her to a breeder from my home state.

as for the cage, i plan on getting everything screwed down really good, the back, and shelving... maybe making a swinging open door on each level, or something liket that. still not sure, but i need to get it done soon... this 10 gallon isnt doing her justice. lol

[EmbraceCalamity]

She was a female snow gecko. I traded her though, geckos are not my thing, so i traded her to a breeder from my home state.

as for the cage, i plan on getting everything screwed down really good, the back, and shelving... maybe making a swinging open door on each level, or something liket that. still not sure, but i need to get it done soon... this 10 gallon isnt doing her justice. lolDo you mean a leopard gecko, snow morph? 'Cause there's no such thing as a snow gecko. >.>

That's what I did. I have two swinging screen doors - one for the top two levels and one for the bottom two. And just get hook and eye things to keep it closed.

~Maggot

[DeesBalls]

Do you mean a leopard gecko, snow morph? 'Cause there's no such thing as a snow gecko. >.>

That's what I did. I have two swinging screen doors - one for the top two levels and one for the bottom two. And just get hook and eye things to keep it closed.

~Maggot

yea, snow leapard gecko..:)

i just hope i can figure out how to get doors on. i dont have luck with them on my cages, so thats why i use sliding glass doors.

should i do wired screen or plexi for the doors? like im going to take plywood- cut it to side of the top and bottom, then cut out the center leaving like a 2'' frame, then putting either plexi or wire screen in the center, what would be better?

[EmbraceCalamity]

yea, snow leapard gecko..:)

i just hope i can figure out how to get doors on. i dont have luck with them on my cages, so thats why i use sliding glass doors.

should i do wired screen or plexi for the doors? like im going to take plywood- cut it to side of the top and bottom, then cut out the center leaving like a 2'' frame, then putting either plexi or wire screen in the center, what would be better?I love snows. I'd have killed to have taken it. D=

Door hinges. :p Just take two hinges for each door and attach them that way, then use hook and eye things to keep it shut.

I'd say wire. Your rat can climb on it, plus it keeps the air flowing.

~Maggot

[DeesBalls]

I love snows. I'd have killed to have taken it. D=

Door hinges. :p Just take two hinges for each door and attach them that way, then use hook and eye things to keep it shut.

I'd say wire. Your rat can climb on it, plus it keeps the air flowing.

~Maggot

good call on the wire. thats what i will use. plus (cheaper) lol. will they be able to chew through it?

[EmbraceCalamity]

good call on the wire. thats what i will use. plus (cheaper) lol. will they be able to chew through it?Nah, it'll be fine, unless your rat happens to have mini chainsaws for teeth.

~Maggot

[DeesBalls]

Nah, it'll be fine, unless your rat happens to have mini chainsaws for teeth.

~Maggot

ok good, i just always heard they can chew through anything.