Custom rat cage

DeesBalls · 11-10-12, 09:53 AM

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 · 11-10-12, 10:30 AM

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 · 11-10-12, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

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 · 11-10-12, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeEuGi

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 · 11-11-12, 08:19 AM

you have pics?

KORBIN5895 · 11-11-12, 08:27 AM

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 · 11-11-12, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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 .

EmbraceCalamity · 11-11-12, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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 necessary

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeEuGi

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?

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeEuGi

you have pics?

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

KORBIN5895 · 11-11-12, 09:10 AM

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 · 11-11-12, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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.

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 · 11-11-12, 10:41 AM

You sure can get another female.

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

DeesBalls · 11-11-12, 10:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KORBIN5895

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.

DeesBalls · 11-11-12, 02:40 PM

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 · 11-11-12, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeEuGi

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 · 11-11-12, 05:47 PM

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.