RatPalace.com - Pet Rat Care and Discussion

Sun Oct 30, 2005 7:57 am

I have been put on a very strict budget for the cage, so what I did was move all of the books on my bookshelf to the 2 long shelves above my bed, and instead of going and making the entire cage, I will jsut get the melamite levels. It will wind up having 3 floors (including the base one), but no storage space.
I was wondering if I could attach a 2" high 2.5' long (the book shelf is about 2.5' long), so that I could put littler on the base level.

My major problem is that I jsut can not figure out how the door/hinges would attach.

Also, if you cut out part of the shelf so the rat can get on it, wouldn't it unbalence the shelf if you cut out part of the corner?

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Rosie

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I miss you Tut, Goldy, and Raoul Angel rat

Wed Nov 09, 2005 7:18 am

Anyone: If you have the money, here's a link to a thread in the mouse forum on having polycarb (plastic) stuff custom-made:

Something from there could always be incorporated into a self-built cage. I've always thought a cage combined of both wire and plastic would be the best of both worlds. If I ever have an extra thousand bucks lying around (LOL) I will build the most awesome wire-&-plastic cage in the universe.

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Kate & the M.O.U.S.
If you saw a man drowning and you could either save him or photograph the event ... what kind of film would you use?
~ Anonymous

Wed Nov 09, 2005 11:21 am

	Ellie's_girl wrote:
	Also, if you cut out part of the shelf so the rat can get on it, wouldn't it unbalence the shelf if you cut out part of the corner?

Well, what I did was use one of those plastic corner brackets (they hold 4 screws) and I attached that just at the edge where the little access hole was cut...erm...a little hard to explain, does it make sense??

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Tails and her RAM byting Rats
Linux & Apple Mac
Angel rat

Maxie & Pepper

Thu Nov 10, 2005 2:42 am

Sorry about starting something in the middle of your conversation, but I was wondering if I could use this bookshelf that we just cleared.

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Thu Nov 10, 2005 4:32 am

Yeah, I am sure that it would be fine Sarah. The one I used is a little smaller, but it should work the same.

Tails, I know what you mean. I cut it kinda in the center, but not so far back that it colapses.

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Rosie

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I miss you Tut, Goldy, and Raoul Angel rat

Thu Nov 10, 2005 11:29 am

Oooh! I just love all this big-cage building!! All the spoiled ratties!! Mr. Green

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Tails and her RAM byting Rats
Linux & Apple Mac
Angel rat

Maxie & Pepper

Sat Nov 12, 2005 10:09 pm

Hi guyz,
I have a really big cage that my past rats have loved however it's a bit of a nightmare to clean as it's so big! I was thinking before I get my new ratties that perhaps it would be better if I had a pull out tray at the bottom to empty and clean. I have added the link to show u which cage I have, if anyone has any ideas of how I could improve it to make cleanin easier then please post- thanks alot!

http://www.animalinstinct.co.uk/item1467.htm

Mon Nov 14, 2005 5:20 am

Hi Cherrie - I bet they love that!

Can you get it out into the garden, or into the shower? With the bigger cages, it's definitely helpful to be able to spray it with water when cleaning it, but scrubbing all those bars always takes some time. I generally leave on the cleaning stuff for a few minutes to help get everything clean, and spray it a LOT. Toothbrushes are good for awkward spots.

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Andy & The Rats

~ Darwin ~ Maisie ~ Ella ~ Zak ~

~ Finn ~ Malachi ~ Azrael ~ Newton ~ Charlie ~

Fri Dec 16, 2005 11:28 pm

So, here's a question for you:

I currently have an R-690 for my three girls. Given the choice, would you:

1. Get a customized R-670 from Martin's to attach to the top and make an "R-694 Mini-Ruud," or...

2. Say "screw it" and get an R-695, giving the 690 to a local rescue organization.

Any thoughts?

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-Ben
My rats: Squishy, Squee, and Nibbler
My dogs (at my mother's house): Lucy and Ricky
My cats (at my dad's house--in Florida!): Cleo (RIP) and Zima

Fri Dec 23, 2005 8:35 am

Are you planning on getting more ratties in the near future? If not, I would go with #2. If you are, it would depend how many. More than 2, I would make a "Mini Ruud". 1 or 2, I would give it to a rescue.

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Rosie

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I miss you Tut, Goldy, and Raoul Angel rat

Fri Dec 23, 2005 10:12 am

I've actually decided on "none of the above," as a local ad showed up with a family that has ferrets but can't keep them anymore for financial reasons, and is willing to part ways with their Martin's FNE-480 New Englander--which will fit rats just fine with its 1"x1" mesh.

I may not be able to donate the current cage after all, however. My sister, after tonight's Petco episode, has decided that she wants rats of her own, and it going to work on our parents. I support her 100% if she wants a couple and will take care of them (and if she doesn't, she knows I will, and she will not get off easy if I end up taking care of them), so the cage may go to her after all.

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-Ben
My rats: Squishy, Squee, and Nibbler
My dogs (at my mother's house): Lucy and Ricky
My cats (at my dad's house--in Florida!): Cleo (RIP) and Zima

Sat Jan 14, 2006 1:53 am

I just wanted to mention that if you can't find a reasonable sized cage for your rats and you suck at building things (like me) you might want to check out some bird cages. I recently bought a large birdcage at a used pet store and the rats love it...but I'm still working on it. It doesn't have a second level but right now I have a hammock hanging up there. The rats love climbing all over the cage

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~*Allie*~
Puppy: Pepper (my big suck) Kitty: Kitterz
Birdie:Mehico aka.Cheeky
Ratties: RIP Penny...i miss you pretty girl <333
Peaches n' Cream..2 bRATS
Jibroney!! --new rescue rat

Mon Feb 06, 2006 4:15 am

I was wondering if anybody had any ideas of how to add more shelves to my cabinent . . .

As you can see we already have one shelf with two ramps for the ratties to get from the bottom to the top. But we did that when we first got the cabinent and it was a pure and utter pain.

Soooo. So I was wondering if you guys had any ideas of how to add shelves to the walls without any use of major hardware. (ie power tools and such).

Mon Feb 06, 2006 11:37 am

You could hammer a strip of wood into the inner side of the walls, then nail the shelf to the piece of wood strip...does this make sense? lol

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Tails and her RAM byting Rats
Linux & Apple Mac
Angel rat

Maxie & Pepper