RatPalace.com - Pet Rat Care and Discussion

Fri Mar 26, 2004 6:19 am

WaHoo!

My first Martin's cage arrived today. I can't wait to set it up!

Just in time too- my rescue babies from Kim's Ark will hopefully be arriving next week if all goes well with the transport train.

I'm just getting the excitement out, 'cause I'm sure I'll be in frustration mode soon putting the cage together.

Fri Mar 26, 2004 7:33 am

Coolness! Which one did you get? I've thought about getting the townhouse, but I really don't need anything that big...at the moment, anyway Mr. Green

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My zoo: Link, Cyrano de Bergerat, Pipsqueak and the girls Harley, Kira and Esie<:8 )~
Also, Arwen the garter snake, Merry the beta, 2 fantail goldfish, 4 applesnails (r.i.p. pinky), 3 cory cats and Evie, the Jack Russell Terrier.

Fri Mar 26, 2004 9:34 am

Get a pair of the sort of work gloves that have cushioned palms, for use with the crappy c-ring tool. Mr. Green

Seriously.

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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

Fri Mar 26, 2004 9:56 am

I got the R-695. Its HUGE! Shocked

The calculator said its good for 5.75 ratties, but looks like 10-12 would fit fine! Since I'm going to have only 3 boys in it, they're going to have PLENTY of room to romp around in.

It only took about 2 hours to put it together, lol.
Kate, the gloves were a good idea, especially considering the REALLY crappy c-ring tool they send wtf

But we ended up using j-clamps and the padded, rubber handled tool that goes with it. Since we bought that stuff when we made Haggis's cage and knew how it worked, we figured we'd just use that instead of the c-rings.

We first used a few zip ties to hold it together, then j-clamped everything but the front. My husband had the bright idea to zip tie the front. That way if we really need to get into it or do heavy duty cleaning, we can just unzip the front, then rezip it when we're done.

Tomorrow, I go get ACCESSORIES Mr. Green

Fri Mar 26, 2004 3:03 pm

Abita's girls are in a 695, and she's put ALL kinds of stuff in it! If you haven't yet done so, I recommend getting a second handle. It makes moving that thing around so much easier.

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Victor, Bandit, and Sparrow's Sweeties: Neiko & Roo. Sparrow's Boys: Oliver, Arthur, and Rabskuttle. The fRAT Boys: Jim, Jack, and George.
Good night, Witter, Kono, Rat, Olie, Metro, Calle, Mr. Ratburn, Arwen, Leather, Ohana, Zoe, Misto, and Kanga.

Fri Mar 26, 2004 11:31 pm

Victor wrote:

	Quote:
	If you haven't yet done so, I recommend getting a second handle.

I had read in another thread that 2 handles was a good idea but that was after I had already ordered the cage. I lucked out, mine came with 2 handles. Shrug

It definately works better. The great thing is since they're detachable I can use them on my Degus's cage which is just a little wider then the 695.

I just got back from a shopping trip to Lowe's, The Dollar Store and the fabric store with LOTS of goodies for the cage. Its like rattie Christmas! Mr. Green

Sat Mar 27, 2004 3:28 am

Mine came with two handles also...but I've since lost one and it's a real pain to drag around with one.

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Christy
RP Admin
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Frodo, Zorro, Erzulie, Maeve, Clara, Molly & Emily

Sat Mar 27, 2004 5:46 am

Yours came w/ two? I'm pretty sure Abita's only came with one. No matter; we had three other cages, plus I orderd some extra. They also help hold the door open pretty good!

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Victor, Bandit, and Sparrow's Sweeties: Neiko & Roo. Sparrow's Boys: Oliver, Arthur, and Rabskuttle. The fRAT Boys: Jim, Jack, and George.
Good night, Witter, Kono, Rat, Olie, Metro, Calle, Mr. Ratburn, Arwen, Leather, Ohana, Zoe, Misto, and Kanga.

Sat Mar 27, 2004 6:45 am

Ooooh I use the clips from hammocks that have been too chewed up to be any good to clip the doors open. And I put the bottom door on backwards so when it is opened it lays against the cage rather than sticking out from it (we nearly took it off several times hanging out in space like that!)

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Christy
RP Admin
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Frodo, Zorro, Erzulie, Maeve, Clara, Molly & Emily

Sat Mar 27, 2004 9:33 pm

Victor - Yep, 2 handles. Either it was a fluke, you got gyped, or Martins realized the errors of their ways and have started to send 2 now. Mr. Green

Christy - awesome idea about the door. I usually use hair clips to hold the door open.I'll have to try the handles
That bottom door is the one that gives me the most problems. That might be because the front of the cage came kind of warped and bent and that door gaps open at the bottom.

Sun Mar 28, 2004 2:16 pm

Nope. I just got my 680 on Wednesday, and it definitely only came with one handle. It took me forever to figure out what the thing was, actually. None of the instructions explain it! Embarassed

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Katy: Ratmom to Momo, Hedwig, and Suzie!