RatPalace.com - Pet Rat Care and Discussion

Mon Jun 02, 2003 8:23 am

I am looking for a cage that is really really big and I am pretty much allergic to manual labor and I don't really care about price I just want a new cage for them I want to be able to spoil them... but right now the cage they are in is kinda small I mean it's big enough for 2 rats but I want one that could fit more if I had a monster sized case of GGMR... Mr. Green

Anybody know of some good cages that are big and there is lots of space for toys and are at a reasonable price(I don't really care about price or anything but I am just a teenager in school and the only "job" i can get is babysitting and people in my neighborhood don't pay very good...)... Any cage suggestions that you or someone you know have had luck with would help me greatly... Thanks...

P.S.-Sorry it's so long...

_________________
Jessie,
& Juno, Rubie, and Bracken...
At the bridge: Daisie, Monkie, Sandie and Oreo...

Mon Jun 02, 2003 4:14 pm

You've got a choice between big, cheap, and well-made--pick two.

Unless you get lucky at a yard sale, you're going to shell out some cash. If you want good old-fashioned HUUUGE, check out the Martin's Ruud Cage. It's five feet tall.

If you get this, put it together with zip ties. Trust me on this--don't use the little c-rings that come with it.

_________________
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.

Mon Jun 02, 2003 5:53 pm

WOW, that's really really really really really big!!! And I thought my 690 was a good size.

Mon Jun 02, 2003 6:03 pm

I know Martin's cages are used by many here. But I get mine at a company called Quality Cage.

They are comparable in price, but I think Quality is a bit more expensive on powder coating. I've talked with folks that have owned both Quality and Martin's cages and the Quality ones are voted more durable. I'm lucky as I don't have to pay for shipping (they are located right here in my home town of Portland, Oregon). They ship anywhere. I would swear by them 1000 times over. Their cages are VERY durable and sturdy. I've owned them for a year and a half and the cages still look like new.

You can see pics of my cages on the Cage Gallery of this site. But here is a pic of my largest cage.
http://www.ratpalace.com/modules.php?set_albumName=album02&id=cage1&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

It comes in 1, 2 or 3 levels. Our's is two levels and can hold up to 8 ratties. It's huge at 36x20x40 (up to 60inches with three levels)

Here is their website:

www.qualitycage.com

and here is the link to the cage I mentioned above:
http://www.qualitycage.com/ferret.html

_________________
Debbie and the gang of spoiled furries

Mon Jun 02, 2003 6:56 pm

I will have to save up my money but would it be better to get the powder-coated or the other one? Why?

_________________
Jessie,
& Juno, Rubie, and Bracken...
At the bridge: Daisie, Monkie, Sandie and Oreo...

Mon Jun 02, 2003 7:28 pm

Definately get powder coated over galvanized every time! Galvanized wire absorbs urine and never gets truly clean, no matter how hard you scrub. Plus it's not as nice looking it rusts, and there may be health affects if the ratties chew on the zinc coated wires. Definately powder coated, it's worth the money a hundred times over.

Mon Jun 02, 2003 8:11 pm

I got a really nice cage online. it is pretty big(you can see the pic of my cage in the cage pic gallery on page 4 , with the card board soda box in it). it can hold 7 maybe more rats. i bought it for about $125 and shipping and handling was free. they have a bunch of cages to choose from. only problem is, they have wire flooring which needs to be covered. the company i bought from http://www.buycages.com/index.htm. i got the cage quick. i did have to put it together, but that wasn't difficult. i really like their cage and i will be getting another cage from this company again.

Tue Jun 03, 2003 2:44 am

HollyAnn, those cages look just like Martins, even the model numbers are the same. While they have free shipping, at least where I live it'll be cheaper to buy from Martins and pay shipping (which isn't that expensive to NYC anyhow). Just thought I'd point that out.

I'm buying a Ruud cage soon, hopefully next week. I can't wait! Right now I have a 690 and love it but my rats really need a bigger cage, as my family got bigger. I'll share pictures when I get it!

Tue Jun 03, 2003 4:41 am

I built my own cage. It has four levels with a foor in between each. Each shelve is about two feet acroos with one foot depth. It is completely customized. Four hammocks, many, many nesting boxes, endless amounts of toys. Plus, I found a really cheap ferret cage at a garage sale, and used a PVC to connect the two together.
In other owrds:
RATTIE PALACE!

_________________
-=Stanza=- [Riding shoulder is:]
Sugar [Magnolias], Peanut, Willow, and Scarlet [Begonias].
This stanza is my lament. This world is my imprisonment. I know I can never be...
I know I'll never be free.
The cut that never heals...

Tue Jun 03, 2003 4:20 pm

Okay, I have to ask...Since I heft my Martins 690 upstairs every week to the bathtub for a nice scrub down...How in heck would one clean that Ruud cage? It's as tall as I am!!!

Tue Jun 03, 2003 5:01 pm

Ya know, I've wondered that, too. . .

_________________
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.

Tue Jun 03, 2003 5:42 pm

Oh good, so I'm not missing something really obvious.

Wed Jun 04, 2003 2:08 am

I've been wondering about as well since I was thinking about either a) ordering a RUUD or b) stacking my two R695's.

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

Wed Jun 04, 2003 3:15 am

None of our cages fit in the bathtub (we have a four ft. clawfoot tub). We haul them outside for scrubbing. The summer time, it's great. The winter sucks. But here in Oregon, it never gets very cold......just wet. Rolling Eyes

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Debbie and the gang of spoiled furries

Wed Jun 04, 2003 8:24 am

	Babyblue wrote:
	HollyAnn, those cages look just like Martins, even the model numbers are the same.

Just curious, I looked at the rest of that site http://www.buycages.com and they are Martin's cages. I looked at the ferret cages and they have the same model #, and name (ferret penthouse, New Englander, barn travel cage etc.) But this company is marketing them as their cages. I know some people have spoken with Skip Martin personally, perhaps someone should see if he is aware of this company? I did not see the name Martin's anywhere on the site. However, in front of the model number they put an M, so maybe they have an agreement with Martin's, but I can't see not having their name anywhere on the site. I just get the feeling they are trying to sell of a good, high quality cage as their own.

Steph F.
~&~
Nicodemus, Fizzgig, Atreyu, Artex, Ludo,
Jack Daniels and Willow
[/i][/b]

Wed Jun 04, 2003 8:30 am

	MousiesMom wrote:
	You can see pics of my cages on the Cage Gallery of this site. But here is a pic of my largest cage. http://www.ratpalace.com/modules.php?set_albumName=album02&id=cage1&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

Okay, curious again. I have heard many good things about those cages, but the ramps always seem awfully steep to me. How do elderly ratties fare in these cages? Any problems?

Steph F.
~&~
Nicodemus, Fizzgig, Atreyu, Artex, Ludo,
Jack Daniels and Willow

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Steph F.
~&~
Artex, Ludo, Monkey, Honey, Wesley, Lorne, Doyle, Gunn, Shady & Jack Daniels

Wed Jun 04, 2003 4:12 pm

Well, Mab is going to be two in a couple of weeks, and is quite elderly (not all rats are as old at two as Mab is) and she manages the ramps alright. She doesn't bound anymore, but she still gets up and down. Slowly.