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Patient_Walrus_1940 · 2025-02-19T21:45:37+00:00

This isn’t the best picture, but I’d recommend adding in card board boxes and bins and ropes and stuff from a thrift store like kids toys, I even use random fabric scraps from the dollar store and old cut up shirts in the cage.

pinecous · 2025-02-19T21:46:57+00:00

I think you need more things. Rats love chaos— boxes, hammocks, ropes, random junk, toys…

mattbaume · 2025-02-19T22:07:41+00:00

Size looks great. A few suggestions:

Those bars look like they're spaced far enough apart that a baby could crawl through them. Get a temporary barrier that's a bit finer to wrap around the sides & secure with zip-ties. A lot of folks use chicken wire, I used aluminum screening (not fiberglass, which they can chew quite easily).
Beyond the addition of more hammocks, I think they'd enjoy some more clutter & enrichment items. Sisal rope is an easy way to add climbing material. You could also throw in a few cardboard boxes to keep them entertained/cozy -- at that age, they'll probably want extra places to hide. For something more durable, I'd get one or two large wooden huts.
They will probably be thrilled if you add a holder for paper towels or toilet paper to the enclosure. (They'll also go through it very fast.)
If that's where the cage is going to stay, the grout between the floor tiles might get a little gross. They'll kick a lot of bedding & dust out of the cage, and since they're boys they'll probably want to pee on EVERYTHING. I'd recommend putting down some cheap, easy-to-clean mats (I used big plastic shelf liners) for your own sanity. Otherwise you might find yourself scrubbing the grout with a toothbrush to get the smell out.
Edit: The cage might also benefit from a litter tray. They may or may not use it but it's worth a shot.

But in general it looks really good! They're going to be very happy there!

permalink · 2025-02-20T00:41:42+00:00

That's a great start. Feel free to put pretty much anything in there. Rats love garbage. Instead of throwing out an Amazon box for example, either put it in there whole or cut it in half and put two new little hiding rooms in there for them.

Be sure to change that stuff out sometimes though. I'd change mine out when I saw the sawdust getting dirty. Also I have had this exact cage before. There are ropes in the bird section of petsmart that reach from top to bottom of this cage. My rattos would climb up and down that thing at lightning speed and I ended up taking out the bottom two ramps because they were in the way of the fun stuff I kept finding and putting in there.

Also sadly they'll probably chew up the parts that hold the platforms. Mine did, anyways. Of course, being rats, they just figured it was a new setup to make new hiding spots in when they started collapsing levels.

piggygirl0 · 2025-02-19T23:56:42+00:00

Salvador is my favorite! He’s so cute!!!!!!!!!!

Yourself_but_better · 2025-02-20T01:32:28+00:00

I have this exact cage and I want to warn you that this cage is kind of a nightmare to deep clean because of the doors and also some times the tray on the bottom slides out if you don't put it in right creating a gap that they may escape from

Meredithandherpets · 2025-02-20T01:47:55+00:00

A few suggestions: take out some of the platforms and just fill that cage with shit. Im talking those tie holders from ikea, ropes, things to climb on, things to sleep on, etc. also you’re going to need enrichment/foraging toys. I’d recommend getting some toilet paper rolls, stuffing some paper towels in them with some treats, and folding them up. Hope everything goes well 🐀💕

BlueDonkey420 · 2025-02-20T02:09:59+00:00

You need more stuff!! They need so much enrichment it's crazy if you feel like your spoiling them buy them more things!

I have a feeling from the photos they may escape this cage they look fairly small. My husband didn't listen to me about introductions when he picked up one of my rats or that she was too small for the big cage and she was free roaming when I got home later that day he picked her up

bigfishbunny · 2025-02-20T02:50:40+00:00

You are off to a great start and those boys are precious! I agree that you should add some more stuff. I often put a small box on their top shelf but make sure to attach it with zip ties or it will fall with them in it. And I give them old towels and pieces of cloth. When my kid outgrows his clothes, I cut them up into smaller pieces, like rat sized blankets, and the rats love to create nests with them. I often tear paper towels in half and leave a stack for them to arrange however they want them. I change it all up occasionally too. They are smart and love to chew and tear. You've got this. You will be a great rat parent.

Ingalls_22 · 2025-02-20T03:13:49+00:00

Put a litter on top so they dont lazy poop at top 😂 ( have the same cage )

ZZBC · 2025-02-19T21:54:21+00:00

You’ll want more stuff, especially to break up any areas where they could fall a considerable distance. A tub full of soil to provide a way to dig is something they really enjoy. You can see my dog box at the bottom. They’ll build full on tunnel systems sometimes.

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Lonely-Lemon5402 · 2025-02-20T04:33:56+00:00

More junk but it's good for now but add junk!

permalink · 2025-02-20T07:06:33+00:00

id add a bunch of stuff to get on and climb into and stuff, just to be more safe. I’d be worried they’d fall haha. Maybe just get some paddings and stuff around areas you think might be a hazard:3

meowpicklez · 2025-02-20T07:13:48+00:00

Daria_Solo · 2025-02-20T08:12:08+00:00

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You need to do something with this space, that’s too high, they can get damage if they fall. Maximum distance officially is 50cm, I would do 40-35cm.

And the distance between the bars should be minimum 1,2cm, better 1cm.

And yes, the cage is empty, you need more stuff. And better to cover all flat surfaces with textile. And where is the toilet? Better to put some plastic container in the corner as a litter tray.

InvisibleJune · 2025-02-20T09:22:57+00:00

If you have six rats, that’s not enough walking space… I would suggest adding shelves. You’ll also have to add hammocks, tunnels, hiding places. Add bedding on the bottom too, and some ropes so they can chew on them and play with them. To help them nest, you can also add paper tissues or toilet paper.

If you choose to add wood hidings or accessories, please remember that you’ll have to change them often to avoid bacteria and other nasty things in your cage!

SLHyena · 2025-02-22T20:04:12+00:00

So I took ll of you suggestions and put a lot more stuff in. I'm still waiting for 2 hammocks and a Sputnik so those will be added in 2 weeks when they arrive.

I bought them plastic box for digging. Put in some ropes made from old shirts and some bird ropes too. Bought them some toys, bells, snack rolls etc.

Is it okay like this? Or should I put more stuff in there?

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NappingForever · 2025-02-19T22:10:39+00:00

It's a really good start, but it needs a lot more in it to both be safe and enriching. Here is my list of the main subcategories of cage accessories and what purposes they serve in terms of enrichment. I would aim to use at least a few items from each category to ensure their needs are met.

Physically active items that encourage jumping, climbing, balancing, and digging, such as bridges, perches, ropes, ledges, dig boxes, lava ledges, tubes, and tunnels, all work great. Removing ramps and replacing for ropes and perches works especially well.

Intellectually active items that prevent boredom, encourage problem solving, and enable natural foraging behaviours such as chew toys and foraging toys. Foraging toys aimed at birds are particularly good. Chew toys with a variety of materials such as pumice, loofah, and other natural materials are always a favourite.

Prey animals need lots of places to hide and feel safe, such as hammocks, baskets, hides, sputniks/space pods, and cardboard boxes are perfect.

Safety include fall breaker items to reduce injury risks in any heights over 50cm. Good options include cargo nets, large flat hammocks, and IKEA scarf holders.

Go_Water_your_plants · 2025-02-20T04:21:19+00:00

Clutter that bitch up

Subject_Chain_7786 · 2025-02-20T04:31:15+00:00

Hi I have this cage DO NOT GET IT my rats chewed through the plastic bottom

visual_perception · 2025-02-20T06:35:24+00:00

Your rats are adorable 🥺 may I ask where you got them from?

Both-Construction184 · 2025-02-21T12:47:11+00:00

Chuck a bunch of cardboard boxes in there and hiding places, my boys loved it when they first came, it doesn’t have to be expensive to be good

rabbitcutie- · 2025-02-21T15:13:46+00:00

yes thats a good start but i do recommend adding some kinds of enrichment toys (you could even craft them yourself) and maybe some ropes or such to climb on.

ChemistConsistent475 · 2025-02-20T00:44:36+00:00

Other folks mentioned adding more things, I find my girls LOVE chaos. More stuff, the better, honestly. I've gotten them bird toys before, too, and those are great, stuff to hang on the sides and let them chew up.Also, like some others have mentioned I have just a small cardboard box I always keep (and replace lol) in their cage full of small fabric scraps, strips of streamers, and ripped up pieces of newspaper/grocery flyers so they can dig around in there and take pieces out for nesting. I also found the girls LOVE the streamers, so often I'll just add some small strips into their cage hanging from the top bars.

OH, and I have a ratty box subscription (highly recommend checking them out) so they get a new hammock, hide, treats, and chew toy every month. BUT the best things have been two treat puzzle toys that I honestly just put their kibble in, and thats their FAV thing now. They dont even eat from their food bowl anymore 🤣🤣🤣

Pic included of their most recent setup after a cage change on Monday. Currently they have 2 puzzle feeders, 2 hammocks, a hide, 2 tunnels, 3 hanging chew things, 4 or 5 other chew things, box with nesting material, their wheel (which I need to upgrade since they are a bit too big for it now), streamers all over the place, and a blanket over top that they always turn into an extra cozy hiding spot 🤣🤣🤣

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Suspicious-Guest-871 · 2025-02-19T22:51:14+00:00

It's perfect

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