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Post by Die Fledermaus on Feb 21, 2007 1:00:00 GMT -4
CLICK ON THIS LINK, PLEASEWhat do you think of this ferret habitat for rats, keeping mind they have somewhat different body shapes? 
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Feb 21, 2007 2:51:19 GMT -4
I've heard of people using this cage for rats and in fact someone posted to a group recently, saying how much they like this cage because it's easy to clean. However... The bar spacing looks rather wide, so I wouldn't use it for small females nor for babies and young rats. Remember rule of thumb is that if they can get their head through, the rest of them can follow! As you can see from the photos they can be stacked which might be a good space saver and easy to separate sexes. I can't tell from the photos...are the shelves or floor wire? I'm of the "no wire floors" camp, but I realize there are different opinions on this. If wire, it's a good idea to affix some other surface on it like linoleum. Note the vertical bars...ratties won't be able to climb (mine aren't super keen on climbing, but I know some are). You'd want to include lots of other stuff for them to climb. Here are a couple of quotes about this the Ferret Nation from some emails I've saved about cages... "I can tell you without hesitation that Midwest Ferret cages are very strong, good quality cages. However, they tend to have pretty wide spaced cage wires for rats, and very young rats won't stay in them. That's the only down side to their cages that I can think of." And the follow up... "I have to second that. Four of my male rats are housed in a Midwest cage. It is sturdy , spacious, and easy to clean. But the bar space is wide enough that I'd be afraid my girls or a young male could slip through and escape. Ferrets are usually quite a bit bigger that rats." Also... "For $200, including shipping, you can get a Ferret Nation cage. I just did and I LOVE it. My boys can't get their fat heads through the bars. The entire front opens up with four big doors." "Got it on ebay. It's very easy to clean, and the upper half can be instantly isolated from the lower by hooking the ladder into a special spot. It's really sturdy and looks much nicer than my Martin's cages as "furniture." There is so much space for the rats, who of course spend 20 hours of the day sleeping in their hammocks  " Although the Ferret Nation cage isn't on these pages, I refer to these 2 pages alot when I'm thinking about cages. They list different makes and the pros and cons from rat owners: www.sophielynette.com/cage.htmlwww.coverattery.com/lodgings.htmLinda |
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Post by Andrea on Feb 21, 2007 5:11:00 GMT -4
Other then Bar width (if it`s a problem?) that is a very cool cage! The tall ones look awesome. I wonder how well they would work for Degus? |
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Feb 21, 2007 16:59:40 GMT -4
Of course...since I said that just last night, Hugh had to prove me wrong! I just looked over and there he is, hanging from the bars!! *lol* He's looking longingly at the bookcase behind the cage. Till I remedy the the gaping hole they chewed in the base of their cage, the cage is sitting inside the base of a larger cage. The sides are taller, too, which means their door doesn't flop open properly. I had Hugh out yesterday and when I went to put him in the cage (which is a bit awkward now...I'm coming at it kind of high), he took advantage of his position and lept out of my hands and on top of the cage! He did this once before, right after his neuter!! I thought I could catch him, but he leapt onto the shelf -- who says they don't have good eyesight, he went straight into a gap between a few books which was just rat sized!! Unfotunately for him all he could do was get in there and get turned around. Fortunately for ME, he stayed put till I could get the cage moved and catch him! Ok, now he's hanging from the OTHER side of the cage!! Famous last words, huh? Linda  |
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Post by hamwolf89 on Feb 21, 2007 21:45:18 GMT -4
what also concerns me is that what if they fall?
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Feb 21, 2007 22:03:37 GMT -4
I got a Rabbit cage from Susan when she moved. The bars were farther apart than the similar GP cage, so I put the males in it and moved the females to the GP cage - due to bar spacing concerns.
The Rabbit cage (for females) has bar spacing of 3/4". The GP cage (males in it) has bar spacing just barely under an inch wide. I believe if the girls were in the GP cage they MIGHT squeeze out; the guys are significantly larger in body size.
The rats climb very well. It doesn't look possible in those photos for one to fall much more than a foot, which does not concern me.
Moshev posted about this and I await his comments in this thread.
Thanks, Linda, for all the info.
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Feb 22, 2007 0:31:45 GMT -4
Hmmmm, seems to me that I asked this in those threads about the cage. I'll go back and see if I can find if it was addressed.
My rats have been known to lean on the cage door, and sort of flop forward when it's opened. So yes, that would worry me. If they came up to the edge slowly enough they should be ok.
I've seen some cage set ups where the owner has rigged like a big shelf that is hooked up like a drawbridge for the rats to come onto when they steop out of their cage. I wondered about the safety that, too, but if they are just wandering I don't know that they will fall....alot of people have their rats play on a table.
It just dawned on me, having read Fledermaus's post, that maybe you mean from the shelves? I think the shelves were adjustable, but not sure.
I try not to have a drop deeper than about 8" anywhere. That is probably overly safe, but I read a post recently where a rat fell a short distance but because of the way it fell, it died. Probably more a freak accident than a likelihood.
Linda
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Feb 22, 2007 0:34:46 GMT -4
Ohh, you mean fall on the FLOOR outside, not inside the cage?!
BTW, I have read the Guinea Pigs are very susceptible to injury and even death from falls.
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Post by moshev on Feb 22, 2007 1:41:29 GMT -4
wow...lots of responses!
The bottoms of each cage are the pans.No wire floors at all in the entire cage.Going from one level to another is by means of a ladder.
This is what attracted me to the design was the fact that there were no wire floors and the fact that it is an expandable cage.I think that the spacing for the horizontal bars is enough for a mature rat to still climb up.
Guess I will still have to go and look at one just to be on the safe side.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Feb 22, 2007 18:59:53 GMT -4
I personally don't see these as any problem. And it is very unlikely one will fall outside the cage; they are very good climbers. I think two rats would be lucky to have it - so long as they have dark hiding places to sleep. it is so cute to see my guys sleeping together; wish I could climb in. They do have a really big Chube brand tube where they can hide in. The girls? They have a GP igloo - they do NOT gnaw the plastic and all six of them squeeze in there to sleep, nice and safe. |
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Feb 22, 2007 19:02:19 GMT -4
Other then Bar width (if it`s a problem?) that is a very cool cage! The tall ones look awesome. I wonder how well they would work for Degus? Do degus spray more than rats? Apparently so from what I've read.  So maybe the degus would spray outside of this kind of cage a lot.  Still, it would seem to be good for them. |
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Post by moshev on Feb 23, 2007 5:27:27 GMT -4
The cage is large enough for me to put three different living quarters in it for them if I want to. Tom-the rats like pizza bread!I even gave them a small piece of ham from the pizza and they ate it up.Kind of funny to see them eating some cheese today while listening to the classical music. When I leave each day they move down where the radio is and snooze by it. Back to the cage:I am probably going to end up getting one.Also there is a possiblity that I am going to get an abused rat from someone shortly,It's a female and still very young. I will put her in the current cage and not introduce her immedeately to the others.I will slowly introduce them after I have spent some personal time with the newbie and thereafter will place her on the floor with them to see how they socialize.The two girls are about due for their 1st vet visit just to be on the safe side.Same goes for the newbie just to make sure she is healthy enough to join them later on. |
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Feb 23, 2007 13:25:25 GMT -4
>> I leave each day they move down where the radio is and snooze by it. << Awww. An abused rat from a questionable source should see a vet before meeting other rats. Mine were of course pampered and very well treated. Each got kisses on each side of the head, on the nose, and on the top of the head. As for intros, although this may not be necessary for rats (?), see my gerbil split screen photos on the Gerbil forum. I have two pairs being introduced now. Mine love warmed pizza, and warmed taco shells covered in that Ranch dressing. They also like Alpo dog Snaps more than Milk Bones. As someone who likes canines, you might be interested in the thread on the Dog Show I went to in the Animal News forum. A photo gallery will appear soon, also. |
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Feb 23, 2007 15:32:56 GMT -4
That's how my late great Chopin got his name..when Chopin was playing on the radio, he would climb to the top shelf of the cage, which happened to be right next to the radio on the bookcase, and fall asleep! linda |
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Feb 23, 2007 20:08:32 GMT -4
My mother played Chopin a lot; she was also of Polish descent. Her piano is still here.
My rats can listen to Classical station WQXR in NYC.
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