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? asked in PetsRodents · 7 years ago

Is this a good setup for two female rats?

I'm planning on getting 2 female rats in a few months, but first I want to make sure I have a good setup for them so they can be happy and healthy! Here's a list of all of the supplies and stuff here that I plan to get, I just want to make sure these rats have the best home possible.

Cage I plan on getting:

Petco Rat Manor Habitat-

Dimensions: 16.5" L X 22.5" W X 32" H

1/2" bar spacing

Two half levels and two full levels. Do I need to cover the mesh/wire levels?

Hideaways: Petco Igloo Hideaways- Do rats like these? What size should I get?

Toys: Petco Munchies- Little pieces of dyed wood. Will scatter around cage.

Homemade hammock-

I sew a lot and am willing to make a new one when it get ruined

Petco Ceramic Food Bowls-

Weighted so they can't get tipped over.

Water bottles-

What size should I get?

Petco bend a bridge-

How long will this last?

Cardboard cereal boxes, tissue boxes, and lots of things in www.dauper.com. I plan on getting more toys, any suggestions?

4 Answers

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  • 7 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    Wow, I would want to live there! The cage is actually a great size for 2 females, you could even add a few more if you wanted to! Haha

    *On the mesh levels I would recommend having some cardboard boxes or even just some cardboard squares to chew on while they are on there. That way they can still hang out on those levels, but they'll have something solid to sit on if they're feet start to hurt.

    *For the igloos, get whatever size. (Not the itty bitty minis of course.) My solo girl likes her little one to curl up in, but she also loves the jumbo one that was in her cage until a little while ago. If they think it's too big they'll fill it with their clutter to make it the perfect size. Rats are cool that way.

    *My water bottles I believe are 16 or 18 fluid ounces each, and the one lasts my three males a few days before I have to fill it up again. Any size is fine, just keep in mind that the smaller it is the more often you'll have to fill it.

    *The bend-a-bridge will last however long your rats decide to let it live. It's the simple truth.

    *The plastic cat toys that have bells in them, rats love those. My boys love large feathers (I got a cat toy and just cut them off for them to have) for whatever reason they just do. It can make cleaning the cage a huge pain but it makes em happy. My favorite place to look for rat toys is in the bird section of the pet store. The bells, the wood things, the plastic do-hickeys, it's a rat paradise! Get whatever you think they will enjoy and if they don't, well now you know. Rats are all unique in their tastes, so it's really just a case of learning your rats.

    Have fun and enjoy your new pets!

    Source(s): I've owned 9 rats, 4 at the current moment.
  • 7 years ago

    Forget about having so many levels. Levels take away from climbing space. I would put 1-2 half levels and fill in the space with ropes, cargo nets, branches etc. Those things can lead to small perches, hammocks etc. You want the cage to provide exercise and keep them busy. You will want to cover any wire levels you put in the cage.

    Igloo hideaways are fine. Anything they can hide in will work. Small to medium will work.

    Forget about a food bowl. Scatter the food around the cage to keep them busy.

    Water bottle size doesn't really matter but I would go with a 8-16 oz water bottle. I would also get a water bowl. Its good to give them the option. Put the water bowl up on a shelf so it doesn't get filled with bedding.

    That bridge should last a while. I don't think they would chew through that very quickly.

    Other toys you can try

    http://toothbrushrats.weebly.com/enrichment.html

    http://www.ratchatter.com/rat-toys-treats-and-more...

    If you can find safe wood (I used aspen and maple) you can bake them or pour boiling water over them and make them into all sorts of things. You can keep them whole and put them in the cage as is or you can make them into things like ladders, bridges, perches etc. Cargo nets are great too

    http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk/community/viewtopic.ph...

    Unfortunately the pics are missing on the tutorial but there are pics later in the thread. Or you can buy one here

    http://www.ratwarehouse.com/shop_view.php?cat=6

  • 7 years ago

    I owned 2 female fancy rats when i was a kid and i can help you out abit.

    You may want to look into getting a larger enclosure or even custom making one because rats like a lot of space. My setup was homemade and consisted of wood layered with tiles and was like 3ft tall, but the problem was the urine would soak into the wood.

    They really realllly like hammocks and i had like 3 of them but you have to regularly clean them out.

    You might as well get a large water bottle as it cuts down on having to fill it every day, but maybe like change the water out once a week.

    They love playing in carboard boxes and like paper pags and stuff but be careful because they will eventually start chewing on it.

    One main feature of my cage was a thick white rope that extended from the top floor of the cage to the bottome and they could climb up it easily.

    rememver to have fun and give them lots of attention as they are very social, and they loved playing in my shirt for some reason lol... im a dude tho ;)

  • 7 years ago

    Ya, i think they are lucky to have a set up like that :)

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