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Printable Version of Topic "Rat Cage"

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-- Posted by o0Pippa0o at 12:29 pm on Nov. 4, 2008
I'm thinking of getting a pet rat. Whats the smallest cage that they should be put in?

-- Posted by XxemochickxX at 12:30 pm on Nov. 4, 2008
ewww, not a rat, ewww

-- Posted by barnabas at 12:31 pm on Nov. 4, 2008
gross .dont do it.
certainly not a cage that is smaller than they are.
probably one they can turn around comfortably in have a bit of moving space.

-- Posted by kay dee at 12:31 pm on Nov. 4, 2008
Quote: from XxemochickxX at 12:30 pm on Nov. 4, 2008
ewww, not a rat, ewww

Oh, you're helpful.
If you get a baby, it can be kept in a smaller cage for a while.
I can't give you exact measurements, but I can tell you that it needs plenty of room to burrow about, and have room to exercise within the cage for when you're not around.

-- Posted by o0Pippa0o at 12:34 pm on Nov. 4, 2008
emm....I'm tempted by a gerbil either but rats look so uch more fun

-- Posted by HuffleHaire at 12:46 pm on Nov. 4, 2008
They can get pretty beasty big. Are you buying it from a pet store? Because usually the store attendants have a plethora of knowledge on this kind of thing.
I'm sure they could even compare the gerbil to rat advantages/disadvantages, if you wanted.

-- Posted by cum funnel at 2:28 pm on Nov. 4, 2008
Rats need very large cages.
Here, use this calculator specifically for rat cage/rat ratio calculation. It will let you know, based on how many rats you have and the cage dimensions whether the cage is large enough or not.
http://www.rattycorner.com/odds/calc.shtml
Rats absolutely need a large cage. Much larger than a gerbil or hamster (which, if you get one of these, do not put it in a glass tank, it is extremely unhealthy).
Also, rats cannot be put in a cage with wire flooring. It will cause foot problems (specifically, Bumblefoot) and even leg breaks to have your rat walking on wire.

Also, please avoid buying from a pet store. The animals are unhealthy and they are rarely, if ever, handled. They are not what a new owner needs (or even an experienced one). Adopt or buy from a breeder.