My Homebuilt Rat Cage

[OFRD_GRL]

Well I got a live ASF in an attempt to tease my BP into eating... and well she hasn't eaten it yet! So I got a critter cage for it, but that was just too small for me.. I wanted it to have room to poop and stuff without making the thing super messy in 10 minutes.

SOO I went to K-Mart and got a 58 quart tub. It was $11.99
Then I got a HUGE bag of bedding (like 10lbs or something like that - lifetime supply LOL) for $6.49
Then I went to petsmart and got a bag of food for $4.99
Then I got a food bowl for $1.99
Then I got a water bottle for $3.99
I made a "house" out of an old butter bowl.

So all in all my entire setup cost me $30

Drilled holes in the side for the water bottle, and in the lid for air, and *viola*

[RichsBallPythons]

only thing id suggest upgrading is the food. the mix foods you get from stores in inadequate and no where near the nutrition needed to keep your rats fat n plump. Rats eat a lot as their metabolism is high.

Most use Mazuri 6f or 9f. Can be found and Farmer feed stores usually, for about $25-30 per 50lbs

[OFRD_GRL]

Cool thanks!!!!
I didn't like ANY of the stuff at petsmart but needed to get something.. because all I had at home was bird seed (pet bird type - not wild bird.. well that too LOL).
I have to go to the feed store anyways for my horse so I will ask about that!

[Corvid]

lol, and I was worried that you would be mean to him!!
If you need some food let me know, I'll get you some.

[Argentra]

Same here. I have a ton of the Mazuri, and would gladly give you some.

The only change I would make would be to add wire mesh to the lid. Rodents, even only one, build up moisture in their enclosures rather fast which isn't good for them or you. I have some leftover 1/4" hardware cloth you could use.

[OFRD_GRL]

LOL Emma, ya the little guy is living in the lap of luxury LMFAO

We had the kids this weekend.. and Taea (Darryl's oldest - 15yrs old) fell in love with him LMFAO.. and wanted to name him... She said he was too gentle to be snake dinner

All her friends have snakes and they breed their own mice. And the way they pick which ones will be dinner is by which one bites them first. He didn't bite her.. so therefore he's not allowed to be dinner in her eyes LMFAO.

And thanks for the food offer, both of you :-)

[akaangela]

Nice, I would go to salvation army and see about getting a wheel. They are a lot less likely (IMHO) to chew if they can burn off their energy. Or you can just throw a piece of wood in to give the little bugger something to chew on.

[matt71915]

that rat has it made now!
how big are you expecting him to get!?!?! lol ( hole in the butter tub) I also thing he will need a friend.... or girl friend

[OFRD_GRL]

I hope he isn't here long enough to need a GF... I will leave the breeding to Corvid for me LOL Unless she wants help But knowing my fiancees kids... *that ones too cute to feed.. aww that one would make awesome babies* and then I would have a rat population the size of Africa, as pets LOL.

I expect him to get HUGE ok just joking. I got carried away with the butter tub LOL. Scissors on hardish round shaped plastic aided in the size of the hole LOL.

Thanks for the idea on the wheel! Never thought of going there. The food he has he seems to be enjoying because its got full sized peanuts in it and other large pellet food and he is chewing the crap out of them!

[Corvid]

Trust me, you don't want him to have a girlfriend!! For 2 snakes it'll be out of control.
I'm SHOCKED that he hasn't bit anyone... I interact with my ASFs but I didn't think I did enough for them to be pets!!

Hopefully your girly eats soon. Keep us posted!!