having a hard time...

...finding a good cage for multiple feeder rats. i don't want to spend a lot on a cage, so i think i'll have to go with an aquarium-style terrarium.
i was gonna build a cage but it would be more then my budget could handle right now & im afraid they'll chew through the wood & hardware cloth.

ok i found what i needed.

Use a tub :) I have one for my feeders. Just make sure when you drill air holes in them they are only 1/4" so the rats can't get their noses in them. Take the lid and cut out the middle like a frame, and put the hardware cloth in the middle to allow good air flow. They haven't chewed through mine. There is a thread around here with DIY. I'll see if I can find it.

i was told that with the tubs they can chew through it if they can get their teeth on anything in/on it.

They can if they have some place to start. But if you only have air holes around 1/4" and use metal washer for any other holes, they won't. Mine never have anyway. Although, they will chew almost anything else :)

Just remember aquariums don't have a lot of air movement and are stinky. Don't forget about girage sales. My aunt picked up some nice rat cages for liek $8 a piece.

well maybe i can still build the feeders a cage but not next month like i was hoping to be able to. i dont want to get the aquarium, but i kinda dont have a choice, until we get our bills under control again or the fiancee gets better paychecks from work. we'll see.

This is one of the tubs that I use to hold babies until they are ready to be sold. I used these almost exclusively as grow out tubs until I built all of my racks.

These are 90qt Sterilite tubs with 1/2" x 1/2" hardware cloth tops/hoppers. The hardware cloth is secured to the top of the tub with plastic zip ties. The hoppers are built using j-clips. I use mini-bungies to hold the top on the tub. I think the tub costs less than $20 to build including the water bottle.

http://img713.imageshack.us/img713/5...eangleview.jpg

http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/6091/tubfoodhopper.jpg

http://img341.imageshack.us/img341/3...ttleholder.jpg

http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/650/tubsideview.jpg