Bin Vs Wire cages (Rats)

So I haven't posted here in quite awhile but I'm about to start breeding rats. I have four coming on Sunday. I know I'll be needing more cages and I cringe at the thought of more tanks. So I'm trying to decide between plastic bin cages or these sort of rabbit cage looking wire ones. I can't seem to upload pictures here so I'll link the thread where I saw them. I would love to do a regular rat rack but I don't have the tools and gave up the one time I tried to make one because I got too frustrated lol I'm fine working with wire though. I could use metal pans for the wire cage as well if needed. Thoughts?
https://ball-pythons.net/forums/show...and-Mice-in-VA

With wire cages, you'll have the rats kicking shavings, food & feces all over the place. Personally that wouldn't be my choice- I've always used "lab" cages for rodents- the hard plastic bottoms with the strong wire bar tops that have places to hold food & a water bottle suspended overhead.

BTW, if you're new at keeping or breeding rodents- trust me, you only want to use water bottles that have the metal tubes with metal balls inside to keep from dripping- you never give them a water bowl, unless you want to clean it up & refill it every hour. They tend to put stuff in it- as if it's a drowning danger to their babies. And food doesn't work in bowls or on the cage floor either- they'll contaminate it with feces & urine in no time at all. In "lab cages", the food & water stays up & out of their way, & most of all, clean-so they stay healthy & you don't waste food or your time.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

BTW, if you're new at keeping or breeding rodents- trust me, you only want to use water bottles that have the metal tubes with metal balls inside to keep from dripping- you never give them a water bowl, unless you want to clean it up & refill it every hour. They tend to put stuff in it- as if it's a drowning danger to their babies. And food doesn't work in bowls or on the cage floor either- they'll contaminate it with feces & urine in no time at all. In "lab cages", the food & water stays up & out of their way, & most of all, clean-so they stay healthy & you don't waste food or your time.

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I'll be using bottles and food hoppers, I'd definitely be worried about water bowls being in there. I'm new to rodents but I've raised rabbits for a long time and a few things cross over. One being that bowls suck, and water systems are superior (when they work right).

Great that you’re in Va. I’m going to have to check you out with a order soon. I’ll be in touch.

https://ibb.co/tx4wr0k
Decided to go with bins for now. Do some rats have problems eating through 1/2 " wire hoppers? They seem to be eating but I'm worried they're not getting enough through.

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Originally Posted by BallPythonWannaBe

https://ibb.co/tx4wr0k
Decided to go with bins for now. Do some rats have problems eating through 1/2 " wire hoppers? They seem to be eating but I'm worried they're not getting enough through.

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I think it IS more difficult for them- with the typical lab cages, each gap is narrower, but very long, so the lab blocks are more accessible, IMO. A half inch square doesn't allow the rats to reach as much of the blocks- only when the blocks sit at a certain angle for a corner to fit in the gaps.