What is the best way to create levels in a rat cage?

Question

I've just aquired my rat cage for my future rats and it needs lots of interesting stuff for them! I believe it's 36 inches long, 14 inches high, and 14 inches wide. There's enough space to put, at least, one more level, but I need help figuring out how and what materials I should be using. I've read about using wood and wooden rods to create ladders and such, but I'm more worried about the actual second story, if you get what I mean. How do I attach a piece of wood or other kind of material securely to the side, and still have it able to come off for cleaning? Any ideas?

<3,

Malz

Answer 1

I built a large cage for my chinchillas and used custom built ledges that can easily attach and be taken off. They were modeled after chinchillas leaping Ledges:

http://www.google.com/products?q=chinchi...

or

http://stores.ebay.com/Shelfridges_The-N...

However, I just bought a pice of pine wood and cut it to my specifications (you can make them for corners, or straight across), then you get a bolt thing and a washer and one of those wing shaped metal pieces (sorry, my tool lingo is not that good, but you can see these things from the example pictures). You drill a hole and s***w in the bolt thing, then you can attach it to metal bars by putting the washer on the outside of the cage and then s******g the wing shaped thing in. You can put multiple bolts on each side of the ledge to help support it (again, please see pictures). When you want to clean it, just unscrew. Pine wipes down easily.

If you dont want to build, go to any pet store and go to the chinchilla section. You can buy a couple of the smaller ledges and put them side by side to create a bigger platform. Few satores carry the larger ones.

You can also do this with one of thoise parrot branches, or buy one in the bird section at the pet store. They usually come equipped with the hardware to attach them to a cage. You can also find your ladders here too.

You might also consider a rodent hammock (hangs from the top of the cage, kind of like another fun level), usually in the ferret section. Or a plastic platform from the store with those plastic tubes in it. Rats and mice love running thru these things.

Good luck!

Answer 2

use some metle and stuff to keep the wood or plastic up (rats chew on wood and the second story might fall).