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Post by Leeann on May 29, 2008 8:37:26 GMT 10
The lino tiles that you by from places like Bunnings may be no good as they have a sticky backing on them.
Better to go to somewhere like CarpetCall and by a piece of offcut lino, as this would have come off a roll.
Try for the slightly thicker one if possible, as I have found the thinner one the ratties chew, but any lino is better than none.
Cut to size of shelf required, I use lino for one of my cages and it works a treat also easy to lift out and wash.
Hayley, if your worried about the wire in the base, remove it, I did.
The only disadvantage with this is they may chew the corner/s of the plastic tray, mine did, lol and when they were still very little could eascape, but all I did was place a brick paver in that corner and had the water bottle over it, so they got a nail file each time they went for a drink, hehehe.
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Post by wulfyskingdom on May 29, 2008 8:55:47 GMT 10
Yes, that sounds like lino. I was given a cage cleaning tip a while ago, apparently you can use baby shampoo to clean cages, if they are difficult to get into or clean, just wipe them out with baby shampoo. Has anyone heard of this? i only tried it on the weekend, seems to have worked ok. That purple cage looks big enough to accommodate 2 ratlets but as they get bigger they'll need an upgrade... a cage that would be good for you might be this type: cgi.ebay.com.au/TRIPLE-STOREY-GUINEA-PIG-CAGE-FERRAT-BIG-RAT-S-Rabbit_W0QQitemZ370054908341QQihZ024QQcategoryZ63513QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphotohostingIts got a nice sturdy base and you can buy it with or without the stand (which is on wheels). Only down side is the bar spacing is further apart and the rats will need to be about 6 months or older to be big enough to not escape. I bought one of these off ebay earlier this year and its been an excellent cage so far. I have it on the stand and the 2 boys who live in it get to go zooming around the room when i have to move it and because of its plastic base, its good to take off the stand and put on top of something if i need more room. |
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Colleen
Aussie Rat Owner 
Andy
Posts: 405
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Post by Colleen on May 29, 2008 17:07:57 GMT 10
arrrrh, yeah thats the cage i was talking about. i had a look at one the other day in a pet shop, they look pretty good. you can remove the whole base and everything.
wulfyskingdom, you reccon that cage is big enough for to boys? if you think it is, i might save up and get that cage, it looks great.
how much extra is the stand?
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Post by wulfyskingdom on May 29, 2008 17:42:00 GMT 10
That cage is perfect for the two boys. Just make sure if they're not big boys that they can't escape through the bars lol.
The cage has a big door on the top, at night when I get home and the boys wake up, i leave the top open and put the cage next to their free range area (which is my couch at the moment) and for about 5 hours they are free to run around as they please.
In the bottom of the cage, they have an igloo, and their litter tray, then on the next level they have their food and water, then on the top level, they have the lino and some blankies. There is room for 2 hammocks as well.
i cant remember exactly how much it was but it was under $100 for both the cage and stand.
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Colleen
Aussie Rat Owner
Andy
Posts: 405
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Post by Colleen on May 31, 2008 21:42:02 GMT 10
awesome! thanx for that. i think the cage that i saw in the pet shop was about $75, so you'd be right, the cage and stand would add up to be about $100... wow go a lot of saving up to do then!  |
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Post by Leeann on Jun 6, 2008 20:34:09 GMT 10
I use dog flea shampoo mixed in warm water to clean my cages.
Then rinse well.
My way of thinking for using it was, that if Mites/Lice ae around it will kill them.
Not sure if it works, but I haven't had any major problems with them.
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Post by wulfyskingdom on Jun 8, 2008 16:31:18 GMT 10
thats a good point, im not sure if that works or not. I've heard of others doing that... it was a lice treatment (dont know which one though) to clean cages, but it made the plastic parts go funny like discoloured and sticky
Ive had a plastic igloo go sticky from something i've washed it in but i dont know what it was.
I've used a lice/mite spray (just a petshop one, i think it comes in one for small animals and also one for birds birds) on infected rats and it appeared to work. just spray the rat, clean the cage and spray the new bedding - has anyone else found these to work?
i soak the hammocks in hot water with napisan or a combination of washing powder and a splash of bleach.
how often does everyone get mites or lice on their rats? and how long until it clears up?
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Post by Hales80 on Jun 11, 2008 13:50:15 GMT 10
That looks great Angel, bet you can't wait for your ratties now...I love the purple too, its my fav colour at the moment, too bad I can't get purple rats LOL.
Colleen: The wire bottom comes out of the cage I have, but you are right in that the bottom tray is not high enough!!! Needs to be atleast 3 or 4 inchs minimum really.
Cheers
Hayley
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Colleen
Aussie Rat Owner
Andy
Posts: 405
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Post by Colleen on Jun 11, 2008 13:56:11 GMT 10
but you are right in that the bottom tray is not high enough!!! Needs to be atleast 3 or 4 inchs minimum really. You're telling me!! my rats would kick stuff from one end of the room to the other coz the cage didnt have high enough side Took for ever to clean up!! little buggers |
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Post by Hales80 on Jun 11, 2008 14:04:21 GMT 10
LOL my little brain ticks over constantly ways to modify it, I will come up with something eventually....lucky my girls don't make much of a mess, fingers crossed it stays that way...hehe
cheers
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Post by wulfyskingdom on Jun 11, 2008 15:38:22 GMT 10
That looks great Angel, bet you can't wait for your ratties now...I love the purple too, its my fav colour at the moment, too bad I can't get purple rats LOL. lol, have you ever tried food dye? i saw a lady with all PEW ratties and to tell them apart she used food dye... there was a pink self, a yellow self, a blue self etc |
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Post by Hales80 on Jun 12, 2008 10:31:10 GMT 10
Hmmm the thought had crossed my mind lol
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angel
Aussie Rat Owner
Posts: 72
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Post by angel on Jun 12, 2008 23:14:35 GMT 10
Too right, but I'm guessing I'm still a few months off, the breeder I approached has another litter planned before she gets to a self one.
Still excited though! I got a rat pez dispenser as well today, it didn't help XD
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Post by newbie on Jun 13, 2008 3:02:04 GMT 10
That's my girls cage! 3 girls in it, and Mystar (desexed boy)
Mash and Nova are in my 'birthing cage', technically it's the mouse cage that Mash, Bubbles and Squeak came in.
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Post by Hales80 on Jun 13, 2008 21:27:52 GMT 10
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