I used the same idea by dropping my plexiglass base to the floor, it’s about 1.5 feet tall but I fill it with substrate versus setting it up like the rest of the cage but the extra space has been a game changer
I’ve seen some of those awesome plexiglass dropped base ones and that’s actually where I got the idea! I was looking at how much building a base from plexiglass for this cage would be and it was coming out to over $300 with shipping (no place cuts it near me and after making one plexiglas pan myself years back that I cut using a exacto knife I don’t want to repeat that experience lol). And I couldn’t justify that what with me just having finished outfitting the cage with bass pans a few months back, so I wanted something cheaper and easier for me to cut to size. The hardware cloth ended up costing me $10 and I had everything else so it was definitely cheaper, although I do wish it was clear like the plexiglas because it would be so cute to see the rats through it!
@@ShadowTheRat For $10 that turned out great! Because of your video I am thinking of adding a domed structure to the top of my critter nation! Thank you for sharing your cage alterations, this is a game changer!
Lol I literally did this after driving back from a day-long trip - don't even ask me why I decided to run out and buy hardware cloth at like 9pm, then spend the night doing this! They do like it though, so it was worth it!
we just got the basic double and getting an add on in Dec. So excited! Has anyone ever seen higher stack then just 3? Your totally right I can not find any. Yours is fantastic!
I’ve seen people do 4 stacks connected for sugar gliders, but I think it’s way easier to do it for them as they don’t need a ton of cage items and need open space to glide, whereas with rats having lots of open space is a big fall risk and also tends to make them feel unsafe. So with rats you have to add way more stuff which makes any super tall cage harder to upkeep. I do follow someone who takes in rats from rescues and keeps them for life and they always have about 190-200 rats at any given time split into a large group of males and a large group of females (each group is like 90-100 rats lol), and they have like 8 triple critter nations attached for each group, so it’s definitely possible to have a much larger setup.
Great job with the hardware cloth, but there's another easy way. metal grid playpen panels that are about 12x15 with half inch bar spacing, fit perfectly over the CN bottom openings. easy to zip tie on and you can attach the front one so they function as doors and it's easy to pull out the bedding tray.
@@ShadowTheRat cant link it here but in amz its Tespo Pet Playpen, Small Animal Cage. the one with grid split into thirds. The panels will overlap but six will cover the entire front of a double wide CN
The manufacturers intended it to be connected vertically (which is why the units snap on that way), however because it’s modular it’s easy to connect horizontally as well. So it’s not technically made to connect that way but it works well, especially with a few zip ties for stability.
Your rats are living the dream!
You have the best cage I have seen. You are such an awesome rat mom 😃🙂😊
Its a great idea, I would have never thought of it
Fantastic and you are a veritable architect .The girls now have a 5star hotel .& your bond with the girls is amazing
Oh, the rats will be so happy. It looks amazing. ❤
I haven’t seen this idea but I am excited to see how it turns out for you over time!
That's practically a neighborhood. A rat neighborhood
Wow that is AMAZING❤❤❤❤
I used the same idea by dropping my plexiglass base to the floor, it’s about 1.5 feet tall but I fill it with substrate versus setting it up like the rest of the cage but the extra space has been a game changer
I’ve seen some of those awesome plexiglass dropped base ones and that’s actually where I got the idea! I was looking at how much building a base from plexiglass for this cage would be and it was coming out to over $300 with shipping (no place cuts it near me and after making one plexiglas pan myself years back that I cut using a exacto knife I don’t want to repeat that experience lol). And I couldn’t justify that what with me just having finished outfitting the cage with bass pans a few months back, so I wanted something cheaper and easier for me to cut to size. The hardware cloth ended up costing me $10 and I had everything else so it was definitely cheaper, although I do wish it was clear like the plexiglas because it would be so cute to see the rats through it!
@@ShadowTheRat For $10 that turned out great! Because of your video I am thinking of adding a domed structure to the top of my critter nation! Thank you for sharing your cage alterations, this is a game changer!
Nice 🤩 these are the type of things l start to do at 10pm because I'm bored 😂
Lol I literally did this after driving back from a day-long trip - don't even ask me why I decided to run out and buy hardware cloth at like 9pm, then spend the night doing this! They do like it though, so it was worth it!
Amazing!😍 Happy babies❤
Damn girl! The rattie condo got bigger! 😂❤
we just got the basic double and getting an add on in Dec. So excited! Has anyone ever seen higher stack then just 3? Your totally right I can not find any. Yours is fantastic!
I’ve seen people do 4 stacks connected for sugar gliders, but I think it’s way easier to do it for them as they don’t need a ton of cage items and need open space to glide, whereas with rats having lots of open space is a big fall risk and also tends to make them feel unsafe. So with rats you have to add way more stuff which makes any super tall cage harder to upkeep.
I do follow someone who takes in rats from rescues and keeps them for life and they always have about 190-200 rats at any given time split into a large group of males and a large group of females (each group is like 90-100 rats lol), and they have like 8 triple critter nations attached for each group, so it’s definitely possible to have a much larger setup.
It looks amazing!
Great job with the hardware cloth, but there's another easy way. metal grid playpen panels that are about 12x15 with half inch bar spacing, fit perfectly over the CN bottom openings. easy to zip tie on and you can attach the front one so they function as doors and it's easy to pull out the bedding tray.
I'd love if you could link those, maybe in the future I'll add those to the front since I'd love if I could open the bottom!
@@ShadowTheRat cant link it here but in amz its Tespo Pet Playpen, Small Animal Cage. the one with grid split into thirds. The panels will overlap but six will cover the entire front of a double wide CN
Love it! Its Ratty Heaven!
So critter nations aren’t supposed to go horizontal?
The manufacturers intended it to be connected vertically (which is why the units snap on that way), however because it’s modular it’s easy to connect horizontally as well. So it’s not technically made to connect that way but it works well, especially with a few zip ties for stability.