How to make a DIY perspex tray for your Rat cage
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- Опубліковано 4 лип 2024
- My most asked question - What is that in the base of your rat cage? Where can I buy it? Well you can make the base of your rat cage deeper to provide more bedding and allow your rats to express natural behaviours by following this DIY to make a custom perspex tray for the bottom of your cage.
Please note that this is not my original idea and has been done by rat owners for years, however as it's something I get asked so frequently I thought i'd show you.
🕛Timestamps🕛:
0:00 Intro
2:04 Measuring and ordering
10:46 Putting it together
12:23 The results
13:45 Outro
⭐Things mentioned⭐:
www.theplasticpeople.co.uk/
Gorilla tape: amzn.to/3o7wfPg
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you should make a amazon list of stuff that rat owners should get
I'm the usa, i made mine with thin plexy type sheets from Hobby-Lobby. 4 bucks a sheet, i used 2 or 3.... thinner, but it has held up for about three months so far. it is a bit wobbly but we love it.
For that price I wouldn’t mind it being a bit wobbly!
Wow that's a really great deal. Any idea what the sheets were specifically called?
do you have any socials where you have it posted at? id love to see! im thinking about doing the same
@@hambrugr I'm sorry I'm just now seeing these. It's the Hobby Lobby plexi glass sheets that are 11" by 14 inches. I do remember it being very brittle to work with and I actually ruined one sheet while I was practicing. But I did make it work, I used to clear tape to make it all stick together. I've had it for about 5 months now and I don't want to share it because it looks really gross even though it's technically clean 🙈🥴 It's really scratched up but it has held together.
I noticed in the comment section of the reviews on the plexiglass, somebody suggested it was easier to buy the poster frames there and use the plexiglass that comes with those. I've never tried that tho
@@kyu3196 Actually I don't. I've had it about 5 months now and it's so scratched up that when I record it it looks gross 🙈
I used to love to share things about my rats but I don't any more because I kept getting attacked for little bitty things here and there that were not a problem for us. Like a few times a week I feed them in a bowl because I like seeing what they actually eat versus what they ignore and hide et cetera. And I can also watch and see who is eating what.
And we use Coconut substrate and there's a lot of people that are very against that- one reason is the odor and people say it smells like mold or chemicals… but I think it just smells like the forest. It smells just like when I was a little girl and I used to run around in the woods down in Mississippi. So the smell doesn't bother us and our rats love it. 🤩
I don't even own rats and yet I'm actually interested in how to make a perspex tray for them lol!
Great video Emi! Keep up the great work.
same XD
this video came at a perfect time ! I'm getting a new cage this week and the base isn't very deep and I've been wondering how I'm going to make it deeper . thank you for another awesome video :]
I didn’t have any internet for a couple days, but Im so sorry to hear about fleet! He was a very beautiful mouse and you took great care of him❤️
It turned out really great. Such a good idea.
Thank-You Emi....You know we've been waiting and you delivered!
Really appreciated the video.
That's a great price on the Perspex/Plexiglass. Here it would have been about $300 total.
Loved it, Thank You.
Your rat designs are so cute 🥰
Just ordered my perspex, thanks!
love making these from clear material. sometimes they’ll make their tunnels close enough to the edge to watch them dig (and smack their siblings for collapsing their masterpiece)
Thanks for the great tutorial! Gotta make some for our boys and will get on it based on your instructions. Cheers!
Thank you so much! 💗 Hope you get on okay with it
This is so helpful! Thank you so much
Omg thank god for this video my cage doesn’t have a deep base and I’ve been mulling over how to make it work
I’m buying my male mouse a cage like this tomorrow! Perfect timing
This is perfect thank you so much
We all love you emi! Hope you’re doing okay
This is amazing thank you xx
Brilliant tutorial thanks, and I especially like the one you made for the shelf with a different bedding, great idea.
Oh wow! I did this exact process a few years ago-. The difference was that I used acryllic glue, which I had no previous experience with. I inevitably made mistakes while putting the pieces together, but once the glue was all over the pieces, they were permanently ruined. Your method using tape makes so much more sense, at least for those of us with little DIY experience 🤗
Both is the best imo, use the tape first to get it all lined up, then when you are happy with it add aquarium silicone to make it permanent
So... it wasn't the Exact same
I don’t iven have rats anymore but i still watch all you’re videos❤️❤️ im from Norway sorry if i said something wrong😂
Aww I wish this came out a couple months ago! I made my own through the internet and it's not the best quality but it works aha! Helpful for next time though 😄
Thank u so much for this vid
I used a massive fish tank when i had my ratties
.
But your idea is very good..
i will definitly do this next time i have rats
Oh my gosh thank you I needed to make a tray the one I have it only like one inch-
Hey Emi, this perspex seems like such a good idea. I just wondered if it would be possible to get the sides like attached to the wire cage walls? Or would this be something you advise against it
It might be difficult as the tray they sit in is further in than the wire of the cage if that makes sense? It sits about a few cm gap away from the bars. You may be able to zip tie the pieces just to the cage itself I’ve done that with cardboard before when I didn’t have a tray
Thank you for explaining it in detail! I will definitely use your method in the future!
I got one question: do you use the smaller perspex tray now as a litter box or do you still use the corner litter boxes? I haven’t seen one in this video, but maybe I just didn’t notice 🙈
There’s one litter box on the base of the cage and they can use that little tray too. I have got a second litter box but not sure where I put the clips to hang it and it’s too hot to dig around looking for them lol
Didn't have time to watch yesterday, so watched it now.
I so badly want to make a deep tray for my rats, but it's gonna be so expensive and I'm so scared of accidentally messing up the measurements. 🙈 Might start putting money aside for it though. I have the savic suite royal cage and the bedding gets everywhere currently. 😅 They have a deep dig box at least and they really love digging in it.
I see that Wispa isn't getting around as well anymore, HLD sucks. 😔 Hope he still has some time left with you. ❤
For now just buy a small plastic tub and fill it with bedding as a dog box x
I put mine together yesterday. Your video was a big help in that! By the way, your cage doesn't have a middle partition, correct? Would you (or anyone else reading this) recommend that I take my middle partition out to give my rats more room to climb? I have the Savic Royal Suite.
I would :) Just make sure you put enough things in to catch them if they fall
Hi Emi! I really enjoy learning from and getting ideas from all your videos. Could you tell me the name of the wood substrate that you are using in the bottom of the cage? Thanks for the help.
I believe she uses hemp! At least that’s what she uses currently. As long as it’s not scented, dusty, or that gross fluffy stuff they sell for hamsters it should be okay.
@@kaelowrey6841 Thank you Kae. I'm just now seeing this.
Hi! Im going to get rats soon and i have found a couple cages n stuff, but how do i find breeders? Ive searched for a while but cant find any? Also love your videos!
Hey, I have the same cage as you, is it fine for me to use the exact same measurements as you, or would you go a bit small as you said it was a tight fit. Thank you! x
I’d measure your own cage as they may vary slightly. My metal tray came a bit bent inwards so that’s probably also why it was a tight fit ☺️
I just got my first pair of rats, both males and 8 weeks old. I have a double critter nation I'm in the middle of setting up while they're in a smaller cage for only about a month until everything arrives and gets set up. Should I add more rats when I have the double critter nation set up or leave them as a pair? These are my first pet rats ever so I'm not sure on how many would be a good number for the cage I have (I don't want to put in as many as I can but I also wanna give them proper socialization)
Hi Emi, Im not trying to sound rude in ANY way but just like letting you know you can get a service dog for POTS, migraines and there are psychiatric SD that can help with sh and a lot of other things. I am in the process of maybe getting a psychiatric service dog (my family wants me to try therapy first) I also struggle with sh as well as a vary of other psychiatric disabilities. That being said I love your videos!
I’m planning on training my own assistance dog next year ☺️
@@Emiology That's so cool!! I just started training my own PSD! I wish you luck when the time comes!! ^^
@@Emiology that's great!!!!!!!
First! Thanks for the video it’s really useful >.< by the way if u can’t afford a Perspex you can also make them out of cardboard !
The rats will chew it and need to be replaced alot, mostly if they pee on it, there are other glass type of materials you can use! Or a second hand fish tank under the cage, alot of people do it mostly where i live, so I will be doing it aswell, it costs 50 dollars to do here
Hi there, I just completed my acrylic tray just as you did, it is 10” tall. I had to take in account a hinge on either side when measuring and it left a half inch gap around the outside perimeter between the acrylic and cage. Will rats try and squeeze in there? I don’t have rats yet, just getting ready. Thanks
Please be careful about making these more than a few inches in height as Rats require excellent airflow.. that's why they require wire cages. If their space is too enclosed, it will greatly increase the risk of respiratory infections for them. PLEASE be mindful of not having them in enclosed spaces.
[4.2.2023]
This was cool. So what do you use to clean it? How long does the tape last before you have to redo it?
I just spray it and wipe it down like you would the usual base of the cage. With the old tray I had it for about 3-4 years and only had to re-do the tape once or twice (once I took it apart because we were moving) but it does come off and get bits of bedding stuck to it etc
@@Emiology That is some really strong tape, lol. I hope you silicone the inside seams because I feel like it would make it last even longer.
Yayyy, I am planning on doing this soon. I want to do my cage bioactive though🍄✨
Ps love you and your videos
Hi i need some help with my mice...
I got some new mice around 3 weeks ago and they have gone into intros recently but they have not been getting along Uki (one of my mice) has been attacking the others i'm really worried about it do you have any advice?
By the way sorry to hear about Fleet he was such a lovely mouse :}
Where is your blue water bowl from please? Thanks
Which one is the best cage? Little zoo, pet planet cage or critter nation?
What bedding do you use?
Where did you get that clear spiny treat ball from at 13:43
My store bogglebuddies.com ☺️
What width tape did you use as I can only find 48 mm and it doesn’t seem wide enough
hello! I have been planning to get the critter nation single story cage for 2 male rats, do you think that it would be big enough for them? I'm also planning on doing that so thanks for the tutorial :)
Yes that’s fine for two rats ☺️
@@Emiology ok thank you for answering! 🥰
did you change your bedding from hemp? i reffed your old beddings video for what i got but i might have to change that if you yourself have altered your go-to -- i really respect your knowledge.
I did, the hemp brand I used Aubiose was coming out extremely dusty and making me cough and throw up 😅
@@Emiology the hemp i've purchased is an American brand and I'm hoping it'll be better than Aubiose....if it isn't, what brand do you use now?
Even though I do have enough chew toys for my rats will they gnaw on it?
Do you think instead of that tape I could use some kind of resin? Or silicone?
Aquarium Silicone would probably work! Just be wary that with my mice and where I siliconed inside their enclosure they dug down and chewed it off lol
@@Emiology oh haha, thanks 😊
Hey emi! Hope you doing okey in the extreme heat. I’m actually scared for tomorrow but I hope you cope okay! I’m so happy for this video to come out. Im considering Perspex tray for my rats since the cage im getting does have barely any base so it will be cost worthy! Thank as always emi.
Thank you! I’m more scared for everyone else and their animals as we luckily have air con downstairs so we will be alright 🥺
Yeah let’s hope and pray that everyone understands how dangerous this is gonna be. I’m in a red warning area. I just can’t believe how hot it’s gonna get and I really hope that people takes this seriously.
I was wondering peoples opinion on if I manufactured a cage reminiscent of the critter nation with doors opening all the way with a clear bin at the bottom for bedding or a bioactive setup
It would be handy. I contacted a bunch of the big name cage brands / manufacturers last year interested in creating a new rat cage that was actually functional for rats but none of them replied 😅 Some of them were even chinese whispering and it got back to me that I was ‘asking for a free cage’ when I was actually just trying to get something in motion that would be really helpful to both them and rat owners
@@Emiology agreed, I like it would be a convenience to many small pet owners and the pets themselves. I’ve just downloaded a 3D modelling software on my pc and will be definitely playing around with it for the next couple of days and seeing what I can do
Hi I’m getting the same cage as your starter cage, I want to get females because they are slightly smaller, do you think I should get 2 or 3 rats? Is it worth having an extra rat even though its a small cage?
Starting with 2 is fine as long as you plan ahead to get more in a few months time just in case. I personally wouldn’t be comfortable with more than 2 rats living in a furat but some people do keep 3
Thank you!
What kind of bedding is that?
I have a new cage but it's a wire bottom with absolutely not tray and the doors aren't big enough to make the tray and then put it in. I'll need to make it whilst its in the cage :( this will be so hard
Are you still going to do bioactive at some point?
Not for rats no probably not ☺️
hi! whereabouts did you get your hanging basket from? did it come with the holes already cut in, or did you do that yourself? looks perfect for rattos! 🤍
May I know what the cage you use for your rats is called and where you got it from? I'm hoping to keep some rats of my own in the future and your videos really help me to understand their natural behaviours and how to take care of them! 😊
I know this is a month old but I've just finished setting up the exact cage! It's a Little Zoo Venturer Cage. I got mine from My Degu but it is pricey! Mine cost £295, that's with both tiers like Emi. One tier is about £180 I believe?
Bare in mind, we're from the UK, and I'm not sure where you're from. People generally recommend Critter Nation cages but they're pretty much only avaliable in the USA and I'm not sure what other cages are avaliable there, or even if the Little Zoo Venturer is avaliable their either. Hope it helps!
I don't have a single DIY bone in my body, but I want this depth for my rats so bad. So, I'm gonna get the materials and my partner is gonna do the finagling!
Hey! I discovered you a while ago and you are a big help for me to finally set everything up to get my first own rats :D I've been wanting them since years and finally the opportunity is here.
What I love is how many things you can just repurpose for the little ones. Can you mabye make a video themed about that? Which Ikea and other things can be reused for them and which shops are good to find nice toys for the rats?
I’ve done an IKEA for rats video ☺️
@@Emiology oh nice, I found it, thanks! :D very informative :D
an off topic question but is the size L on your store your “typical” UK size large?
I’d say so! I usually wear a large, I wear a large in men’s primark because I like things over sized but on teespring to get one over sized I have to go for xl
@@Emiology I usually wear a M/L but also like things oversized so i’ll go for a XL, thanks for your input & advice!!
If you’re unsure you cant go wrong with going bigger!
Do rats need a water bowl or can they have a couple of bottles instead?
It's good to give them the option of both
I need your help. So I have two boys and I’m wanting to add one more rat to make it a group. I have a double CN so I don’t think space is an issue. But I don’t know where to get just one rat. And I don’t know how my boys will react.
If you only want one more rat adopting from a rescue or finding someone with a lone rat is probably your best bet. When getting baby rats you always have to get them in pairs as it’s important for their development
thank you!
@@Emiology you should do a video rating rat cages!
Where did you get your cage 😭
Does anyone know how much it costs to make a tray like this?
Prices have gone up along with everything else but about £60
What was the measurements for the smaller clear tray? You never said or showed in your video.
I recommend measuring your own trays as they can vary slightly and my measurements may not fit
@@Emiology I ask because I have the same cage as in the video
The measurements can still vary very slightly between cages 😊
@@Emiology bummer because I don’t have measuring tape and just want an estimate on the size, I guess I’ll have to wing it lol
Anybody in the comments know a website similar to this but in the US?
I would love some input on a concern I have regarding making one of these trays. I will be caring for Coco, my niece's Rattie, for the entire summer, starting next week, as my niece is going to college in the US, but is from a military family stationed in Okinawa & will be out of the country, living with her family during college break.
I insisted on a new, bigger cage for Coco's stay with me, but I had to make some compromises in what was chosen. The best/biggest cage I could find that could still be moved back to her college dorm in the Fall, has an inadequate base, so I am attempting to make a taller, more contained base tray. My concern is in choosing a silicone or other caulk to seal all the edges. I need to find something to make a good seal BUT, that will NOT GIVE OFF ANY SMELL or NOXIOUS FUMES after curing, & that will not be a risk to Coco, if she comes into contact with it once cured.
Do you know what substance is being used to seal the edges on the tray you had made, & do you have any info on safe products that can be used?
Coco is arriving in just over a week & I'm freaking out a bit, trying to make a happy & safe space for her. Thanks for any helpful input.
[4.26.2023]
I just used gorilla tape but any aquarium specific silicone is also safe to use around mammals. It will give off a bit of a smell at first but do it in a well ventilated room away from the rat and it will go in no time.
Maybe you could convince her to let you get coco a friend while she’s away 😊
@@Emiology Thank you so much for your prompt reply... I hadn't even thought about the fact that, of course there would be aquarium-specific silicone caulks!
I very much wish I could change Coco's friend status... it kills me that she is single, but she was saved from a high school classroom situation when no one else would take her; my niece saved her out of compassion but as she was shortly starting college, the timing was bad & she was put in a tough spot to even get Coco approved at her college dorm. (I am a Guinea Pig person; sadly, my last little boy, Rex passed 5 years ago, but sharing my life with GPs made me very aware that you must do research on the distinct needs of specific animals, & know THEIR particular needs, preferably BEFORE they come home with you.) This will be the 4th time Coco will have stayed with me this year & I have made changes each time, to try to make her life happier, that my niece was then able to maintain after taking Coco back. I had no prior experience with Ratties & had no idea that I would be caring for Coco so many times, beyond the first couple days of school when the college dragged their feet on approving her. Otherwise, I would have done much more research before.
I have been trying to push for a decent cage (hers is cruelly small) from the first time I met her; I am SO grateful that, because I was needed for a prolonged period this summer, I was now able to insist on the new bigger cage, the soft safe paper bedding, and that adjustments be made to her food.
The food is STILL an issue as she IS currently on a mix that causes her to be selective (IDK the brand at this moment) but I would love to get her on a better food like Oxbow, though I am worried that if I try to change her over, her already bad habit of only wanting the things she picks, will make her scorn a food that is not full of junk treats. (Any thoughts on this?) Also, there is then the matter of getting compliance with a more expensive food, once my niece returns, & unfortunately, I don't have the funds myself to make sure that happens long-term. While I want to do all I can for Coco, to make her stay happy & her overall life safe, fun, & satisfying for her, I am extremely frustrated by my limitations here. 🥰🐀
[4.26.2023]
@@Emiology I apologize, I just watched your video again & must have been falling asleep when I watched it the first time as I totally missed the end of the video when you sealed the tray with Gorilla tape! That's why you got my question above about "which sealant did you use"! I feel like an idiot! Mea culpa!
Anyway, I only saw it all NOW b/c I ran in to a problem with my tray & thought you might like to know since, when I was concerned about using a sealant that was non-toxic, you had suggested an aquarium silicone. I got a tube of that & was just about to apply it tonight when I remembered that silicone could be tricky to apply, & so decided to watch a couple UA-cam videos for some tips before starting. The first vid I watched was a guy who builds aquarium tanks & he was talking about pros & cons of silicone caulks. The HUGE con was that Silicone caulk does NOT adhere to Plexiglass/ACRYLIC!!! That threw a huge wrench into my project tonight, but I was glad I learned this before I opened the tube. I wanted to let you know b/c you mentioned that you might use it in future.
[5.2.2023]
@@Emiology I didn't want to add this question to my other reply as this is a totally different topic. Realizing now that you used Gorilla tape as your only sealant for your acrylic tray, I am wondering, what happens if your Ratties back up to the edge to pee? Isn't the tray hard to clean since you can't flood it with water? Does urine get into the inside edges requiring that you take the tray apart to clean it adequately? Or do you just find that isn't happening since the bedding will absorb so much? I'd really love your insights into this as this was the reason I initially felt certain I would have to use some type of caulk, but if the tape works, that makes my life way easier! Thanks in advance for any input on this!
[5.2.2023]
I use wood and my friend uses card board
I need rat advice if you or anyone reading has time... I just adopted 3 rats (around 1 yr old) that were surrendered to my local pet shop, but one has been having seizures. I don't know if i should keep them together, seperate the one having seizures, or introduce one of the three rats to my other group and keep the rat that has seizures in a pair with one other rat. I've gotten advice to put him in a smaller cage, (they're in a mansion right now) as he could fall from the top of the cage. I also dont think its fair to keep the other 2 'normal' rats in a smaller cage with him when they could be integrated into my other group and have a big cage. On the other hand, it isn't fair to the rat that has seizures to be kept alone. I think keeping him in a pair might be the answer because I can put them in a smaller cage and it will still be comfortable, but I also feel bad for separating the third rat from the 2 rats he probably grew up with. Please give advice if you can!
Do you have an older rat he can be paired with that wont mind being in a smaller cage as much? Once they're bonded he won't miss his original friends that much and it's for his own good, but i do think that's probably wise in case he falls from the top.
@@Emiology most of my rats are around the same age, but im not sure exact age because they are rescues. My oldest are a pair who are about 1.5 years old. They don't climb, play, or move around too much anymore, so I do have them in a smaller cage compared to my almost 1 year olds. I didn't consider this because they've ganged up on most rats i've introduced to them. This is a good idea though! I'm going to try and see what happens! If not, then I will probably try to keep him pared with one of his original cagemates and introduce the third to one of my other groups. I have 2 groups of 3 and one group of 2, so I have some wiggle room to move some rats into other clans if need be. It is comforting to hear that rats don't miss old companions too much once they make new ones. Thank you for your insight!
Hello! I’m making a video about the rat community. Would you like any of your rats in it? I’ll give credits :)
seeing this the day after making one ahahaha
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Hearing people talk about making these several inches tall strikes fear in my heart. 😢
Please be careful about making these more than a few inches in height as Rats require excellent airflow.. that's why they require wire cages. If their space is too enclosed, it will greatly increase the risk of respiratory infections for them. PLEASE be mindful of not having them in enclosed spaces.
[4.23.2023]
Rats are also fossorial, they require deep layers of bedding to dig in. As long as the cage is open on all four sides which it should be anyway they’ll be fine 😊
@@Emiology I found it necessary to make that comment when I read a woman in the comments below talking about making her Rats' solid box TEN INCHES HIGH! That is dangerous. :'( Even if a room you are in is wide open, but you are within that room, in a small box with four sides that rise 6 or 8 times above the height of your head, you will experience greatly decreased airflow which has risks. Also, a slippery surface that tall is harder to scale, even for our agile Rat friends. I just want people to understand this concept & keep it in mind , as sometimes they will take a good idea & go too far with it... more is not always better, & sometimes it's worse. God bless all these furry little sweethearts.😇
[4.24.2023]
@@mcsmama Mine is 11 inches tall and it's absolutely fine, I wish I had gone deeper to be honest so that they could have bedding. Rats in the wild don't have issues when they're burrowing under ground and it's an important behaviour. As long as the cage itself isn't also just 11 inches tall like a tank would be they've got plenty of ventilation and the option to go up and away from the bottom with through ventilation due to the bars, having to scale the perspex shouldn't be an issue as it should all be full with bedding and most of the time the rats will be sat on top of the surface of it and have immediate access to the bars or other climbing equipment :)