How to make a DIY perspex tray for your Rat cage 

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. 🤩

same XD

Thank you so much! 💗 Hope you get on okay with it

For now just buy a small plastic tub and fill it with bedding as a dog box x

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

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.

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

I would :) Just make sure you put enough things in to catch them if they fall

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

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

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.

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!!!!!!!

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.

I’ve done an IKEA for rats video ☺️

@@Emiology oh nice, I found it, thanks! :D very informative :D

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 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?

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]

My store bogglebuddies.com ☺️

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!

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

Yes that’s fine for two rats ☺️

@@Emiology ok thank you for answering! 🥰

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 😊

Not for rats no probably not ☺️

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!

It's good to give them the option of both

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 RU-vid 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’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!

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

Prices have gone up along with everything else but about £60

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!

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!

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 :)