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The Enclosures used at the Zoo Tribe are a mixture of Martin's Cages and cages that were made by someone else.
Each unit has one house or hammock per rat, two full water bottles and numerous litter boxes. I use plastic place mats
on the wire floors to protect paws, aspen bedding, unscented plain cat litter and cloth napkins for blankets. I cover the
tops of the cages with doormats to protect from the air vents and the rats prefer to have a roof.
I keep on hand a series of smaller cages for hospital, birthing and hurricane evacuation uses.
All photos were taken while housing the current rats. I know it doesn't look like it, but they are in there. Trust me.
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The Great Wall of Martins Ruuds (R-699)30" x 18" x 60"
There are three total lining one side of the Rat Room. These house 4, 3 and 3 boys each, respectively. I move each colony
to a different Ruud to keep them stimulated with a new cage environment. The cages are sitting on a dresser that holds my
hammocks and rat towels.
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To the left is a customized Martin's cage, 4ft x 4ft x 28in and houses the Blonde Horde. The cage has two complete floors
and has been modified further with add on shelves, hammocks, etc.
On the right is a Martin's Ferret Hotel (F-460) 48in X 48in x 18in. I modified it to hold extra litter boxes under the
top shelves. There are currently 4 young adult boys in it.
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Two handmade cages, 42in x 24in x 36in. Housing 3 girls each. Each cage has two houses, two litter boxes, one Wodent Wheel
and a hammock. Chew toys are scattered about. I switch the cages every week so they can have environmental stimulation.
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The Nudist Colony.
This handmade cage has the same dimensions as the other two, but is 5ft in height. My four young adult hairless live here.
Three litter boxes, three houses, several extra cubby hole snuggle spots and a double-hammock.
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"How long does it take you to clean the cages?"
Well, thanks for asking! At this time, I have 8 large cages to clean every week.
I take them outside to be hosed down, sprayed with a light bleach solution, scrubbed and rinsed and allowed to sun dry.
All cage furniture is washed in a light bleach and dishwater solution and dried. All hammocks and towels are switched out
to clean ones.
The walls, carpets and stands are all sanitized and vacuumed. Towels, floor mats and hammocks are washed and hung on the
line to dry.
While their cages are being cleaned, I stage each colony either in the bathtub, on a table or in a carrier with towels
laid out. So I usually do two to three cages at a time.
If I do this without stopping for a lunch break (or computer break - heh) I can be finished within 6 hours. It does depend
on what the weather is like outside as far as cage drying times.
Now doesn't that just want to make you run right out and get a bunch? And don't even ask what the vet, food and bedding
bills are.
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