I absolutely love my DCN. It's heavy, sure, and was a bit difficult to put together as a small woman by herself, but the cage is so well made that it is the type of cage that will last forever. And having the entire front open up is so helpful for cleaning.
Yeah, I love it a lot. The only single thing I don’t like is the not deep tray but it’s not too big of a deal. I also love how sturdy the cage is. I can’t stand the flimsy cages
I'm soooo excited about getting my rats tomorrow! Ive had around 4 rats before, I missed having them so I'm getting more! Rats are a very addicting animals to have💞😥😍
Thank you for the awesome, helpful info! I love my double critter nation. I had the same issue assembling it and a rubber mallet was a must. Double cage has been great for 4 rats and allowed me to keep new rats in different level during introductions. One level is still plenty of room for 2-4 rats though if someone is trying to save money. I also use ferret nation cages for many of my chinchillas. Love the Bass pans! These double cages I’ve always bought on sale online. Usually $185-200 range. Well worth the cost with the quality and the wonderful doors that make cleaning so much easier.
THANK YOU! Been planning on fostering rats for a while... And if all goes well, I'll totally get this cage. I also love the idea of getting add-ons. I could make a rat castle for just 2-3 rats. 🐀🐀🐀
I love my DCN! It was well worth the price especially knowing that it will last for many years due to the great quality! I had a rat manor before as I saved up for a DCN and that cage was sized for 3 rats, that entire cage takes up exactly half of 1 level! It is huge and the fact that it doesn't need any modification (hardware mesh and levels) to be used for rats and has a solid floor is perfect! As shadow mentioned the only changes really needed are if you use loose bedding, it doesn't keep any of that or if your rats kick poop and food, it all comes out. Invest in a good vacuum!
i put the smaller pan that came with the cage under the bin that i bought and they barley spill anything. i also have some towels under it (mine is on wheels) and i just have to dump what gets on them into a garbage bag when i clean the cage. i do a bedding change once a week and the towns make it so much easier to clean under the cage without scaring my rats inside of it.
The bar spacing thing is true. I currently have one of my mice living in the bottom half of my DCN, and he can't get out. Also something you can do to separate both units is to just switch the bottom pans. I have that going on right now so theres no possible way for the rats uptop to eat the mouse on the bottom and it works great!
omg really? this is so good to know that you can seperae it bc i just got two rats and turns out the guy sold me a male and female, so im gonna need to prep for a lotttt of rat babies lmaoo
DCN for life! It was such a great investment and I will never go to a different cage! I started with a rat manor and as soon as I had enough money for one of these babies I went for it! So easy to clean and so much space for my 6 kids!
exploding grapes i found it on facebook marketplace. it was $100 but since we had to drive to go get it the lady selling it brought it down to $80. the pans were chewed up pretty badly from her chinchillas. the cage didn’t have ramps either. but other than that, it was in really good condition. besides, my rats don’t need ramps anyways.
Thank you so very much for this informative video that was delivered in such a friendly and honest way 😊 I haven't had beautiful ratties for over a year now. My last losses were very traumatising, given other immense stresses that were going on in my life. I genuinely miss all of my boys so much. Always will. Rats are the first and only animal I've ever encountered that I'm not allergic to. They have shown me a kind of love I didn't even know existed. I think I am getting to a stage where I will be ready to share my life with some delightful ratties again. From my previous experiences, I'm trying to learn as much as possible, and one thing that greatly stressed me was finding a suitable enclosure here in Australia. I tried many different things. The issue was never space and ventilation, but rather safety and preventure care in terms of ramps. I have been on the hunt for an enclosure that has not only great space and ventilation, but also ramps that are safe and would not aggravate or potentially cause arthritis. I'm not sure if anyone will see this comment, but if you do and you have a critter nation cage for ratties - what do you think of the ramps? Do you use them for your ratties or no? I would love any feedback. I'll also post in a reddit rat group to see if anyone might respond there too. All the best to everyone and their ratties!
I just noticed there are standard safety pins in the cage. Swap them over for baby safety pins that have the push down cap. I've heard stories of regular pins unhooking and taking a rat's eye out.
I've haver had issues with safety pins myself (and any hanger can be dangerous - for example rats have strangled themselves in those ever so popular metal shower clips when they put their head in it and their body weight flipped it over and hung them) however that being said I no longer use them as I've found a better option - that being bird c clips. These things are hard plastic and hold weight well, plus are very easy to clip on and great for hanging things up! For more permanent hangers though I use curtain clips and pipe cleaners - these won't fall off and can't be chewed through and while the curtain hangers (which are metal clips) are a bit expensive they work so well that they're worth it.
I find that it gets easier once you do it a few times. My record now with a DCN is 12 minutes to assemble it whereas with my single it initially took me over 30!
Hi and thank you for another great video, I was hoping for your opinion on something. I have two young rats in a single Critter Nation and I had been considering getting a third for the same reasons you mentioned in your 'What to do when you're down to your last rat' video. I was wondering what temporary cage might be a good option to get for the quarantine phase in the first two weeks that I have the new girl. I don't want to spend a whole lot on the transitional cage because I have already invested in a CN. Is a cheap,single level, fairly small cage ok in general for a short time? Or is a small cage like that so uncomfortable that it would be cruel and unfair for a lone rat even in that small period of time? The new rat would not have anywhere to free roam in the two weeks as my only viable free roam space is in the room with the current rats. Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thank you so much for the videos and all the effort you put into them.
I had to assemble mine twice! It wouldn't fit through my door! I set it up in the living room rolled it the the pet room and it wouldn't fit around the slight corner and through the door lol Worth it!! I ❤🧡💛💚💙 my ratties!
i really really want this cage :(( i have 2 rats and i would really like to expand my little rat family, but my cage is not suitable for more than 2 rats. i would really love a double critter nation cage so that i can have girls and boys! this review was really helpful, thankyou ❤️❤️
oh geese i didnt realize u could stack the cage side-byside too thats cool. heh heh i assembled my critter nation with just the allan key in a single night no mallet required.
Happy double Critter Nation owner here, yeah assembly was daunting (emphatic agreement on rubber mallet) but man it felt good when it came together, and it's been worth the price for da babies. Also, the animation of the cage getting put in the bathtub made me think "oh, you don't like baths either huh" XD
My DCN took my dad and I about 25 minutes to set up, brand-new. We probably just got a good one. Also my dad is incredibly strong and resourceful... dads are pretty great for rat cages XD
I was just wondering.... how many rats can be in a double unit and how many in a single? I am trying to get rats, but might get more later. At first I will 2, but Should I get the double? Thanks!
Excellent review, thanks. What is the DIY pan made of? The closed captioning says "chloroplast". Is that correct? I cannot find it on any hobby or craft store sites.
Its coroplast, which is a corrugated plastic. Its easy to work with, if a bit pricey - the main issue is that rats can chew it up, and about a year after this review I made a nice coroplast pan which my rats decimated in just 3 days so I'm wary of recommending it now lol. But plenty of people use them in the rat groups I'm part of on FB, so maybe if you tape the top they'll leave it alone (I ended up making a pure cardboard pan at some point and found that taping the top with duct tape stopped them from trying to chew it up). Personally my recommendation would be stainless steel metal pans from the company bass equipment - they are chew proof, urine proof, fit the cage perfectly, and last forever! I've spoken to people who have used theirs for over a decade, and I've had mine for coming up on 3 years now and they are just as good as when they were new! I have a review of those pans from last year, at which point I had had them for about a year - I'd still agree with my review from then, since the pans work just as perfectly as they did at the start: th-cam.com/video/B7bUb6yDfos/w-d-xo.html And here's the bass equipment website if you'd like to check out the pans (they have a few options including lower pans and galvanized ones, although I'd recommend stainless steel because otherwise you have to powder coat the pan yourself): www.bassequipment.com/SCResult/Critter-Nation-Replacement-Pans-245
I know this is an older video but I wanted to post this somewhere relevant. I have a DCN that is mostly set up per specs (horizontal), the only modification is the bottom was removed and a cement mixing tub dropped in to give a bit of extra room. Now that my babies are getting older I am interested in converting the entire set-up to a horizontal DCN as you’ve done, mostly to make the cage more useable and easier to navigate (less climbing for older limbs). I was trying to find a tutorial on how to do this, but your cage is actually the only one I can find that’s been “hacked” this way. I THINK I have a good idea on how to proceed, just wondered if you have any specific suggestions or words of wisdom/caution for anyone undertaking this endeavor. For instance, what type of fasteners did you use to bind the two levels together side by side? Is it possible to replace the wire bottoms of both sides with cement mixing tubs, or will the weight of the cage keep the tubs from holding it up? (Seriously, no worries about replying to this - you’re crazy-busy and the cage hack is not a huge deal that a lot of others are going to ask about, I just thought I’d ask if you get the chance and have any specifics to offer. Love your channel!!!)
Basically I just didn't put in one side on each cage when assembling it and then I used metal zip ties to tie it together using the space between the wall bar and the doors (that way the rats can't ever chew them and I don't have to replace them). One thing I will say is you'll need to find something to cover the 2nd unit - I used a spare door but if you don't have something like that you could use one of the grates (for smaller rats you may have to hardware cloth it but with older rats that shouldn't be an issue - alternatively you could zip tie on the stand shelf and see how that works - that's something I used when assembling that massive cage compilation a while back). In terms of the cement tubs I'm not sure if you can use them without the grate when setting up the cage this way - they'd still fit for sure but that fourth bar missing would probably make them sink in. You might be able to DIY something to hold it up, but I've never tried it so I can't say for sure. In my case before I got the metal bass pans I did use the cement pans but without the stand and so they sat right in the cage. It took up some space which I didn't like and sorta blocked the first level of the side shelf which is why I was happy to switch to the metal pans instead. If your rats aren't huge chewers you could try making a coroplast pan - I made one myself but unfortunately while my rats leave the cement pan alone (more or less) they chewed up the coroplast pan within just a few days. I might have been able to dissuade this by putting PCV edge trimmings on top, but I didn't know that at the time and so once it was chewed I just went back to the cement tubs.
Shadow The Rat Wow, thanks for such a thorough (and quick) response! My babies are not big chewers, which surprises me - I even still have the original covers for the ramps, and they’ve not chewed them up. I’ll see if I can rig something to keep the cage on top of the cement tubs - maybe drill holes in the tops of the tubs just under the lip and then use metal ties or metal binder rings to secure the cage to the tub... One of the more annoying things about the DCN is the effort needed to put it together (which, having done it completely solo, can take a lot of strength and force and finesse) - but that need to build it yourself also is a strength, because it goes give the option of reconfiguring it, DIYing it, “hacking” it to create a unique and personalized cage that better fits one’s space and the needs of one’s pets. But honestly, I never would have thought of any “hacks” to the cage if I hadn’t seen your creative ways of changing things, so thanks from both me and my ratties! They love all the neat, fun, exciting things I’ve been able to do for and with them thanks to the things I’ve learned from your videos and your website. 😃Happy me, 🐁🐀❤️🧡💛💚💙💜Happy ratties!
So I have two young male rats and I have a double critter nation and I bought it for about $245 dollars and I think it is a very nice cage and I definitely recommend a critter nation or double critter nation for your ratty’s it definitely usually comes bent , cracked , or damaged in some way they are pretty easy repairs but are a small inconvenience mine came cracked and bent and I am a small 11 year old girls so it took me a while to set it up but the end result is worth it my opinion , hope you and your rats 🐀 have a good day or night 🐀🐀🐀
Oh yeah, I'd max a double at 8 for maximum comfort. I've had up to 12 in a double (short term, 2 weeks) and it was terrible. Upgraded to a triple and it was amazing - so I'd max each unit at 4. Currently I have 7 rats in the triple and its a ton of space, easily could add another few rats and it'd still be great. So I'd say 6 in a double is definitely super spacious and they'll love it!
Hey. Normally, I would use the Yesterdays news litter for my cage, but with the critter nation shallow pan, obviously that’s not possible. Instead of using fleas, do you think that blank newsprint (like the type you would use to wrap dishes when moving) would work? Are used to use newspaper to line my birdcages, so thought it could be an alternative.
Will the rats not get stressed if they can smell the other gender on the other level but not see or interact with them? I'm really interested in keeping both females and males in the future but not sure if it's the best idea!
I have another cage for my rats that is not a critter nation. It's big enough for at least two rats (I have only had rats two and two so far, (but I think I'll get three next time :>) and that's why I'm saying at least two lol) and has two smaller platforms and a lot of space for climbing (AKA the bars), and at the bottom there's a lot of space. The rats I had seemed to like the cage and were always climbing on the bars (it also had about 1/5 inch bar spacing if not a little less). *Would you recommend me to buy a critter nation instead of the cage I have?* (BTW, the reason why I said so much before is because I think it'd be easier for you to help me decide if I should try a critter nation instead)
Considering that its new than I'd definitely say that's a good price! Mine was $120 new and I accidentally got the add-on so I had to makeshift a roof! Later on a found a good deal on a used DCN ($70 but no pans or shelves) and now that's what I use. Anyways for a new cage that's an awesome price and definitely worth getting!
Depends where you live (what country that is) - if you are in the US like me, then bass equipment is what you'll want. You can go to their website and order metal deep critter nation pans here (I suggest stainless steel 3 inch pans, that's what I have and they are awesome): www.bassequipment.com/SCResult/Critter-Nation-Replacement-Pans-245 I also have a video reviewing my bass equipment metal pans here - I've had them over 2.5 years now and they are still in perfect condition and are easily the best investment I've made on this cage: th-cam.com/video/B7bUb6yDfos/w-d-xo.html
If I get a double critter nation cage, is it possible to take off the upper half and make it a single if I want a smaller cage? I'm looking for a single critter nation cage, but I found a double for sale on market place. I just don't have the need for a double or the room right now.
Yes, just build the first unit and place the lid on and that's a single. I even have a sideways triple right now with a single next to a double that is made of a double and an add on - the possibilities with this cage are pretty much endless!
It could be dangerous if they chew and accidentally ingest any. Personally I wouldn't risk it, because even if its hidden under the fleece rats can chew through fleece pretty easily. Uhaul pads are safe to chew and re-washable so I'd consider those instead.
i have the critter nation in the video and my problem with it is that after i got a bin for it (i had one before this video came out) my rats can squish themselves down the sides of the bin and that's where they like to sleep. i'm planing on-getting a larger bin and i'm hoping that that helps.
Did you cut the bin? I'd recommend not cutting it and just shoving it in - a hack for this is put the uncut bin in at an angle, then unhitch one side door, slide the bin in, and hitch up the door. Takes 10 seconds and is SOOO much easier than trying to shove the bin in otherwise! With that being said I now personally use bass equipment pans (3 inch metal deep stainless steel pans made for the critter nation) and they fit the cage perfectly and work super well so I highly recommend them - they are a bit pricey, but completely worth it and after 2 years mine are still good as new! Here's the bass website: www.bassequipment.com/SCResult/Critter-Nation-Replacement-Pans-245 And here's a review I did on the bass pans last year: th-cam.com/video/B7bUb6yDfos/w-d-xo.html
Yup! A single is good for 2-4 rats, and depending on the rats can even work up to 5-6 rats (going by the 2 cubic foot per rat pet rule you could house 6 per unit, but having tried that I wouldn't recommend it. I now max each unit at 4, with up to 4 more rats with each unit added (so for example I had 12 in a triple, and I wouldn't have gone beyond that)).
kamile valinciute The wire shelf support for the half shelf has lots of places built in to hang things from as well as the top of the cage. There will be no problem or shortage with that.
Randomness Lord I just ordered a scn from Amazon for $105! Had to jump at that! If I had the money, I would have ordered two! Still cheaper than just buying a dbl. But sadly, money is tight right now.
MsTheUndone I’m happy you ordered it! Sorry money is tight, though that’s none of my business. I’m sure your rats, (or whatever animal you’re getting this for) will be very happy, seeing as the SCN isso large
Yes! If disconnected you’d have one single and an add on essentially. (A single and 4 extra sides). You can see here that if you get creative you can even make the DCN into a horizontal long cage like I did: th-cam.com/video/H_YLJ5Zwmrk/w-d-xo.html&lc=UgwhgnMgsw_A_qmk3mF4AaABAg
How old are your rats? Most adults won’t be qblw to fit through 1 inch bar spacing, and in some cases even older babies (3/4 months + ) will be contained. But even if they can fit through you can always buy hardware cloth and zip tie it on. It honestly sucks to do so as it takes quite a while and can be very painful (so many scratches!) but it is very effective.
With my six month old rats (and younger) the ferret nation cage works great for them! Though if you have escape artists I would suggest a critter nation instead.
I’m sorry but I’m confused. In the double critter nation pic it shows plastic ramps but in the single critter nation it shows wired ramps. Can someone clear this up? Do they both come with plastic ramps? I’m confused 😅
Miss E’s Animals Both have wire ramps, the “plastic” you see is just the cloth ramp liner that comes with them as well. Personally I rarely use the ramps at all and if I do it’s without the liner.
If it’s a critter nation all the bars are spaced at 1/2 inch. It’s possible the grate wasn’t on right, I did that several times (now I just don’t use it lol) and one one of my rats chewed under the pan and through part of the carpet! Now I’ve got all holes covered with mesh and the rats leave it alone but I do plan on switching to the metal pans when I can.
It certainly is. Sadly pet rats aren't big here, and the state I'm in its illegal to own ferrets, weasels and rabbits. So finding an appropriate large cage is hard
How tall is a critter nation single unit? It’s 24 1/2 inches high so just over 2 feet. The dimensions for the cage itself are 36 inches long, 24 inches wide, and 24 1/2 inches high.
Try looking for used ones - I got a double for $70 used just a few months after making this video! I found mine on facebook but craigslist is another great place to check.
Yes, but only if you modify the pan - hamsters need a minimum of 6 inches of bedding to burrow in, which means you'd have to make or buy a custom plexiglass pan for the cage. Alternatively you could get a cement tub (36 inches by 24 inches by 8 inches - its a tight fit but does work) - however these are made of plastic and so must be checked regularly for any damage.
A single gives your rats 12 cubic feet of space - plenty of room for 4 rats, and decent room for up to 6! Going by lab standards it can hold 12-24 rats, but pet standards are higher which is why only 4-6 rats is recommended max. The critter nation is pretty much the gold standard of rat cages, and really huge in person - if it looks small its likely just because its hard to show the true size in person (it can literally fit me inside it, and I'm 5 ft 8 inches!) Plus you can always expand by adding extra units - I have 6 units plus an extender attached giving my rats a whopping 76 cubic feet or space! And you can go larger or smaller depending on the space you have and how many rats you have.
The main issue comes in if the cage is warped when it’s shipped. Most of the cage is fairly sturdy but those pegs can warp and be a nightmare to put together. Otherwise I agree they aren’t too difficult to put together, but even so that’s one main complaint with them and so I wanted to include it
@@ShadowTheRat I suppose it is possible mine shipped in better condition 🤷♂️ Also, my hairless rat is pregnant, you should take one of the babies lol. Your rat gang is discriminating against the hairless 😉😂
I absolutely love my DCN. It's heavy, sure, and was a bit difficult to put together as a small woman by herself, but the cage is so well made that it is the type of cage that will last forever. And having the entire front open up is so helpful for cleaning.
I love my TCN too its the best!!!
Yeah, I love it a lot. The only single thing I don’t like is the not deep tray but it’s not too big of a deal. I also love how sturdy the cage is. I can’t stand the flimsy cages
I'm soooo excited about getting my rats tomorrow! Ive had around 4 rats before, I missed having them so I'm getting more! Rats are a very addicting animals to have💞😥😍
how are they ? :)
Thank you for the awesome, helpful info!
I love my double critter nation. I had the same issue assembling it and a rubber mallet was a must. Double cage has been great for 4 rats and allowed me to keep new rats in different level during introductions. One level is still plenty of room for 2-4 rats though if someone is trying to save money.
I also use ferret nation cages for many of my chinchillas. Love the Bass pans!
These double cages I’ve always bought on sale online. Usually $185-200 range. Well worth the cost with the quality and the wonderful doors that make cleaning so much easier.
I went on Craigslist and found a ferret nation for only $90 it’s a steal
THANK YOU! Been planning on fostering rats for a while... And if all goes well, I'll totally get this cage. I also love the idea of getting add-ons. I could make a rat castle for just 2-3 rats. 🐀🐀🐀
I love my DCN! It was well worth the price especially knowing that it will last for many years due to the great quality! I had a rat manor before as I saved up for a DCN and that cage was sized for 3 rats, that entire cage takes up exactly half of 1 level! It is huge and the fact that it doesn't need any modification (hardware mesh and levels) to be used for rats and has a solid floor is perfect! As shadow mentioned the only changes really needed are if you use loose bedding, it doesn't keep any of that or if your rats kick poop and food, it all comes out. Invest in a good vacuum!
i put the smaller pan that came with the cage under the bin that i bought and they barley spill anything. i also have some towels under it (mine is on wheels) and i just have to dump what gets on them into a garbage bag when i clean the cage. i do a bedding change once a week and the towns make it so much easier to clean under the cage without scaring my rats inside of it.
The bar spacing thing is true. I currently have one of my mice living in the bottom half of my DCN, and he can't get out. Also something you can do to separate both units is to just switch the bottom pans. I have that going on right now so theres no possible way for the rats uptop to eat the mouse on the bottom and it works great!
omg really? this is so good to know that you can seperae it bc i just got two rats and turns out the guy sold me a male and female, so im gonna need to prep for a lotttt of rat babies lmaoo
@@skrunklycreationz How are they now?
@@questionablejudgement3137 i had to rehome some babies but now each group (4 males + 4 females) has their own DCN and are doing great !!
DCN for life! It was such a great investment and I will never go to a different cage! I started with a rat manor and as soon as I had enough money for one of these babies I went for it! So easy to clean and so much space for my 6 kids!
double critter nation cages are usually $240 but i found one for $100!!! it almost seems to good to be true!
Where did you find it?
exploding grapes i found it on facebook marketplace. it was $100 but since we had to drive to go get it the lady selling it brought it down to $80. the pans were chewed up pretty badly from her chinchillas. the cage didn’t have ramps either. but other than that, it was in really good condition. besides, my rats don’t need ramps anyways.
livie $240???!?? Everywhere I’ve seen is $140
Scarlette Marie a single critter nation is $140 but a double is $240 on amazon at least
livie oops I just went back and looked, they are $240 there’s another one that’s not a critter nation but looks like one that’s $140
I just ordered the double and I’m SO EXCITED!!!!
Hi Shadow the Rat great video as always
Thank you so very much for this informative video that was delivered in such a friendly and honest way 😊
I haven't had beautiful ratties for over a year now. My last losses were very traumatising, given other immense stresses that were going on in my life. I genuinely miss all of my boys so much. Always will. Rats are the first and only animal I've ever encountered that I'm not allergic to. They have shown me a kind of love I didn't even know existed. I think I am getting to a stage where I will be ready to share my life with some delightful ratties again. From my previous experiences, I'm trying to learn as much as possible, and one thing that greatly stressed me was finding a suitable enclosure here in Australia. I tried many different things. The issue was never space and ventilation, but rather safety and preventure care in terms of ramps. I have been on the hunt for an enclosure that has not only great space and ventilation, but also ramps that are safe and would not aggravate or potentially cause arthritis.
I'm not sure if anyone will see this comment, but if you do and you have a critter nation cage for ratties - what do you think of the ramps? Do you use them for your ratties or no? I would love any feedback. I'll also post in a reddit rat group to see if anyone might respond there too.
All the best to everyone and their ratties!
This video was so helpful, thank you so much!
I would hate cleaning that super huge critter nation though lol
It’s not critter nation it’s Critter world
@@extremenature9190 its critter nation
@@akeenanimeiz720 my original comment was a joke bc of how big it was
@@extremenature9190 ahhh
@@extremenature9190 lol
I just noticed there are standard safety pins in the cage. Swap them over for baby safety pins that have the push down cap. I've heard stories of regular pins unhooking and taking a rat's eye out.
I've haver had issues with safety pins myself (and any hanger can be dangerous - for example rats have strangled themselves in those ever so popular metal shower clips when they put their head in it and their body weight flipped it over and hung them) however that being said I no longer use them as I've found a better option - that being bird c clips. These things are hard plastic and hold weight well, plus are very easy to clip on and great for hanging things up! For more permanent hangers though I use curtain clips and pipe cleaners - these won't fall off and can't be chewed through and while the curtain hangers (which are metal clips) are a bit expensive they work so well that they're worth it.
@@ShadowTheRat Fantastic and inventive alternatives!
I love my CN, was a pain in the butt to assemble but I knew advance about the mallet thankfully
I find that it gets easier once you do it a few times. My record now with a DCN is 12 minutes to assemble it whereas with my single it initially took me over 30!
My ferret nation was destroyed by assembling/disassembling too many times. But it did give me an excuse to get the critter nation
how are those cages different??
I think CN should also include a metal pan option too! My girls chewed their original pans up
I love my triple Critter Nation😍❤💛💚💙💜
Hi and thank you for another great video,
I was hoping for your opinion on something.
I have two young rats in a single Critter Nation and I had been considering getting a third for the same reasons you mentioned in your 'What to do when you're down to your last rat' video. I was wondering what temporary cage might be a good option to get for the quarantine phase in the first two weeks that I have the new girl. I don't want to spend a whole lot on the transitional cage because I have already invested in a CN. Is a cheap,single level, fairly small cage ok in general for a short time? Or is a small cage like that so uncomfortable that it would be cruel and unfair for a lone rat even in that small period of time? The new rat would not have anywhere to free roam in the two weeks as my only viable free roam space is in the room with the current rats.
Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thank you so much for the videos and all the effort you put into them.
I had to assemble mine twice! It wouldn't fit through my door! I set it up in the living room rolled it the the pet room and it wouldn't fit around the slight corner and through the door lol
Worth it!! I ❤🧡💛💚💙 my ratties!
i really really want this cage :(( i have 2 rats and i would really like to expand my little rat family, but my cage is not suitable for more than 2 rats. i would really love a double critter nation cage so that i can have girls and boys! this review was really helpful, thankyou ❤️❤️
lillian is rude get a single cn
I got a critter nation today!! :D
For your critter nation issue with the non-deep trays guys, you can always just put a dig box in your cage so that you don't have to have a deep tray.
oh geese i didnt realize u could stack the cage side-byside too thats cool. heh heh i assembled my critter nation with just the allan key in a single night no mallet required.
Happy double Critter Nation owner here, yeah assembly was daunting (emphatic agreement on rubber mallet) but man it felt good when it came together, and it's been worth the price for da babies. Also, the animation of the cage getting put in the bathtub made me think "oh, you don't like baths either huh" XD
Please put the link of the cage in the description!!
Whoops, sorry about that! I've added it now
@@ShadowTheRat thank gli very much
My DCN took my dad and I about 25 minutes to set up, brand-new. We probably just got a good one. Also my dad is incredibly strong and resourceful... dads are pretty great for rat cages XD
Do you use yesterday news cat litter unscented, it looks like it and I use it
Definently unscented. Any perfumes and "smell goods" can damage your rats lungs.❤
I was just wondering.... how many rats can be in a double unit and how many in a single? I am trying to get rats, but might get more later. At first I will 2, but Should I get the double? Thanks!
Excellent review, thanks. What is the DIY pan made of? The closed captioning says "chloroplast". Is that correct? I cannot find it on any hobby or craft store sites.
Its coroplast, which is a corrugated plastic. Its easy to work with, if a bit pricey - the main issue is that rats can chew it up, and about a year after this review I made a nice coroplast pan which my rats decimated in just 3 days so I'm wary of recommending it now lol. But plenty of people use them in the rat groups I'm part of on FB, so maybe if you tape the top they'll leave it alone (I ended up making a pure cardboard pan at some point and found that taping the top with duct tape stopped them from trying to chew it up).
Personally my recommendation would be stainless steel metal pans from the company bass equipment - they are chew proof, urine proof, fit the cage perfectly, and last forever! I've spoken to people who have used theirs for over a decade, and I've had mine for coming up on 3 years now and they are just as good as when they were new! I have a review of those pans from last year, at which point I had had them for about a year - I'd still agree with my review from then, since the pans work just as perfectly as they did at the start: th-cam.com/video/B7bUb6yDfos/w-d-xo.html
And here's the bass equipment website if you'd like to check out the pans (they have a few options including lower pans and galvanized ones, although I'd recommend stainless steel because otherwise you have to powder coat the pan yourself): www.bassequipment.com/SCResult/Critter-Nation-Replacement-Pans-245
I know this is an older video but I wanted to post this somewhere relevant. I have a DCN that is mostly set up per specs (horizontal), the only modification is the bottom was removed and a cement mixing tub dropped in to give a bit of extra room. Now that my babies are getting older I am interested in converting the entire set-up to a horizontal DCN as you’ve done, mostly to make the cage more useable and easier to navigate (less climbing for older limbs). I was trying to find a tutorial on how to do this, but your cage is actually the only one I can find that’s been “hacked” this way. I THINK I have a good idea on how to proceed, just wondered if you have any specific suggestions or words of wisdom/caution for anyone undertaking this endeavor. For instance, what type of fasteners did you use to bind the two levels together side by side? Is it possible to replace the wire bottoms of both sides with cement mixing tubs, or will the weight of the cage keep the tubs from holding it up? (Seriously, no worries about replying to this - you’re crazy-busy and the cage hack is not a huge deal that a lot of others are going to ask about, I just thought I’d ask if you get the chance and have any specifics to offer. Love your channel!!!)
Duh - I meant per specs VERTICAL. I just had horizontal on the brain!🤪
Basically I just didn't put in one side on each cage when assembling it and then I used metal zip ties to tie it together using the space between the wall bar and the doors (that way the rats can't ever chew them and I don't have to replace them). One thing I will say is you'll need to find something to cover the 2nd unit - I used a spare door but if you don't have something like that you could use one of the grates (for smaller rats you may have to hardware cloth it but with older rats that shouldn't be an issue - alternatively you could zip tie on the stand shelf and see how that works - that's something I used when assembling that massive cage compilation a while back).
In terms of the cement tubs I'm not sure if you can use them without the grate when setting up the cage this way - they'd still fit for sure but that fourth bar missing would probably make them sink in. You might be able to DIY something to hold it up, but I've never tried it so I can't say for sure.
In my case before I got the metal bass pans I did use the cement pans but without the stand and so they sat right in the cage. It took up some space which I didn't like and sorta blocked the first level of the side shelf which is why I was happy to switch to the metal pans instead.
If your rats aren't huge chewers you could try making a coroplast pan - I made one myself but unfortunately while my rats leave the cement pan alone (more or less) they chewed up the coroplast pan within just a few days. I might have been able to dissuade this by putting PCV edge trimmings on top, but I didn't know that at the time and so once it was chewed I just went back to the cement tubs.
Shadow The Rat Wow, thanks for such a thorough (and quick) response! My babies are not big chewers, which surprises me - I even still have the original covers for the ramps, and they’ve not chewed them up. I’ll see if I can rig something to keep the cage on top of the cement tubs - maybe drill holes in the tops of the tubs just under the lip and then use metal ties or metal binder rings to secure the cage to the tub... One of the more annoying things about the DCN is the effort needed to put it together (which, having done it completely solo, can take a lot of strength and force and finesse) - but that need to build it yourself also is a strength, because it goes give the option of reconfiguring it, DIYing it, “hacking” it to create a unique and personalized cage that better fits one’s space and the needs of one’s pets. But honestly, I never would have thought of any “hacks” to the cage if I hadn’t seen your creative ways of changing things, so thanks from both me and my ratties! They love all the neat, fun, exciting things I’ve been able to do for and with them thanks to the things I’ve learned from your videos and your website. 😃Happy me, 🐁🐀❤️🧡💛💚💙💜Happy ratties!
So I have two young male rats and I have a double critter nation and I bought it for about $245 dollars and I think it is a very nice cage and I definitely recommend a critter nation or double critter nation for your ratty’s it definitely usually comes bent , cracked , or damaged in some way they are pretty easy repairs but are a small inconvenience mine came cracked and bent and I am a small 11 year old girls so it took me a while to set it up but the end result is worth it my opinion , hope you and your rats 🐀 have a good day or night 🐀🐀🐀
I know that you said 5 for the single BUT i want to make sure theres a bunch of room so would 6 rats be able to COMFORTABLY live in the double unit?
Oh yeah, I'd max a double at 8 for maximum comfort. I've had up to 12 in a double (short term, 2 weeks) and it was terrible. Upgraded to a triple and it was amazing - so I'd max each unit at 4.
Currently I have 7 rats in the triple and its a ton of space, easily could add another few rats and it'd still be great. So I'd say 6 in a double is definitely super spacious and they'll love it!
Awesome
Hey. Normally, I would use the Yesterdays news litter for my cage, but with the critter nation shallow pan, obviously that’s not possible. Instead of using fleas, do you think that blank newsprint (like the type you would use to wrap dishes when moving) would work? Are used to use newspaper to line my birdcages, so thought it could be an alternative.
Great video! 👍
I was getting either a old iguana cage or a double critter nation. I got an iguana cage it can house 27 rats.
Will the rats not get stressed if they can smell the other gender on the other level but not see or interact with them? I'm really interested in keeping both females and males in the future but not sure if it's the best idea!
229 for a double. Cant wait. Saveing money!
I have another cage for my rats that is not a critter nation. It's big enough for at least two rats (I have only had rats two and two so far, (but I think I'll get three next time :>) and that's why I'm saying at least two lol) and has two smaller platforms and a lot of space for climbing (AKA the bars), and at the bottom there's a lot of space. The rats I had seemed to like the cage and were always climbing on the bars (it also had about 1/5 inch bar spacing if not a little less). *Would you recommend me to buy a critter nation instead of the cage I have?*
(BTW, the reason why I said so much before is because I think it'd be easier for you to help me decide if I should try a critter nation instead)
Is $80 for a single critter nation good?! Brand new?!
Considering that its new than I'd definitely say that's a good price! Mine was $120 new and I accidentally got the add-on so I had to makeshift a roof! Later on a found a good deal on a used DCN ($70 but no pans or shelves) and now that's what I use.
Anyways for a new cage that's an awesome price and definitely worth getting!
@@ShadowTheRatThank you for the advice!
so lucky T_T 250$ is the cheapest you can find in the EU
Where could I get the deeper metal pan? Thanks
Depends where you live (what country that is) - if you are in the US like me, then bass equipment is what you'll want. You can go to their website and order metal deep critter nation pans here (I suggest stainless steel 3 inch pans, that's what I have and they are awesome): www.bassequipment.com/SCResult/Critter-Nation-Replacement-Pans-245
I also have a video reviewing my bass equipment metal pans here - I've had them over 2.5 years now and they are still in perfect condition and are easily the best investment I've made on this cage: th-cam.com/video/B7bUb6yDfos/w-d-xo.html
If I get a double critter nation cage, is it possible to take off the upper half and make it a single if I want a smaller cage? I'm looking for a single critter nation cage, but I found a double for sale on market place. I just don't have the need for a double or the room right now.
Yes, just build the first unit and place the lid on and that's a single. I even have a sideways triple right now with a single next to a double that is made of a double and an add on - the possibilities with this cage are pretty much endless!
If I put unscented puppy pee pads under fleece for the pan or shelves would it be ok or could it potentially hurt the rats if the end up chewing it?
It could be dangerous if they chew and accidentally ingest any. Personally I wouldn't risk it, because even if its hidden under the fleece rats can chew through fleece pretty easily. Uhaul pads are safe to chew and re-washable so I'd consider those instead.
@@ShadowTheRat thank you!
I agree that they are hard to put together. I had to run around my apartment looking for a hammer.
i have the critter nation in the video and my problem with it is that after i got a bin for it (i had one before this video came out) my rats can squish themselves down the sides of the bin and that's where they like to sleep. i'm planing on-getting a larger bin and i'm hoping that that helps.
Did you cut the bin? I'd recommend not cutting it and just shoving it in - a hack for this is put the uncut bin in at an angle, then unhitch one side door, slide the bin in, and hitch up the door. Takes 10 seconds and is SOOO much easier than trying to shove the bin in otherwise!
With that being said I now personally use bass equipment pans (3 inch metal deep stainless steel pans made for the critter nation) and they fit the cage perfectly and work super well so I highly recommend them - they are a bit pricey, but completely worth it and after 2 years mine are still good as new! Here's the bass website: www.bassequipment.com/SCResult/Critter-Nation-Replacement-Pans-245
And here's a review I did on the bass pans last year: th-cam.com/video/B7bUb6yDfos/w-d-xo.html
Question, would 3 rats live comfortably in a single critter nation?
Yup! A single is good for 2-4 rats, and depending on the rats can even work up to 5-6 rats (going by the 2 cubic foot per rat pet rule you could house 6 per unit, but having tried that I wouldn't recommend it. I now max each unit at 4, with up to 4 more rats with each unit added (so for example I had 12 in a triple, and I wouldn't have gone beyond that)).
@@ShadowTheRat ok thanks so much for responding!! I love your video they’re so informative 😁
If you have SCN can you hang hammocks on top? Because i saw that it has no bars on top
kamile valinciute Yes you can hang them. It should have bars on top as mine all do. 🙂
kamile valinciute The wire shelf support for the half shelf has lots of places built in to hang things from as well as the top of the cage. There will be no problem or shortage with that.
I found a SCN for $106!
Randomness Lord I just ordered a scn from Amazon for $105! Had to jump at that! If I had the money, I would have ordered two! Still cheaper than just buying a dbl. But sadly, money is tight right now.
MsTheUndone
I’m happy you ordered it! Sorry money is tight, though that’s none of my business. I’m sure your rats, (or whatever animal you’re getting this for) will be very happy, seeing as the SCN isso large
WHERE?!!!! pls help me I'm looking for one
I got my dnc for 82 dollars i think and i have 3 rats Nibbles,Kuro,and Splinter
Heyyo where did u buy it?
I know you can put two critter nation together but if I get a double could I disconnect them and make it a single ?
Yes!
If disconnected you’d have one single and an add on essentially. (A single and 4 extra sides).
You can see here that if you get creative you can even make the DCN into a horizontal long cage like I did: th-cam.com/video/H_YLJ5Zwmrk/w-d-xo.html&lc=UgwhgnMgsw_A_qmk3mF4AaABAg
I found a double Ferret critter nation that is 75$ but would a ferret cage work because I'm worried that the bar spacing will be to big
How old are your rats? Most adults won’t be qblw to fit through 1 inch bar spacing, and in some cases even older babies (3/4 months + ) will be contained.
But even if they can fit through you can always buy hardware cloth and zip tie it on. It honestly sucks to do so as it takes quite a while and can be very painful (so many scratches!) but it is very effective.
Shadow The Rat My rats are about 6 months but thank you for letting me know some thing I need to know! P.S. great vid!
With my six month old rats (and younger) the ferret nation cage works great for them! Though if you have escape artists I would suggest a critter nation instead.
I’m sorry but I’m confused. In the double critter nation pic it shows plastic ramps but in the single critter nation it shows wired ramps. Can someone clear this up? Do they both come with plastic ramps? I’m confused 😅
Miss E’s Animals Both have wire ramps, the “plastic” you see is just the cloth ramp liner that comes with them as well. Personally I rarely use the ramps at all and if I do it’s without the liner.
Mine got out,chew the bottom pan,so the bars look wider.
If it’s a critter nation all the bars are spaced at 1/2 inch. It’s possible the grate wasn’t on right, I did that several times (now I just don’t use it lol) and one one of my rats chewed under the pan and through part of the carpet! Now I’ve got all holes covered with mesh and the rats leave it alone but I do plan on switching to the metal pans when I can.
hahahah 150 dollar for a single? I paid 250 for my single xD EU is always so much more expensive. oof... (and yes, 250 was the cheapest I could find)
Sadly living in Aus its hard to find these secondhand. Even if they are they are still $300
Natalie Scadden WOW WHAT THATS CRAZY!!!
It certainly is. Sadly pet rats aren't big here, and the state I'm in its illegal to own ferrets, weasels and rabbits. So finding an appropriate large cage is hard
@@ratgirl9777 indeed it is, 250$ is the cheapest in the EU :(
How tall is it per cage? Thanks
How tall is a critter nation single unit? It’s 24 1/2 inches high so just over 2 feet. The dimensions for the cage itself are 36 inches long, 24 inches wide, and 24 1/2 inches high.
Shadow The Rat thanks! I’m thinking of getting one or two for my pets. Thank you!! 💖
I found a SCN for $25!!!!!
Orange Ave where?
Im gonna get a furat cage is that ok?
That's a great cage! I believe it can hold 4 or so rats comfortably, which is great if you plan on getting more than a pair.
Shadow The Rat Thanks! I'm only planning on getting two - my mom doesn't really like rat tails xd
Ya a new double critter nation is $250 😅
Please try to leave links for other countries as I live in India and I can't find any good rat cages here😭
I really want one but my parents would never let me spend that much on a rat cage
Try looking for used ones - I got a double for $70 used just a few months after making this video! I found mine on facebook but craigslist is another great place to check.
@@ShadowTheRat Thank you! I’ll have a look
Is this cage suitable for hamsters??
Yes, but only if you modify the pan - hamsters need a minimum of 6 inches of bedding to burrow in, which means you'd have to make or buy a custom plexiglass pan for the cage. Alternatively you could get a cement tub (36 inches by 24 inches by 8 inches - its a tight fit but does work) - however these are made of plastic and so must be checked regularly for any damage.
Definitely don’t put 6 rats in a single!!
Poe seu video com tradução, gosto muito deles mais não entendo muito.
Só Love sorry I don't speak Spanish I'm learning Spanish
Yo no hablo espanol
Coloca uma legenda porfavor
espanhol e portugues sao um pouco diferentes
TOO DARN SMALL!° CAGE PRISON
A single gives your rats 12 cubic feet of space - plenty of room for 4 rats, and decent room for up to 6! Going by lab standards it can hold 12-24 rats, but pet standards are higher which is why only 4-6 rats is recommended max. The critter nation is pretty much the gold standard of rat cages, and really huge in person - if it looks small its likely just because its hard to show the true size in person (it can literally fit me inside it, and I'm 5 ft 8 inches!)
Plus you can always expand by adding extra units - I have 6 units plus an extender attached giving my rats a whopping 76 cubic feet or space! And you can go larger or smaller depending on the space you have and how many rats you have.
Compared to reptile or bird cages critter nation cages are cheap for the space they give you.
Lol at the difficulty assembling the critter nation. It was very easy to put together and everyone should own a toolkit.
The main issue comes in if the cage is warped when it’s shipped. Most of the cage is fairly sturdy but those pegs can warp and be a nightmare to put together. Otherwise I agree they aren’t too difficult to put together, but even so that’s one main complaint with them and so I wanted to include it
@@ShadowTheRat I suppose it is possible mine shipped in better condition 🤷♂️
Also, my hairless rat is pregnant, you should take one of the babies lol. Your rat gang is discriminating against the hairless 😉😂
Can you use this for a hamster
this would be more than perfect for a hamster ITS SOO BIG!!
Yes, but it's very tall so probably remove the ramp and shelf so your hamster can't fall and hurt itself