I love Martin’s cages. I am unrepentant on this! I’ve used Martin’s cages since about 2001, and they have been the best cages as far as value, use, lightness/ease of moving around, sturdiness, size and all-around goodness that I’ve tried – and I’ve tried just about every cage out there!
BUT!
For some reason, the Martins insist on keeping 4 cages on their “rat” section that ARE NOT suitable cages for rats to live in. These cages are travel cages at best, or temp cages for babies while they grow, or maybe for old rats with hind end paralysis that can’t safely move around in a bigger cage. The 600 (Rat Den,) 600HR (Highrise,) the 640 (Carriage House,) and the 660 (Cubbyhole) are the cages I mean. These cages are absolutely not suitable for long-term housing of adult rats, and yet all of the breeders I know who ask adopters what cage their babies will be kept in are inundates with that damn 600HR. Probably because it is one of the cheapest models they sell, and it looks good on their website, where everything is white and sterile and no rats are in sight.
So, to help me with today’s demonstration, we have BVR HoHo, an adult male rat. Keep in mind that while females can be much smaller than males, they need more room to run around in. Also keep in mind that these cages are EMPTY. However small HoHo makes them look, consider how much smaller they will be with a couple inches of bedding, a couple of hammocks, a hiding box, a pigloo, a large wheel, enrichment toys… etc.
DISCLAIMER: When I give numbers for how many rats can comfortably live in these cages, I am talking about rats who get along well. Ideally, these rats are related, were raised together, and enjoy one another’s company. If you have a lot of rescues, rats from pet stores, rats you purchased as adults, or any rats with personality conflicts – the number I suggest should be cut IN HALF. Rats are biologically designed to live comfortably with lots of their own genetic relations, and to be intolerant of strangers – domestic rats bred for temperament are much better about that, but you still should not push past their comfort zones!
Bao Varakhii Rattery 