Cable Ties & Martin's Cages

[MamaHobbit]

Hi, yet another Martin's question, sorry!

I'm going to get the kids a R685 soon because they need more space.   Currently in a R660 and I just think they need a bit more room, especially for pippin to hide from merry when she feels the need to assert her alpha-ness (which is ALL the time). Besides, they're dumbo princesses, they deserve it!

But I'm dreading putting the new cage together. Especially because I plan on moving into my own apartment within the next 6 months and will have to take the new cage apart eventually. and I HATE HATE HATE the c-rings. They are evil. My sister's boyfriend put together the current cage and even he was having a hard time...I know some people use cable ties instead of the c-rings. I have 2 or 3 cable ties on the cage right now and they're nibbled but still intact and working... I'd like to know about other people's experience with cable ties instead of c-rings. or any other advice on making the putting together/taking apart of cages a bit easier...

thank you!!
 
~julie

[Blodia]

I heard from more than a few other members here that use zip ties. And left the zip ties there as permenant. I think zip ties are your best bet.

[scout]

I'm using cable ties on two cages at the moment, without any trouble. You can always use metal twist ties from the box of garbage bags, too, if you have nibblers with a taste for plastic. I would definitely not use the c-rings if you know you're going to have to take the cage apart at a later date.

[Dennis]

I use the zip ties to hold the cage together while I fasten the c-rings.  I made a mistake when I put my first one together and I was very happy that I used the zip ties as I was able to simply slice them right off.  

I now have two martin's cages; one for the boys and one for the ladies.  I've learned that there is one universal truth with my rats.  They like to chew on the zip ties.  You may or may not have chewers, but better safe than sorry.  

I recommend that the cage is put together first with the zip ties and when you know that each piece is in the correct position, fasten the c-rings.  It's certainly better than waking up one day to a bunch of cage scattered across the floor and rats running all over the place.

[TheChicagoCrew]

Cable ties and zip ties are the same thing  

 I've used twist ties to hold parts of the doors closed on my homemage cage and, believe it or not, after a few days the paper was chewed off and they BROKE the wire tie ! This happened with the Menlo girls and another cage of girls. Leave it up to the girls to always break something   .

 If you are currently using the cable ties on your cage and they are working just fine then I would go ahead and use them on your new cage. Just continue to keep an eye on the ties and replace them as necessary. My older girls didn't chew the ties off of THEIR cage until they had been in them a month. Once Patch figured out how to do it she started having some fun and made a goal: snip every single tie off the door so that it will open. Gah!

 Good luck with your girls!

-Melina (who uses c-rings regardless of whether or not they are girls OR boys)

[pawnman]

I saw a discussion elsewhere that addressed using springs to put the cage together, especially if you are going to dissassemble it soon.  Just put the springs where the c-rings go.

[Publius]

I put together our last two Martin's with zip/cable ties. The *only* problem (and it's a very minor one) is sometimes they break off (I used a bicycle 'fourth hand' tool to tighten the ties, and that puts extra stress on them). But I have a boatload of ties, so replacing them is not a problem.

[Kathleen]

I've used cable ties on my cages for the past 9 months or so. Between my own and the rescue litter I fostered this spring, I've had 19 different rats in cable tied cages. So far, I've had no problems with them.

[MamaHobbit]

great, thank you everyone!

well hopefully as long as i keep an eye on the ties i wont have any problems. I mean how much damage can 2 little girls do overnight? *famous last words* perhaps i'll put c-rings on the doors and other important areas..hmm....so i'm assuming it is possible to remove c-rings (altho god knows how, those things are the bane of my existance), how?!!

now if only i could get off my lazy butt and actually order the new cage...

~julie

[flannel]

At our house, twist ties are another food group.  I think it's the glue that attracts the fangs.  The cable ties that hold my entire cage together are untouched.  I guess it just depends on your rats.  Perhaps you should just stick a couple of cable ties on your current cage for a couple of weeks and see if they get nibbled.  Maybe that will give you an idea if it will work or not.

[Grace Jr]

I use cable ties on my cages, and haven't had any problems with them yet.  I'd just watch them, to see how your rats deal with them.

[Falls City Rattery]

I feel Zip ties hold better then C rings.  I put extra on and watch for signs of nibbling.  Which I have not seen yet.

Jennifer

[Publius]

perhaps i'll put c-rings on the doors and other important areas..
~julie

The doors, top, and ramps/balconies are already attached when they ship out--at least, they were on the four Martins cages I have!

As I said, I was using a tool to help me attach the zip ties. It grabs one end, then pulls the cable tight (it's used  for installing bicycle brake cables) and it *really* pulls them tight--in fact, I probably broke one out of every ten while putting it together! The ties tended to break when I was moving the cage (during cleanings, for instance) and the movement would stretch a just-ready-to-break tie past the breaking point.

I used brightly colored red and yellow ties (for decorative purposes--black and white was so blah) which gave me the added benefit of being able to see a tie on the floor or outside when it broke off.

[Grace Jr]

That's why I just tighten them with my hands.     I used to use needle-nose pliers, but I wound up breaking them all the time.

[menagerie]

Cable ties work for my older boys, they've never chewed a single one. The girls cage is a different story, Cinder's main mission in life is to remove every cable tie she can get her teeth on.  One day I noticed that the middle shelf was falling down, when I got the cage down to fix it the whole 4 ft cage was being held together by about 20 cable ties, the rest had been slaughtered Now I use c-rings on the girls cage.

[KayR]

Just a thought here... somewhat of a compromize that I have utilized with cages...

I too, hate the c-rings that come with the Martins cages, but can't totally rely on them not chewing the zip strips or me remembering to check them, so I made my own wire rings to put in areas that that are prone to stress, getting chewed, and on cages that I may take apart at some point in time.

I purchased a spool of thick wire from the hardware store that ran me less than $2 for a 500 ft spool. I cut off about an inch and wind it around the end of the needle nose pliers, then I run the "spring-ish shaped" wire around the cage like you do keys onto a key ring. They hold tight just like the c-clamps, but are easily removed like the zip strips. A very cost effective, secure, easy compromise to the question of zips or C's.

 

[anaphylaxis]

I might as well put this here.  My cage happens to have a rat-sized gap at the bottom where it attaches to the base.  I've been keeping it covered with the plastic cross-stitching craft netting stuff, held on by zip ties.

It takes them about 3 weeks to chew through it before I have to replace it.  Does anyone have a more permanent suggestion for covering a rat-sized hole in a wire cage?  

[KayR]

I'd get some aluminum window screen to cover the hole. Cut a piece about 8" larger than the hole all the way around then carefully fold the edges over several times so you have at least 4 layers of screen all the way around. Then add grommets and secure to the cage with some heavy guage wire. If you don't fold the edges over the screen will stretch and come off. I have covers for my cages made with aluminum screen and it works great.

You can get a roll at the hardware store for a few dollars, Wal-Mart also carries it.