HELP! I CAN'T DECIDE!!

[Ealai]

So I have two male rats, Benny and Basil. They're currently in this cage
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753300
but I want to upgrade and give them a larger cage to have more play time in as they're so active and especially at night. Now, they do have their own "room" to play in and have out time in (it's a converted walk in closet) and I play with them in there and have also made it my reading room. I'm torn between two cages, this one (Superpet Exotics cage)
http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753352
and the good ole' Ferret Nation. I know my original cage is big enough for them by the cage calculator but this new one (the blue and black one) is bigger and would be easier for me to clean. I throw my current cage in the shower and it's supper easy to clean and I know this one would fit too. But then I look at the Ferret Nation and I think that they can really run around in it. My local Petsmart has a Ferret Nation avaliable but not the Exotics one (I would order it online). I'm torn! I don't know what to get! My friends and family think I'm crazy to get them the big one because they are so spoiled and do have their own "room".

What would you do?!

[Johnny_]

I know that everyone that has gotten an FN has had no regrets.  There the perfect cage except for two problems i know of one being a head getting caught in the door when closing and another about when your doing modifications, just type FN warnings and youll see someones post about it. I think the SP exotics would be perfect for what your looking for, but its your desicion.  Also, are you deciding about the 141 or the 142 FN.
If i were you, and i had the extra money id go for the 142. 

[julztoni97]

If you wouldn't have to modify the cage with mesh I would go for the FN.  I don't want to add the mesh and that is the only reason I don't have one.  If you need the 1/2 inch, I would go with a SP cage or a Martin's.

[courtneybee]

I'm really impulsive, so as soon as I got my boy Templeton I went out the next day and got a Ferret Nation. I absolutely adore it. My favorite part is the doors. They just give you access to the entire thing, it's really great. After he got settled in it I saw him just light up and explore it. :] I think that if you have the money to buy it, it's something to go for.. ESPECIALLY if you are considering getting more rats in the future. That's what I love about it, too, the fact that I know I can get plenty more rats if I see someone in need of a home. Plus you can block off the floors if you want to keep some separate without getting another cage. As for friends and family.. mine are DEFINITELY thinking I'm a little bit crazy to get such a big cage. But it's so worth it.

That being said, if you know you're just going to have the two guys, the Super Pets cage is definitely a good choice. It's half the price, too, which definitely isn't a bad thing. ;P And as someone else said, the bar spacing in the FN isn't good for babies.

Basically it's up to you. If you have the money to spare, I'd go with the FN, because of the versatility of it and the SPACE!
But both of the cages you're considering are good one, so either way your boys will be happy!

[baileyjane]

Well, I have both; my girls are in the FN, and I bought my boys the SP for Exotics just last week.
The FN is wonderful but takes up a lot of room; the SP cage sits nicely on my craft work bench, so that's something to consider.  I really like both cages though!

[Troter]

I think that if you have the money to buy it, it's something to go for.. ESPECIALLY if you are considering getting more rats in the future. That's what I love about it, too, the fact that I know I can get plenty more rats if I see someone in need of a home.

Makes me wish I had a FN. I want to get a third rat (which is all I'm comfortable putting in my cage, though the calculator said 4 or 5, don't remember which), but I keep finding rats in pairs or triples. None of these ones were in emergency situations or anything, so I don't want to push it until I find that one lonely rattie. But it nearly broke my heart when I found two of the most adorable rats ever... but I know they'll be able to easily find homes, what with how completely ridiculously adorable they are. *melts thinking about it*

So, to make a long story short, I would go with the FN too, if you have the money. But it's your call.

[Ealai]

I'm also worried about when they get older which cage will be easier for them to navigate. I would love to get them the Ferret Nation and I think I might go with it. They're about six months old now and are almost a pound in weight so I'm hoping their little fat heads won't be able to get through the bars.

 

[LOTR_Ratties]

Another cage I don't know if you've looked at, is the Feisty Ferret. It's what I have for my 3 boys, and I absolutely love it. It's pretty much equivelant to the FN in my eyes, as far as size, big doors, etc., except the bar spacing is a little closer together. My little boy Shadowfax was fighting URI's for most of his young life, and stayed very small for quite a while, and instead of the FN, I got the FF with him in mind, and the bar spacing was just right without needing to be modified. Any way, just wanted to throw the FF into the mix maybe, too. But all 3 are great cages, so I'm sure you and your ratties will be happy with whichever one you decide on. Good luck!

[julztoni97]

I'm glad to hear something good about the Feisty Ferret cage.  That is the one I was leaning towards because it is a little smaller than the FN.  Hopefully when I get it I don't have the mesh the cage.  My young ones are about the same size as their mom so I think that they might be big enough now to move into a bigger cage without them sliding out!

[Ealai]

I've seen the feisty ferret and steered away from it just because of the flooring. Since it's not solid, do you just cover it? I was worried about it because my one boy, Benny, loves to get under anything he can and I figured he would pull the fleece liners up. Now I really don't know what to get! LOL.
This is such a hard decision!!

[julztoni97]

I was going to get linoleum tiles from the dollar store.  The Dollar Tree near me carries them.  Figured it would be easier to keep clean too.

[LOTR_Ratties]

I was going to get linoleum tiles from the dollar store.  The Dollar Tree near me carries them.  Figured it would be easier to keep clean too.

That's exactly what I did. Just keep them wiped clean and it works great!