🏠Bedding & habitat for the Fancy rat
Fancy rat : A tall multi-level cage of at least 80 x 50 x 100 cm for two, with platforms, hammocks and cosy sleeping spots. Dust-extracted bedding, never raw cedar or pine shavings, which irritate its airways.
This is the structural purchase — and where mistakes cost the most: too small, badly placed, badly sized. Our guides give serious minimum dimensions for a rodent, the materials that last, and the traps of entry-level products.
Go big: a 100 × 50 cm footprint is a minimum for a hamster, and guinea pigs must live in pairs — which means a pen.
The guides that apply to you
- What cage for a guinea pig? The C&C enclosure is the real answer
What cage does a guinea pig need? Minimum floor space, the advantages of a modular C&C enclosure and a realistic budget: our guide to a truly suitable habitat.
- What cage for a rat? Height, levels and dimensions to respect
What cage does a pet rat need? Minimum height, number of levels, bar spacing and budget: our advice for an aviary-style cage suited to this born climber.
- A tank for gerbils: finally giving them something to dig
Why a glass tank beats a barred cage for gerbils: substrate depth, minimum dimensions, ventilation and budget for these tireless little diggers.
- Chinchilla housing: a large, cool aviary cage above all
Chinchilla housing demands a tall aviary cage of at least 1 metre, wooden platforms and a cool room below 22 °C: our detailed advice and budgets.
- Rat hammocks: your companions’ favourite place to sleep
The hammock is a rat’s favourite bed: suitable fabrics, safe attachment, how many hammocks per cage, upkeep and prices from 5 to 20 €.
- Minimum winter temperature: how much cold can your rodent take?
What minimum winter temperature for a rodent? Thresholds by species, the hamster hibernation risk, room heating and how to winter-proof the nest.