How to Connect Aquarium Rat Cages Together

Rats can make very interesting and rewarding pets. However, for a rat to be healthy and happy, it needs enough space to roam and explore. An aquarium can make a good enclosure for a rat, but may not be adequate for its needs, as aquariums are usually rather small and can have poor ventilation. Fortunately, it is easy to link multiple aquariums together to make for a larger and more interesting space for your rat to live in.

Things You'll Need

  • Measuring tape
  • 2 aquariums
  • Wire mesh (medium-weight or lighter)
  • Wire cutters
  • PVC pipe (several pieces, with a diameter wide enough for your rat)
  • Duct tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Measure the length and width of each aquarium.

    • 2

      Put together your PVC pipe pieces. You may need to cut them to lengths to fit to your particular aquariums. A simple connection only needs three pieces of straight pipe and two pieces of angled pipe to make a U shape. Do not seal the pipes, as you will want to be able to take them apart in order to clean them. Be sure that the pipes are not so long that there is no space for the rat to crawl into the tube from the bottom of the container. Rats are naturally good climbers, but if you find that your rat has a hard time crawling up the tube, try building a ramp or stairs so that the distance that the pipe goes straight up is shorter.

    • 3

      Cut the wire mesh with a wire cutters into two pieces, one for each aquarium. If your mesh is very fine, you may be able to use a scissors instead, but you may need to create a frame to make the mesh sturdy. A medium weight mesh should not need support. Each piece must be a few inches larger than the aquarium that it is intended for, in both length and width. Fold down the edges so that the mesh fits snugly over the top of your cage. A pliers may help you with this task. If the top fits snugly enough, the rat should not be able to escape, but you may wish to tape down this top or weight it for extra security.

    • 4

      Measure the diameter of your PVC pipe. Cut a small hole toward the edge of each piece of the mesh, large enough to just admit the pipe.

    • 5

      Seal all of the rough edges of the wire mesh with duct tape. This will help prevent your rat from harming itself on the wire.

    • 6

      Insert the PVC pipe through the holes so that the bottom of each end of the tube is inside of the aquarium. It should form an upside-down U that connects one aquarium to the other.