There’s the ever popular debate–Wire cages vs. Aquariums?

Wire Cages
PROS for owners:
Easy to clean
Light-weight
Big in size
Easy to hang things on/in
Easy to build onto
PROS for rats:
More ventilation
Bars to climb on
More opportunity for shelves, hammocks, housing, etc.

CONS for owners:
Bedding occasionally gets kicked out (depends on the rat)
Expensive for the larger ones
Wire may eventually rust
Some rats may chew the base if it’s plastic
If the wire spacing is too large, rats may escape
CONS for rats:
Drafts
If the spacing is too wide or too small, feet/legs may get caught and/or broken

Aquariums
PROS for owners:
Good for quarantine, nursery, or paralyzed rats
Bedding doesn’t get kicked out
Additions can be found to build up.
PROS for rats:
Easy to dig and tunnel in, without the mess

CONS for owners:
Bulky
Heavy
Hard to clean
Odor and ammonia doesn’t escape as easily… needs to be cleaned more frequently
Typically shallow, if not careful rats can escape
Can be expensive depending on size
CONS for rats:
No bars to climb on
Less room for toys, housing, accessories
Could get sick from ammonia build-up if not cleaned frequently

Links
Martins Cages