|
MENU
|
|
Rat Care
|
|
| |
Rat Care
The following are some helpful tips on how we keep our rats happy and healthy …and how you can too!
Food
It is true that rats are omnivores and will eat just about anything, but not everything is good for them.
Main diet:
Any good pet rat diet should consist mainly of rat ‘chunks/nuggets’. Any brand is alright, but here’s an example of what they look like:
Rat chunks/nuggets
They can be rounded or squared!
And since rats have a high metabolism it is perfectly alright to give them as many chunks as they will eat. Under feeding these chunks can result in malnurished and underweight rats which shortens their life as well as decreases their quality of life.
Treats:
Although they love them, it is always good to limit the number of treats and diet supplements given to your rats. Once a week is perfectly alright. We tend to give them treats right after we clean their cages, this associates the disruption of their home with something they really love which can help fend off bad habits such as cage aggression.
Good treats – tomatoes, apple (not the core), carrots, fresh meat (cooked preferably), cheese (not blue cheese or other types like it), strawberries, cucumbers, grapes, plain noodles, bread, romaine/green leaf lettuce
Bad treats – cat/dog food (in high amounts), milk, chocolate , onions, lettuce )iceberg), salty foods, icecream, raw meat
Remember, too much of even the good treats, is a bad thing! Over weight rats tend to get tumors more easily.
Bedding
There are only two kinds of bedding that are okay for rats and other small rodents. The first, and the one I recommend most, is Carefresh Bedding It does come in other colors, but typically I suggest white or the original brown/gray. We use the brown/gray normally and then the white for when we are breeding.
*note - if your rat tends to eat the bedding, try aspen instead of carefresh. Paper product bedding can potentially compact the intestines and cause death if the rat is unable to pass it.
The second kind that we (and our vet) recommend is Aspen bedding. It is cheaper than the Carefresh but is similar in that it is chemical free and has no added scent. Both beddings are safe if the rats eat it.
One important thing to keep in mind is that some rats are allergic to anything but Carefresh! So if your rat(s) show signs of intense itching, balding patches, cuts from itching too hard, etc you might want to switch over to Carefresh. If the signs continue you will want to speak with your vet!
Kinds to strictly AVOID: absolutely no Cedar chips or pine chips!!!! Both have chemicals in them that cause cancer or death in small animals… which include rats, mice, hamster, rabbits, ferrets, etc.
BIG TIP!!! - freeze all bedding in the freezer for at least 48 hours before use, this kills any parasites/lice that may be in the bedding!
Please put the following phrase into your application when you apply (to prove that you have read this page): Rats Live On No Evil Star
Toys
Common sense goes a long way when it comes to rat toys. If it’s something they can gnaw apart, get hurt with swallow, they probably shouldn’t have it. Here are some of the suggestions we have:
Good toys: dog stuffed animals, maple sticks, large rocks (palm of your hand or bigger, not sharp!), small raw hide bones (excellent for keeping their teeth worn down), wooden parrot toys, parrot toys with stainless steal bells, ferret hammocks/tents, rope toys
Good Toys examples
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Bad toys: toilet paper/roll, paper towel/roll, toys with plastic, sharp objects, things with paint, stuffed animals with plastic eyes, things with real fur, tanned hide items, parrot toys with plastic
Examples: http://www.feedem.co.uk/caged-birds-39/caged-bird-toys-113/mobile-parrot-fashion-6011-4060_zoom.jpg
http://www.birdyboredombusters.com/images/star_drop.jpg
Cages
There are many ideas as far as caging, but the following are what we have come to find works best. We highly recommend Martin's Cages.
They are well made; the plastic bottoms don’t eat away from years of cleanings and rat urine and they are all galvanized. They do come with carpet on the levels which can be replaced as needed, or simply taken out. We tend to leave them in until they are too dirty and then permanently remove them.
Things to consider & keep in mind
1) Note the size of the holes on wire cages. Baby rats can fit fully through anything their head can fit through.
2) Do not get cages with the plastic levels! Metal only and with coated wire, if possible.
3) If you have multiple rats, you should have multiple food bowls and water bottles! Especially for three or more rats living together. We suggest the following ratios
1 rat : 1 bottle/food bowel
2 rats : 2 bottles/food bowels
3 rats : 2 or 3 bottles/food bowels
4 rats : 3 or 4 bottles/food bowels
5 or 6 rats : 4 to 6 bottles/food bowels
ETC.
For single rats
Minimum – 10 gallon tank with cage topper
Cage toppers
Better – 2 level ferret cage (1 full, level 1 partial level)
Cage example
Two rats
Minimum – 2 level ferret cage ( 1 full, 1 partial)
Cage example
Better – 3 level ferret cage (1 full, 2 partial)
Cage example 2
Three rats
Minimum – 3 level ferret cage (1 full, 2 partial)
Cage example 2
Better – 3 levels ferret cage (2 full, 1 partial)
Cage example 3
Four to Eight rats
Minimum – 4 level ferret cage (2 full, 2 partial)
Cage example 3
Better- 3 levels or more (full)
Cage example 4
Where to get these things?
There are many pet stores that sell great pet items, but the stores we recommend and personally shop at are as follows:
PETCO
PetsMart
That Fish Place/That Pet Place (Lancaster County, PA)
PJ's Pet Shop (Lancaster County, PA) eMail address: pjspetshop@dejazzd.com
|
|
|
; |
