Housing

Your rats housing is very important. You should take this into careful consideration. The most commonly used are aquariums and wire cages. Both of these have their pros and cons.

Aquarium Pros: Protects rat from drafts less expensive easy to find a suitable size

Aquarium Cons: tends to be hotter or more humid because of bad air flow, ammonia builds up quicker do not offer levels need converted wire tops (You can either purchase or build)

One or two males (or three or less females) can live happily in a 20 gallon long aquarium. Obviously, the more rats you have, the more space they will need.

The aquarium will need to be cleaned once a week. here . Be extremely careful not to drop the aquarium, aquariums can easily crack, and would be no longer suitable for safety reasons.

Wire Cages A wire cage is also a good choice, but it must meet certain standards: wire must be powder-coated, not galvanized The floor should be solid, not wire The shelves should be solid, not wire.

Wire Cage Pros: easier access to multiple levels easier means of hanging and securing toys and hammocks better ventilation

Wire Cage Cons must meet specifications messier, rats may push bedding or litter through wire onto floor. can be fairly expensive

Like aquariums, these must be cleaned often. Wire cages do not have to be cleaned quite as often though, due to freer ventilation.

Other Cages Wood: No. The wood can splinter, harming little feet. Urin will soak into wood causing it to rot and reek of ammonia vapors. Also, the rat may chew through the wood. Hamster Cage: No. These cages are too small for adult rats. Adults cannot fit in accessories (i.e. tubes/hiding houses)

Bedding Pine, cedar, spruce and other softwoods are toxic. The phenol oils in these shavings break down the liver and respiratory systems of your rat. Corn-cob bedding should not be used in aquariums. The more humid climate in an aquarium will cause the bedding to begin to mold quickly. This type of bedding must be changed very often to avoid this problem. Aspen or hardwoods may be used though, because they do not contain phenol. There are several other good types are sold in pet stores. These are usually a paper material.

Toys Rats enjoy lots of things. Rats like to climb wooden bird laddrs. Pipes or tunnels are fun to hide in or crawl through. Hammocks are comfortable, and make good 'look-outs' (most are actually made for ferretts). If you hang cotten ropes, your rats will climb, swing, and use them as 'tight-wires'. You can create mazes, and teach your rat to find its way out by rewarding with food. But most of all, your pets love having your attention, and playing with you.

Scurry Back To The Rats Nest

And The Little Piggy Ran All The Way Home -- Back To Daphne's Domain