I’m thinking of getting two female rats as pets. I know they have a specific heat range. My question is what type of cage I should keep them in, what type of food (besides pellets) to give them, and how I’m supposed to give them water. A bowl or a bottle? And if I use an aquarium, what type of bedding do you recommend? Any information is helpful.
Update:
Maybe I just want a pet rat? What’s it matter why I want one, anyway?
Update 2:
They will only be in the tank when I’m asleep or at school, really. I’d probably have them on my lap or hand quite often.
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Rats need 2 cubic feet per rat so a wire cage is best. PetInfoPacket has a list of some of the major cages along with the pros and cons. They also have additional links on cages in the “Conclusion” section. The link to PIP and a rat cage calculator you can use to determine if a cage is large enough for whatever number of rats you get follow:
http://www.petinfopackets.com/rats/ratcages.html
http://www.rattycorner.com/odds/calc.shtml
Harlan Teklad lab blocks is usually considered the best lab block for rats by many people. You can only get it on-line, though. There is a very good rat diet link that might be helpful as it offers diets for all needs to include forbidden foods. It does need an update so not all links active:
http://www.eatonrapidsjunkbarn.com/rats/rat_diet.h…
Bowls get covered with bedding so a water bottle to hang on the side is best. I highly recommend either a glass or extremely hard plastic one in case your rats try to chew it.
I use CareFresh Ultra. It is no more dusty in my opinion than the majority of other bedding available. The AFRMA has a 4 part article on bedding that might help you decide. Part 1 is below:
http://www.afrma.org/beddilemmap1.htm
You might consider joining a rat forum. You can be sure you will not receive any rude comments such as “Why would you want rats?” which is ridiculous as everyone knows rats are loving, sweet critters (my daughter has rats). You can also learn a lot from people who have experience with rats and typically the answers are friendly. The one I use most is below, but DapperRat has links to others in their “Links” link:
I have two rats. Had three, but the third was born a runt and had many health issues dying about two weeks ago (RIP Kev). You can not put them in an aquarium. They need the air a wire cage provides them. I mean yes, you can use an aquarium (pet stores do), but the rats will be MUCH happier with more air. And more space for that matter! Rats need houses with at LEAST two levels. (Mine has 4). They are very smart, so they can get bored easily!!
Most stores, even Walmart sells rat grain/pellets. Also give them treats every now and then. Healthy snacks too!
They can drink from a bowl, but the water stay much cleaner in a bottle.
My rats do best using “corn cob horse pellets bedding” from TSC. It help the cage not smell. And it’s not dusty; dusty bedding makes rats sneeze or potentially inhale too much dust.
Also, it’s a bad idea to get a rat unless you have a lot of time. A healthy rat is a social rat. They love human attention and play time in a rat proofed room! So unless you have about 1 hour per day to spend with your new friends, it’s not a good idea.
Rats are the best
Source(s): Rat mommy of 2
I’m believe whatever is comfortable for you will be fine for rats. A wire cage is preferred with water bottle and feeder. Rats eat all kinds of different foods besides pellets but should only be supplemented with the pellets, not substituted. There are lots of different types of bedding you can use too from hay, shredded paper, wood shavings, etc. Something soft and fluffy.
rats need a cage of at least four cubic feet, barred and multi leveled
they should have either a well researched home made mix, like Shunamite, or a Quality lab block, like Oxbow. and daily fresh food “salads”
they need a bottle for water.
you should never use an aquarium to house rats, the ventilation is too poor for their fragile respiratory systems, they are almost always too small, and lack enrichment and climbing opportunities.
being in a tank while you are at school or asleep is STILL spending more than half of their life inside a tank, which can seriously damage their health. it’s NOT suitable. simple as that.
Rats are awesome!
I have 2 female rats and use shredded paper for bedding in a wire cage that is as big as me with lots if levels and platforms I also have a glass hamster tank if they get I’ll I keep them in there. Either type of cage is fine so long as they have plenty of room and plenty of things to do. Rats are intelligent and get bored easy. If not entertained they get destructive.
Temperature wise no need to bother so much as long as you give them somewhere snuggly to sleep. Mine have cardboard boxes with different bits of materials and shredded paper to make their own nests. I get the boxes from the supermarket off the shelves. Thier favourite is a noodles box I turned upside down to make a dark area they have dragged a lot of stuff into it to nest in and are quite happy in it. And they can choose to sleep in the other boxes in the cage too.
i give my rats both a bowl of water and a bottle to drink from. The most popular way is to use a bottle but I like to give them a bowl too. Even if they just use it to clean and wash themselves. I’ve watched them use the water to put on thier paws and clean thier tails. They’re quite happy using either.
Food wise they will eat anything I’ve found. Whether its my cereal or their nuggets. They usually steal food right out of my hand if im not paying attention while I have them on my shoulders when I eat. Rats can eat almost anything. Mine get treats of roast chicken and fish. They looove tuna. Today they had apples and salty nuts. I usually lose a few cheerios or shredded wheat to them. I give them stale bread, pasta(usually with sauce) cheese, sausage, crisps , bananas apples oranges , porridge , jam, and any leftovers I have I break into small bits and give it to them. they also get a bowl of nuggets when they are empty. And I don’t fill nuggets up again til all have been eaten. So yeah try them out with lots of different things you will be surprised to see what they like 🙂
Oh I sometimes put a little fruit juice or milk in a bottle cap for them to sip too. I don’t give them a lot though. They’re best having water at all times for hydration.
Hope this helps you 🙂
Source(s): My own fat spoiled little rats
Rats CANNOT live in aquariums, it can cause so many breathing issues. So please reconsider. No matter how much time you spend with them, they are nocturnal and you can’t play with them all night obviously. They climb about all night, it’s how they exercise. It’s cruel to keep rats in a small aquarium.
Ok I think we have some problems. Why would you want a rat? Second you get a little bottle for the cage that it sucks from. This is so weird