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Housing Rats on Tue Mar 24, 2009 10:49 am
Horsewell
Jr Mod
Posts: 468Age: 18
Location: England
Title: Irn Bru
Pets: Tyson(dog),10 chickens,2 rabbits,1 rat and Ponyo(axolotl)
Joined: 2009-02-25
Cages
Rats do best in wire cages because they enjoy climbing, and the wire offers good ventilation. A cage that is 2’ x 2’ x 2’ will generally do for a pair of rats, but a larger space would be much appreciated. If you plan to keep more than that, you’ll need a larger cage. The floor should be solid plastic or metal, it could also be a wire base if solid platforms are provided. Rats like a room of around 23 degreese celcius to live in, however this does not have to be the temputature all the time
Bedding
Bedding of aspen or pelleted recycled paper must be provided. Do not use pine or cedar shavings, which can be harmful to your pets. If you find that your rats like to make nests, provide shredded paper towels, napkins, paper and toilet roll can be used for this. Avoid news paper as this will leave black ink over your pet and its cage. DO NOT give your rat a mouse/hamster exercise wheel, these are too small and can seriously injure your pet.
Housing
Rats are very social with members of their own kind, and should be kept in pairs at minimum. Baby rats can be removed from their litters at about six weeks of age. A pair of females is recommended for first-time rat caretakers. Males can do well together if introduced when they are young. Females, on the other hand, are more accepting of new friends introduced later in life.
Note that a neutered male can live with females, or a spayed female can live with males. Do not keep intact males and females together, as they will breed and breed. The average rat litter is 12 young, and can be as high as 20.
Rats do best in wire cages because they enjoy climbing, and the wire offers good ventilation. A cage that is 2’ x 2’ x 2’ will generally do for a pair of rats, but a larger space would be much appreciated. If you plan to keep more than that, you’ll need a larger cage. The floor should be solid plastic or metal, it could also be a wire base if solid platforms are provided. Rats like a room of around 23 degreese celcius to live in, however this does not have to be the temputature all the time
Bedding
Bedding of aspen or pelleted recycled paper must be provided. Do not use pine or cedar shavings, which can be harmful to your pets. If you find that your rats like to make nests, provide shredded paper towels, napkins, paper and toilet roll can be used for this. Avoid news paper as this will leave black ink over your pet and its cage. DO NOT give your rat a mouse/hamster exercise wheel, these are too small and can seriously injure your pet.
Housing
Rats are very social with members of their own kind, and should be kept in pairs at minimum. Baby rats can be removed from their litters at about six weeks of age. A pair of females is recommended for first-time rat caretakers. Males can do well together if introduced when they are young. Females, on the other hand, are more accepting of new friends introduced later in life.
Note that a neutered male can live with females, or a spayed female can live with males. Do not keep intact males and females together, as they will breed and breed. The average rat litter is 12 young, and can be as high as 20.
Last edited by Horsewell on Wed Mar 25, 2009 11:25 am; edited 3 times in total
anyway, i didnt know u couldnt use cedar in their cages :o