Hello! My names mason and im getting my first pet rats on Thursday! Should I get males or females? I've den struggling to decide recently and I could really use some good advice!
Alright, here we go. Links are in bold and italic!
Firstly, I’m going to start with cage suggestions! Rats need a decent home to live in when they’re not out for play time (which should be regular and often!). Aquariums/glass tanks are an absolute no-no. There is little to no air ventilation for them, and this can cause respiratory infections that can be quite expensive to treat. The only animals that should be kept in aquariums are fish. I would also say to not use wood shavings as a flooring. Also, A lot of people say that there are certain kinds of wood shavings that are ok, but I prefer to bypass them all together and go for either newspaper, fleece, or dust free bedding pieces (the name of them totally escapes me, I’m sorry! They’re usually fluffy and brightly coloured? Ugh, major brain fart!!).
What you need to go for is a multi level (2-3 levels is good, more is better if you can afford it). Something like this cage here is great for rats! The platforms aren’t wire which is great (wire platforms can be uncomfortable for your rats to walk on and can also cause blisters on their feet!). If you can’t find a cage with solid platforms, you can cover the platforms with newspaper, then some fleece material wrapped over the top of that and held in place with bulldog clips. There are other brands that are way less expensive but also offer the solid platforms and multiple levels. I suggest browsing both the internet and pet shops in your area for something that is spacious and will be comfortable for your rats to live in. You can also browse this blog’s cage inspiration tag here to see some pictures of amazing cages that rat owner’s have personalised with hammocks and toys, which are also essential for rats! Here is another article with some handy tips about cages. I would suggest cleaning the cage once every second to third day, depending on how much of a mess your rats like to make. If you notice poops on their platforms, you can take them out with some toilet paper and flush them down the toilet to help keep their cage clean throughout the day. My boys poop an absolutely ridiculous amount, so I try to do this throughout the day to avoid the chances of them stepping in it (because they do not enjoy baths, lol).
Secondly, I’m going to suggest that you get a good quality lab block for your rats. A lot of pet shops sell blocks that are formulated for feeder rats (horrible, I know), and they do not contain the proper nutrition that your rats need to get the best start in life and stay healthy. I am unsure about where you live in the world, but I’m from Australia and I use Cummins McManus Rodent Cubes which you can find here. Some other brands that the blog’s followers like to use are Oxbow Regal Rat Food and Harlan Teklad (if anyone else has any other suggestions for international rodent cubes, please add to this post or contact original asker). There are a lot of fresh fruits, vegetables and small amounts of meat that should also be given to rats to help maintain a healthy diet for them. Here are some links to some good detailed articles on diets: 1, 2, 3.
Thirdly, your house needs to be rat-proofed if you want to let them out for play time! This means putting cords and valuables out of reach and moving anything that they could injure themselves on. If you have other pets, I also suggest keeping them out of the room when your rats are out to play. Also make sure that their cage is in a spot that doesn’t get too hot/cold (preferably in a room with a heater/air con and/or a ceiling fan). Rats are very sensitive to temperature! A spot that has a window near so they can have some fresh air on They also need a lot of social interaction and play time, so try to get them out at least once a day. Keeping the rooms that they play in clean is also a good thing to do; a vaccuumed floor decreases the risk of them getting dirty or finding something on the floor and putting it in their mouth when they shouldn’t! Keeping a room as dust free as physically possible also helps keep your rat’s respiratory system clear.
Fourthly, you need to be prepared for if your rats need to go to the vet! If they are sneezing or have a red crusty substance called poryphorin (which you can read about here and here) form around their eyes/nose, they may have a respiratory infection and need to be taken to the vet. This can cost anywhere from $30 to $200, so it’s a good idea to put a little bit of money away every week so you’re prepared if the time ever comes. I suggest taking your rat to the vet ASAP if you notice any poryphorin as it can indicate a very serious condition.
Lastly… just love your rats! Care for them, talk to them, feed them and play with them, and you’ll soon get to see their individual personalities :) As a first time rat owner, there will be a lot of stuff you’re unsure about or have questions about, so if you’re ever unsure, don’t be afraid to come to the blog or any of the various rat forums around the internet.
Here are some links with more information that might help. Here, here, and here. You can also browse the rat info and rat information tag for this blog to find some previously asked questions and posts that might help.
I hope this helped, and good luck! :) As always, if anyone has anything they’d like to add from their personal experience, please feel free to do so!
