Rat Caging

What do you keep your feeders in? Right now I have my two small rats in a 10g aquarium. I plan to move them into a 20 gallon will this work when they are ready to breed and carry them till they are full grown? And if so do I just put and keep the full grown male in there with them (when I buy him when they are old enough?). :confused:

I am so confused about the whole rat thing. :confused:

I have two 10g's and a big sterilite tub which I know I have to watch for chewing. I also picked up a new cage which I'll try to post pic's of.

Wire or lab style cages (such as these) http://www.bigappleherp.com/bigapple...roducts/110100 are better than tanks (easier cleaning and better air circulation)

I use rat racks from freedom breeder.. expensive but so worth it.

I just use tanks now but I only have 2 rats so far. I like to keep my rats in the freezer much more!!

I have 2 10g tanks, one 20-long tank, and one large deep r-maid. The tanks work great; no one can squeeze out between any bars like in cages, and the r-maid is working well too. I used it in a pinch when one of my tanks broke, and decided to keep it for my male and whatever female he has to breed.. put charcoal-grill grates on top weighed down by bricks and it works great! but 10-g tanks are the way to go.. get one for each female and a few spares, and lids, and weights, and yer all set.. ask around at pet stores for any that may be broken and therefore cheaper, though I can get brand new ones for a mere $5 at the LFS.

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Originally Posted by Shelby

Wire or lab style cages (such as these) http://www.bigappleherp.com/bigapple...roducts/110100 are better than tanks (easier cleaning and better air circulation)

I use rat racks from freedom breeder.. expensive but so worth it.

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You got it shelby I picked up one of those at the show.Now I'm kicking myself for not getting an extra one.

I like to keep my rats (20+) in tanks also. I find that a 20 L is plenty for a female to raise a litter of pups....I find that in a 10 gall the females cannot get away from the babies constant desire to nurse, so she gets frustrated.

Plus tanks are easy to keep clean, that is until I can afford some pro breeder racks...LOL!

I keep a pair in a 40 breeder

Here are the ones I use ...

http://www.rodentracks.com/Rat_Rack_6stackf.jpg

My wife keeps a pair in this one ...

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...ap/pregenc.jpg

And I occasionally use this one for a grow out ...

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c2...idratcage1.jpg

Bryan

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Originally Posted by Pork Chops N' Corn Bread

I keep a pair in a 40 breeder

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I sure hope they are separated somehow, being as they are TOO young to be breeding, not to mention hairless. Hairless rats need haired buddies to keep warm enough. Try and put a divider in that tank and get another pair, one male and one female, that both have hair. Put them with their respective buddies, and leave them alone for a few months so you KNOW they are old enough to breed. 2-3 month old rats surely aren't big enough or old enough to have babies(they CAN, but it doesn't mean it is right).