bricks in the rat tubs?

I read on another site that you should keep a brick in the cage with your rats to help wear down their toenails. Is this necessary? I haven't seen this in any of the pictures of rat racks on here, and it seems like it would be nearly impossible to disinfect being that most bricks are highly porous.

I don't see the need. I have noticed unusually long nails or teeth on my breeders and I couldn't justify wasting that much space in a tub.

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Originally Posted by jglass38

I don't see the need. I have noticed unusually long nails or teeth on my breeders and I couldn't justify wasting that much space in a tub.

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just to clarify for myself, you HAVE noticed unusually long nails teeth? or did you mean to say haven't noticed?

I don't see the need to use bricks in a rat cage, they're constant chewing (on everything) is enough to keep their teeth in good shape and I've never noticed a problem with toe nails. As you pointed out, bricks are very porous and would be almost impossible to disinfect. After a few months in a rat tub you could probably sell one on the black market as a biological weapon.

Personally, I wouldn't do it.

Mark

Well I did try that brick thing back when we had pet rats. It may well help keep their nails back a bit but it just gets nasty! We provide our colony with enough hard foods, bones, etc. that they can grasp and chew on and I think that it works just fine. We have retired breeders with us that are well on 2 years plus now and even they don't seem to have issues with overgrown of nails or teeth.

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Originally Posted by littleindiangirl

just to clarify for myself, you HAVE noticed unusually long nails teeth? or did you mean to say haven't noticed?

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Sorry, haven't. Typo #2 on the day...

On our pets we had a couple tear a nail on the back foot b/c it was too long, but I now use ppl nail clippers very carefully if they get to scratching us/too long.

I use the pumice blocks for the babies to stand on to get to the water bottles. Chlorhex and occas. bleach soaks help keep things fresh and clean. Once they're gone, I probably won't replace them though.

I've never used bricks and agree with others when they say that they would absorb and be very difficult to clean. I've also not seen extra long nails in my 3 racks of rats either. Good luck and let us know how you tackle this issue.

I got rid of the bricks!!! woo. Ok. Update... I havent noticed anything yet. I always think their nails are sharp, but we'll wait and see...