Re: Thinking about breeding rats.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
OctagonGecko729
Not to hijack the thread or anything but a question kind of related. About two weeks ago we purchased a small rat for our Volta giant to eat (didnt take it). Anyway, this rat stunk up my entire apartment, it smelled like very strong dog feces. He also defecated in her enclosure, semi runny, and it smelled so bad I went ahead and ran chlorohexidine through the enclosure to kill the smell.
Any reason for the exceptional stinkyness? I thought about breeding rats as well but there is no way I could deal with that kind of smell in the house.
Yep, probably fed dog food which makes them and their feces stink to high heaven. The "nervous poops" also smell 100 times worse than regular rat poops, which are pretty odorless.
Don't think this is how rats always smell. After I clean my 6 bin rack, we sit on the outdoor porch feet away from it without being bothered by smells.
BONUS: The rats are just so stinkin' cute!
Re: Thinking about breeding rats.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
satomi325
A few tips to reduce odor:
1) Ventilation is the key. No one (including your ratties) wants to breathe or sit in stagnant air. It makes a huge difference. It also prevents RI.
2) Weekly cleaning at the minimum. (It's the soiled bedding that has a bad small. The rats have very little odor themselves. They are very clean little critters. And yes, males do have a stronger odor. I call it 'buck grease'. lol)
3) Quality diet (poor diet, such as dog food, will make your rats oily. The excess oil production makes them smell terrible)
4) Vanilla extract in their water will help body odor
5) Some baking soda sprinkled under the bedding will help too.
6) Don't overcrowd enclosures.
x2 All of what she said.
I also put a layer of Soft Wood Pellets under the kiln dried pine shavings (I buy mine as "fire starters" at a local TSC) they really absorb the urine and turn into a dust. I have yet to smell my rats in my bedroom.
Re: Thinking about breeding rats.
I have started breeding and raising recently and I clean twice a week by choice and have zero smell. I am building a rat house and when I designed it ventilation and air flow was on the top of the design. I have really enjoyed raising them.
Re: Thinking about breeding rats.
Mine don't start to smell until day 4 after cleaning weekly. I have thousands of rats and didn't notice a change in smell when I went to dog food. I stay on top of things every day and if a rack needs changing sooner it's done. I started with ten rats last September and have enjoyed working with them. They are far smarter than I gave them credit for and cleaner as well.
