Special treat for pet rats

Just so the shavings aren't green(not dry-still alive) or aren't pine, then I say that's an awesome deal. If it is pine, then you may be setting youself up for some serious respiratory issues on down the road. The phenols in pine can be very rough on their lungs. Is it dusty? I'm sorry, I just don't want your rats to have continuous myco flare-ups from being exposed to pine. I know my wallet hates vet bills just as much as the next person.

I would have loved to see that cage. Tunnels all around the room sounds awesome. Probably heck to clean though. Eeew, boy rat piddle. Speaking of pee, tanks are ok to use(we used 10 gallons for when Harry and Lloyd each had babies, and to house them in-we used a 30gallon), but I'd be wary using them for boy rats. They seem to have alot more ammonia in their pee, and it can really build up. Sorry! It's the vet tech in me, I can't help it! :-D

I haven't found any branches outside that I want to use... Not to mention my oven isn't big enough to bake them in, but anyway. I'd probably end up finding the "perfect" branch, but it would still be attached to the tree... Meaning I would have to "ACTUALLY" exert some energy and cut it down. Jeez, all for rats. The things we go through for them. :)

What I found that they really love is shop towels. I found a pack of 75 of them at Sam's Club for $10. I even made hammocks out of them so in case they decided to shred them, oh well. OK, I'm done rambling.

We live in the forest so branch supply is endless. Actually we have a huge supply of last years cut, so the branches are hard as rocks and dry. Great for the rats to climb around on. Yep that's my problem with the acquarium for the boys, I worry about air exchange tho it has a screened top. The bedding isn't very dusty tho I'm going to check out that bedding you are trying.



Thought you might enjoy this link. Some great ideas for homemade rat cages either built from scratch or by using a cabinet and rehabing it.



http://www.dapper.com.au/cages.htm

Oh forgot to ask, has anyone heard of giving a rat a live feeder goldfish in a low water dish to hunt and eat? I have read it on a couple of websites and think my girl rat would love this (I'll put money on it my two boys will laze around and wonder where the sardines are lol)

YES! I have been wanting to try that. It looks absolutely hilarious. My friend Chrissy, the rat breeder here in Texas, does that with all of her rats and says they love fishing around in the water and getting them. She does it with frozen peas too, let's them fish it out. I need to find a heavy bowl that I can put water in and then go buy a few feeder fish. I think they would have a blast.

Yep I'm going to save the frozen peas fishing idea for summer as our house doesn't have central air and can get a bit warmish on the exposed side of the house (the other side is always shaded by the heavy forest growth). Nice cool treat for the hot Michigan summers.

I'm going to try that idea of the goldfish. I figure the rats will enjoy it and it's got to be a good diet change for them, just don't know if they'll like the lil fishing hats and vests they'll have to wear LMBO!

My female Cookie should love it as she seems fascinated with playing in water. She has a plastic bowl with clean river rocks in it and fresh water daily to muck in. Makes for more work daily cleaning of her cage but it keeps her from going nutsy trying to chew holes in water bottles (even ones in metal tubes) to get to the water. I think that rat is part raccoon.

I am going to have to try that goldfish idea! As well as get some branches from outside. What temp do you bake them at to get rid of mites and bugs?

I just do 300 degrees until everything is completely dry. Nothing has blown up yet ;)

Cool. I have so much wood to pick through out in the back. I could make a wicked cool setup for my boa if I did that! I was always terrified of bringing in woodlice or other fun little things, bu now I don't have to be! Unless they take up residence in the oven and end up in my next Tuna Casserole!
:edit: I never have actually made tuna casserole; I am more likely to whip up some rice a roni, but it sounded good in theory.

Just because I'm anal retentive and paranoid, I soak everything in bleach water, and then bake 'em for pretty much the whole day. If the branch is too big to fit in the oven, you can just lay it on a towel outside on the concrete or something during a nice, hot day. Just make sure you don't lay it around any ants :)

Yeah, I would be paranoid about bringing yucky bugs into our house too. But the basement is dirt floor and pretty much open to the elements, so who knows what is living in these walls? lol. We had a toad hopping around our dining room last summer. And add to this, I am a neat freak when it comes to house cleaning. Scary!