Escape measures.

Alright everyone just wondering what you all do in your rat rooms? wondering because I always find myself worrying a whole litter is gonna squeeze out of the gap between the tubs and the wood. Lol I worry bout stuff alot. Ive had a couple get out but always found them, just feel like finding them running around my room and chasing them with a vacuum getting old lol. So do any of you have something set to catch or kill any escapees? I have 18 tubs most them the gap is smaller than my fingers are thick but a couple are no big enough to slide my fingure through an those tubs rats at the 80g mark can slip out. Last question in this wall of text, how long could a hopper live outside of the tub if there isnt access to food or water any where else? Sorry for my rambling just trying to figure out how to mellow my kind of pointless worry lol

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We have one of those humane rat traps to catch any escapees, which in theory should work when baited properly. In reality, it's usually just me crawling under beds and bookshelves with gloves and a minnow net :D Unfortunately we don't have a dedicated rat room, we keep them in the bedroom lol. I'm gonna keep tabs on this post for any good suggestions, so let's go people!

Im thinking im gonna get a few rat traps. Have you tried using the extension part on a vacuum? Unless their way small your able to vacuum grab them lol ive found that as easiest way to catch them. but I would rather something else is in place too ha

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I have 2 cats and 2 dogs. I never had an escape other then just dropping one on accident but it wouldn't last long if I didn't catch it. They have live traps for rats that you could leave out just in case. I would think with no food or water a hopper would only last a day or 2.

Ya my dog as of now is the only thing I got. An k thats bout as long as I was thinking they could live. Gonna get traps asap tho.

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My ferrets regularly prowl around the rat racks. The rats have learned that its just all around better to stay put than escape. Lolol...

But either than that, I haven't really had issues with rats escaping their tubs unless I forgot to push them back in.

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Are you not able to adjust the rails or add shims to get a snug fit?

Cant adjust them since full of rats. Probably could shim them.

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I could just be worrying more than needed lol since ive had maybe three squeeze outs in 8 months. Just always worry itll happen an ill have a rat infestation. Lol

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I have four baited live traps in the rat room baited with rat blocks. Never had one get out for more than a day. Did not use to have these till one day I was in my room and heard something moving behind the bales of bedding. Moved them and a rat ran out...full grown XXL male..no clue how he had escaped (kinda assuming he hoped out during a cleaning and I didn't even notice)

Have-a-heart traps in the corners baited with something that won't attract other pests such as insects. How do they live? People have rats in their houses all the time that live there just fine 'without food and water'.


Do you really vacuum up baby rats? No offense man, but that is twisted...


When they have small babies that are mobile and rascally I have been using little shims of cardboard to keep the tubs pressed right up against the wire. Right about the age that they hang upside down from the wire is when I start worrying about escapes.

No not babies! I have cloth in the wand on the vacuum they dont go past the first inch or so just enough to hold them with the suction. I should have made it more clear they dont get sucked up. I use the wand attachment with cloth on the end an the ones I use that for are bigger than the wand so their not sucked into the vacuum.

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Gonna make a few shims for back ups. An get couple live traps. The hang upside down thats the size I've had a couple escape an the size that worries me

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I don't have a rat colony but do hold onto the feeders that don't get eaten. Seldom would I have escapees but when they do get out it's because they jumped out of my reach or quick darted away. I used to chase them around, now there is a rat terrier living with me who helps with the task of chasing and catching. It would be more fun if he actually fetched them for me and didn't play with them like a cat, but it can be amusing. So far no deaths and a lot of slobber as he likes to play with them. Rodent-chasing dogs actually are useful. :D

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Originally Posted by Pyrate81

I don't have a rat colony but do hold onto the feeders that don't get eaten. Seldom would I have escapees but when they do get out it's because they jumped out of my reach or quick darted away. I used to chase them around, now there is a rat terrier living with me who helps with the task of chasing and catching. It would be more fun if he actually fetched them for me and didn't play with them like a cat, but it can be amusing. So far no deaths and a lot of slobber as he likes to play with them. Rodent-chasing dogs actually are useful. :D

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Ya my main part of my house is patrolled by my pit lol shes got a high pray drive so I dont let her into the rodant area to catch lose ones, they wouldnt come back alive. Shes the reason I dont worry about outside of the room much an I have it sealed off. I just worry more than I should at times ha.

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Originally Posted by carlson

No not babies! I have cloth in the wand on the vacuum they dont go past the first inch or so just enough to hold them with the suction. I should have made it more clear they dont get sucked up. I use the wand attachment with cloth on the end an the ones I use that for are bigger than the wand so their not sucked into the vacuum.

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Thank god lol. I was picturing you sucking up little rats with a shop vac. I would not want to clean out that filter!!

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Originally Posted by MootWorm

Thank god lol. I was picturing you sucking up little rats with a shop vac. I would not want to clean out that filter!!

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Haha nope dont wanna hurt them its just easier getting that wand into spots. Then they get stuck to the end or cloth area. Worse they get is a red mark lol.

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