Pics from the rat room...

Here are a few of my breeder rats...
Black Bettie: an awesome breeder who throws big litters. Only has 2 babies left after last weeks' feedings :) Chewed her watter bottle so I have a crappy waterdish for now in there..
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...blackbetty.jpg

My studly stud, King!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...ive/daddie.jpg

Another female hooded, with her litter.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...ive/ratmom.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6.../ratbabies.jpg
My new siamese girl; think she's preggo.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...ve/siamezz.jpg

NICE!

My grey ones seem to have massive litters also (for whatever coincidence).

Get a redbull can and trim off the lid then plunk it down over the top of the bottle (unless they nailed the bottom - mine always go for the top).

I hate it when they do that (and if its not that its knocking the bottle down into the bedding and burying it and hiding the metal clip).

Arrgh; I know! I am ready to try the Hot Sauce Trick; think Becky on this forum mentioned it. Supposedly, applying hot sauce to the bottom of the plastic part of the bottle, keeps them from biting? I know we always have loads of hot sauce here; my man loves the junk!

Hot sauce is supposed to work, but you have to reapply it a lot. Ive tried it a few times and the rats always rub bedding on it and then chew it :) (side of tub, not for bottles, top of bottle hot sauce worked for me too)

i bought the rubber stopper and tipsfrom the bean farm and i use the bottles from the vitamin(SP) water. bottles are free as wife loves that water

Another idea. THat saves water bottles and food. Is to build a screen top for a litter pan. I built a few before I built my rack and they are much easier to clean. And no chance of chewing water bottle.

they only chew on the bottle because a) they are out of water and want more and b) they need other things to chew on. I have had rodents for years. I DO know what I am talking about. Just put a couple paper towel rolls or toilet paper rolls in there and they should be fine. You HAVE to keep the water full and lots of stuff to chew on.

that also cruel about the hot sauce, you want hot sauce on your tongue when you can only get little bits of water at a time. Thats a good way to run out of water. And they might not even think to drink the water and have to live with that burning sensation in there mouths....really shows you care. If you seriously consider that you do not deserve the rats you have (i.e. the dumbo or siamese) Please do NOT do this I am not trying to be pissy but seriously do not harm them to stop them from chewing the bottle. And hot sauce makes them gassy and rats are unable to pass gas...it is a major health hazard.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Alecz

they only chew on the bottle because a) they are out of water and want more and b) they need other things to chew on. I have had rodents for years. I DO know what I am talking about. Just put a couple paper towel rolls or toilet paper rolls in there and they should be fine. You HAVE to keep the water full and lots of stuff to chew on.

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Umm

a) theyve done it with FULL things of water

b) They had wood, cardboard, etc to chew on

You may have had rodents for years, but don't make blanket statements. You can say that from your experience this is true, but unless you've done in depth studies it's a little narrowminded to try to tell us that everyone who has chewed bottles neglets their rats heh

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Alecz

that also cruel about the hot sauce, you want hot sauce on your tongue when you can only get little bits of water at a time. Thats a good way to run out of water. And they might not even think to drink the water and have to live with that burning sensation in there mouths....really shows you care. If you seriously consider that you do not deserve the rats you have (i.e. the dumbo or siamese) Please do NOT do this I am not trying to be pissy but seriously do not harm them to stop them from chewing the bottle. And hot sauce makes them gassy and rats are unable to pass gas...it is a major health hazard.

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Little bits of water? A lick from my bottles gives the rats a mouthful of water... sure its a drop to us, but they are small... Also my 32 ounce bottles provide enough water for 2 days for the cages that still use bottles... doubt 1 rat with a hot tongue would drink it all up :)

Live with the burning sensations in their mouth? Do rats salivate? Have you done studies on this? Do you know if this permanently damages rats? In humans it is pain for a brief time, and pain can teach lessons, and non damaging pain is a good tool.....

You make many claims, and back none of them up, please produce the studies and documentation, otherwise you are just spouting off opinions and insulting members of this forum who care a lot about rats.

1) Rats only chew on water bottles when they are thirsty/out of water or have nothing else to chew on
2) Hot sauce is cruel and unusual punishment to rats
3) Hot sauce makes rats gassy and is a health hazard


Thanks

Good lord, what next LOL. Okay rats chew because they are rats. Rodents chew...simple fact of life...always have always will. They chew whatever they can reach because that's pretty much what a rat does. Sure they should never be left without water but that doesn't encourage or discourage bottle chewing. That's a broad assumption and a basically useless observation as it's unprovable. Giving them things to chew on is fine, no problem at all but it won't stop them if they want to chew something...they'll chew it...why...because they are rodents. No rocket science there.

Where did you get your information that rats cannot deal with intestinal gasses? While it's true that a rat cannot burp or vomit only lab rats that are in sealed germ free lab environments never develop the gut bacteria that allows gasses or gass producing foods to be dealt with. You really need to check your facts on that one. Or perhaps you keep your rat collection in a level 5 containment lab LOL

As well due to the way rats are designed in that a flap covers the esophagus leading into the stomach (which is why they cannot burp or vomit) rats are by nature careful testers. A dab of hot sauce will be carefully tried by the rat, it will be found to be something that do not want to eat and thereafter avoided. Rats are very smart that way. Remember they survive where we humans fail to even thrive.

Your broad statements are unwarranted and incorrect. If they work for your collection that's just dandy but it would be better to state it that way than your usual abrupt "do it MY way" posts.