Vanilla Extract..how much?

A few of you guys have told me to put some vanilla extract in my rats drinking water. Well, this thread is just to get a general idea of how much to put in.

Lets say i have a gallon of water. How many drops, or teaspoons, or tablespoons of vanilla extract should I put in?

Shoot I've no clue as to what to put in a gallon Nate. I just generally put a couple of drops her medium sized water bottle or about four in a big rodent water bottle every couple of days and call it good. Basically enough that it turns the water a very very slight color...almost like incredibly weak tea if that makes any sense.

I go by their water bottle's I put 3 to 5 drop's in there. The bottle's I have are the small one's. The stuff work's!!!!

What does putting vanilla extract in the water do?

make them smell less

I've heard that you use a teaspoon per gallon, but I've never tried it myself. There is also supposed to be a product developed for ferrets that is supposed to cut the smell of their urine when added to the water. It's supposed to work for rats too. Don't remember what it's called though.

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Originally Posted by MarkS

I've heard that you use a teaspoon per gallon, but I've never tried it myself. There is also supposed to be a product developed for ferrets that is supposed to cut the smell of their urine when added to the water. It's supposed to work for rats too. Don't remember what it's called though.

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I've heard of this stuff but have no personal experience with it.

http://www.bunnyrabbit.com/price/information/biodor.htm

Personally I just go with a good weekly full enclosure clean out, a mid-week partial bedding change and not overcrowding. Add in the occasional bit of vanilla water and there's just really no smell issues with rats in my experience.

i put a few drops in my water. I have a really sensitive nose, so i want to make sure that they smell alright, so i put some vanilla in their water, a little baking soda on the bottom of the tank, and i clean up poop every couple of hours (they are right next to my computer, so it is not really an issue).

I used a plastic vinegar bottle from walmart. Looks like a restaurant ketchup squirter but clear plastic..


I just give a squirt for a small bottle, Squiiirt for a medium bottle, Squiiiiiiirt for a large bottle :)

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Originally Posted by nathanledet

Lets say i have a gallon of water. How many drops, or teaspoons, or tablespoons of vanilla extract should I put in?

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I put 2 tablespoons per gallon. ;)

Hey guys. I'd thought I'd try the vanilla in the water to cut down on smell (I'll try anything to cut down on the smell :) )


Where do you all get your vanilla? The stuff in the grocery store would be very expensive for a five gallon water reservoir for my rat rack . . . .


Alice

I get the small vanilla from Wal-mart it really doesn't matter which brand it is , I have 8 adult rat's and a weanling and the vanila last's a long time. I'd try it out once so you can verify how much you need.

When it comes to supplies like vanilla you can go with the extract. Pure vanilla is going to cost you a fortune so the vanilla extract is more cost effective. For larger amounts check out restaurant supply stores like Gordon Food Services or even Sam's Club or the like.

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Originally Posted by Alice

Hey guys. I'd thought I'd try the vanilla in the water to cut down on smell (I'll try anything to cut down on the smell :) )


Where do you all get your vanilla? The stuff in the grocery store would be very expensive for a five gallon water reservoir for my rat rack . . . .


Alice

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Sams club... i think 1/2 gallon jugs are like 3-5$?

The ferret product I use is called BIODOR. It is amino acids that, when added to the water, internally reduces the smell of body and stool odors. I can say that for my stinky little girls, it works. I stopped using it and I can very much tell that I have ferrets now. I plan on getting them back on it (it may take a few weeks to work so at first it is a gradual lessening of odor which may make you think it is not working.) But once you stop using...oh boy. I haven't used it on my rats yet. I am wondering if BIODOR would effect my snake....so I haven't used it yet.

Sorry guy's I do use the vanilla extract not pure vanilla.

Thanks all. Looks like I'll be making a trip to Sam's Club. :)

I tried the vanilla extract and it didn't seem to do anything. Oh well, ventilation is the key.

Well ventilation, regular bedding changes and not overcrowding I'd say are all keys to keeping smells down and the vanilla can only help that along. If you don't stay on top of the first three then vanilla's not going to do much...the key, in my mind, is great husbandry of the rodents.

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Originally Posted by frankykeno

the key, in my mind, is great husbandry of the rodents.

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well i didn't see a caresheet for rats, so what is considered "great husbandry"?

My rats have a water supply, a food supply, a nice big & tall tub with no top so they an run around, yet they cannot escape, and that makes for good air flow (right?? :confuzd:) and they're on aspen bedding.

any changes i can make?

In long run if you have great ventilation your better off switching to a low dust pine. That's what I did and I will never go back.