Rats chewing tubs??

OK so I built a nice rat rack and the stupid rats are chewing through the tubs???? So far I haven't lost any rats yet. But it is becoming an issue like every two days I have a tub that they can escape from. How do I stop this??

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Originally Posted by Hellix2494

How do I stop this??

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You can provide chew blocks however even than there is no guarantee, rats are smart and once one start chewing his way out he most likely will always do and the other tub mate will too, so unless you get rid of the chewer(s) (putting them in a glass tank if you want to keep them) you might have to deal with that problem constantly.

Post pictures of your rat rack. It is nearly impossible for my rats to chew on their rack due to the inability to get their teeth sunk into any point on my tubs. If there is a large gap between the mesh and the tub then they are able to bite into the tub. The tubs should fit snug. If the tubs have any kind of indentions or even a dent then the rats can get a hold of that too.

Both posts are exactly what I was going to say! Chew blocks of wood, getting rid of known chewers, and making sure the tub is perfectly flush and a little tough to open with perfectly smooth surfaces. :gj:

yeah there is quite a gap I may have to take and slide a piece of wood in there so the rats can't chew on the tubs.

Are there several groups of rats or just one group that consistently chews through the tub? I have one group of rats that constantly chewed a hole in the corner of their tub. After replacing the tub several times, I just let them chew a hole and left them there. To my surprise they quit chewing after the hole got to be about 2 inches in diameter and stayed in the tub. I've had them in the same tub for months now and they seem perfectly content with their hole and view. :)

However, I'm careful not to mix rats in that tub with any others because I don't want them teaching the others their new skill.

ahh I kind of had to mix the rats cause I didn't have anything else to put them in, I need to set my groups up and then leave them the way they are. The only problem I have that the males come out of the tub when there are babies present.

It is my females that keep eating through the tubs

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Originally Posted by xdeus

Are there several groups of rats or just one group that consistently chews through the tub? I have one group of rats that constantly chewed a hole in the corner of their tub. After replacing the tub several times, I just let them chew a hole and left them there. To my surprise they quit chewing after the hole got to be about 2 inches in diameter and stayed in the tub. I've had them in the same tub for months now and they seem perfectly content with their hole and view. :)

However, I'm careful not to mix rats in that tub with any others because I don't want them teaching the others their new skill.

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Yours probably come out at night and party! Of course they aren't going to mess up a good thing by letting YOU know what's going on!:rofl:

I bought one of those $2 cardboard tubes at the pet store and my rats quit chewing the lid to their tank that night...they go through a tube every month to 6 weeks...also give them alfalfa blocks....before that they had tried to chew through the metal mesh on their lid.

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Originally Posted by broadude

Yours probably come out at night and party! Of course they aren't going to mess up a good thing by letting YOU know what's going on!:rofl:

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LOL. Probably, but as long as they go back in during the day I'm happy. :) I've actually had a few that would chew a hole in the bottom of the tub. Those would escape to steal the food from the other bins, but they would always come back as well. I guess they figure they have a secure home and all the food they could eat, why risk the scary real world?

I hate to point it out, but Hellix please don't assume that your rats are as well behaved as Lawrence's and will stay in their tubs if they chew a hole! LOL :rofl:

lol :) I will keep that in mind. :)

i was wondering, would it be okay to spray a no chew substance on tubs and such? i got some 'no chew' spray for our dog, and i read the ingredients, active being tea tree oil, and inert ingredients being water and sodium bicarbonate. would this affect the rats in a negative way if i sprayed the edges of tubs?

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Originally Posted by m0esgirl

i was wondering, would it be okay to spray a no chew substance on tubs and such? i got some 'no chew' spray for our dog, and i read the ingredients, active being tea tree oil, and inert ingredients being water and sodium bicarbonate. would this affect the rats in a negative way if i sprayed the edges of tubs?

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I would first find other ways to deter them from chewing. Offering blocks of wood, giving them hard things to gnaw on. Making sure the rack is built sturdy and flush with no gaps for the rats to get a hold of.

If you can narrow it down to one rat, you may have to think about keeping them in something else. Rats will learn to chew if one does it.

You can try the deterrant, you may find it breaks them of their habit. I personally never used it because I didn't want to waste money on it if it doesnt work LOL. But! Luckily none of my rats chewed their tubs.

well i tried it because two of my rats were just habitually destroying water bottles, so i covered up the metal part where they get the water, and sprayed all the plastic down, and it seems to have broken the habit. we already had some because our dog liked to chew on shoes, and it is basically odorless. i tried it though, and its super bitter, but i dont think its unhealthy. i wonder if it would work on the whole tub though....hmm.