couple rat/BP questions

i have a couple questions about zulu and my rat. ok first is zulu, he hasn't eaten for almost a month now how long before i should start to get worried? sorry if i'm bugging anybody with that, i'm just a paranoid "mom" right now.

second is the rat; here's a link to my gallery... http://photobucket.com/albums/b184/mr-python/?sc=3, the first to are of his setup, does it look good? i have two rows of eleven, 8th-of-an-inch holes on the top and bottom of each side except for the front and back for ventilation.

k, thx everybody:)

i can't see the rat pic..needs log in but if your using tubs to keep rats in I would suggest not putting any holes in the tub itself. Your only inviting those hose to grow very quickly. Leave the tub alone and ventilate from the top with mesh/hardware cloth. Daniel has some great pics in his thread recently.

sorry about that, here you go http://photobucket.com/albums/b184/m...t=100_1705.jpg

This should be two threads.. one in BP forum, one in feeder forum.

there is no way you're going to keep that thing clean with an open dish of water.. get a bottle!

i know i'm getting one this wed. if they have em at the store. it's just a temporary thing.

i'll start the new threads, give me a sec....

leave this thread.. just stick with the extra bp thread

i was plannin on it;)

That rat is going to get a respiratory disease if kept like that for too long, especially with a water bowl. They do not fair well at all with higher humidity. They will get scabs on their tails for the increased moisture in the air, and they will also not be able to breathe.

And rats that don't breathe well, don't breed... Just get some tanks or convert a larger rubbermaid/sterilite/iris tub into a cage. What I did when I made a temp. cage for my lone male is, cut out the entire middle of the lid, except for the rim, replace it with 1/2" mesh, and either staple or zip-tie in place. Next, drill a large enough hole for the water bottle nozzle to fit through, and you are set. This works the same way as a tank, without the hassle of a tank. Has plenty of ventilation and they won't chew out. Just don't make any ventilation holes in the sides, there's no need for them. If you replace the entire lid with mesh(except for the rim that holds on the lid) you will be good to go. My hairless male did quite well in this until I found him a more suitable, open, wire cage(superpet).

Hope that cleared up a few things. Those drawer systems do not work well for anything other than storing inanimate objects. The rats will escape, and if they don't escape, they will probably die from a respiratory infection. There is no amount of holes you could drill in the front of that drawer that would be suitable for a rat's requirements. Just not probable.

thanks, that really helps.

agreed, open water is not safe and those rubbermaid drawer setups are definately NOT secure enough to be used as enclosres especially for rodents. As I mentioned before you pretty much need free flowing open top. And unless you want those holes to grow you shouldn't make any ventilation holes where the rodents can reach them...its just inviting them to chew through since you got them started it will be that much easier.