Keep rat smell under control!!!

We have been breeding rats for about 6 months now and i have NEVER had a problem with the smell ever since day one. I keep them on Aspen bedding and I usually keep 4 to a bin, of course separating the maternal mothers and their babies.
Once a week I separate all the rats in two groups. I have about 11 breeders (6 are hairless) and 15 almost big enough to feed off, plus a few hold outs. Well I separate them into two groups (13 per group) one bucket for each group, then I drizzle them with baby bubble bath soap (cherry :P). Put a mess lid on it, add some water, swoosh them around, drain the bucket, and then rinse them off. You have to be quick cause they will be trying to poop as much as possible. I then remove the lid let them sit in the bucket for about 20 min, they are so busy grooming themselves, that they don't even try to get out. While they are drying I change out the aspen in their cages and they are ready to go :)!
Like i said, if you do this once a week (maybe every 2) it eliminates the smell and you can actually have guest in your home without worrying about them thinking your house is a petting zoo!! It takes me about 2 hours to get everything done but it is well worth it!!
Thanks everyone!

P.S. I left out a step or two, if your really dying to know you can just pm me.

-M

I've converted to Flax bedding with 1/2" stall dry under neath. So far so good. The flax bedding cost me $5 a bag (massive size) stall dry $16 about the size of a large kitty litter bag.

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This was for main odor control. :-)

Wait, you bathe your rats? Rats are good in the water, but that much bathing is not healthy.

I use baking soda, sprinkle a generous amount on the bottom of the cage, then add the bedding. Odorless rat cages quickly ensue. :gj:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by kdreptiles

Wait, you bathe your rats? Rats are good in the water, but that much bathing is not healthy.

I use baking soda, sprinkle a generous amount on the bottom of the cage, then add the bedding. Odorless rat cages quickly ensue. :gj:

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I like the baking soda idea, I'm going to give that a try...

Also as far as i know, if you clean your rats and extremely clean your tub/cage... they tend to rebel and go all "it needs to stink like me again" kinda...

edit: just noticed this is a post from 2012 ? XD

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...r_bag2-min.jpg
Try activated charcoal or carbon. If not, try the product above. I saw that online. They said it is effective.

08-02-2012 to 05-21-2017 to 07-19-2017... the thread that won't die!

"Try activated charcoal or carbon. If not, try the product above. I saw that online. They said it is effective."

I too saw that online and they said it is effective. Also online I saw that there's a bridge for sale in Brooklyn as well as some swamp land for sale in south Florida and they said both are just brilliant real estate investments.

Wanna eliminate rat smell then change the species from Rattus norvegicus to Mastomys natalensis. Your BP's will love you for it too.