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  1. #1
    BPnet Senior Member Nate's Avatar
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    Questions about keeping ratties

    alright so this evening after 2 of my snakes did not eat their meal, i decided it's time for me to put an end to killing rats, wasting money, and all that other bla bla bla bla

    I have 2 rats in a little rubbermaid with a screened top, aspen, a water supply, some dog food (not sure what kind...the guy i buy my rats from gave it to me) annnnnd that's pretty much it

    I'll probably be writing down Becky's list of rat foods and heading to the grocery store to buy some goodies for them.

    so..to the questions:
    I think i asked this before, but i can't remember if i got an answer. My roommates are worried about the smell. I recall reading rats don't stink near as bad as mice...i hope that's the case. In the event that they do smell too bad to even walk into my room, what's a good way to keep the odor down? I don't want my room to be the pets room. i want it to be my room without the smell.

    Next, I bought some dried fruit i thought i might enjoy. I meant to grab the dried bananas...but the label was the same color for dried Pineapples..not a fan. Can the rats eat the dried pinapples? what about dried apples?

    also, i hope it's a common occurrence for rats to play fight. they've been wrestling around for a little bit, apparently trying to stay entertained.

    edit: oh yeah...i did a quick search but i didn't find a caresheet for the basic care of rats.... i thought there was one here? or is it just so simple that it's really not necessary?

  2. #2
    BPnet Veteran SnakeySnakeSnake's Avatar
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    Re: Questions about keeping ratties

    Rats wrastle like crazy, as long as they dont cut each other up I wouldnt worry. How old are these rats, is one male and female? If so the male is probably trying to get lucky, but if the female is determined enough she can refuse his advances for weeks until they get to be friends

    Get some lab blocks, +becky's mix is a good idea. Im sure they can eat apples, and I don't see why they couldnt eat pineapples but Im not sure

    I would say use low-dust pine. It helps mask the odor better IMO. Someone made a post about using stall dry, but barring that I would say use a small layer of baking soda. After much trial and error I've not been able to link the baking soda as a health hazard, and it helps a TON in absorbing and neutralizing urine.

    Also, if you have to, just change everything twice a week. If you use pine/baking soda and change twice a week, I don't see how 2 rats would even come close to smelling.

    Check out stickies in this section for Q and A, not sure about a caresheet.
    bryan

  3. #3
    BPnet Senior Member Nate's Avatar
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    Re: Questions about keeping ratties

    well i've got no intentions on breeding them. they're very young, smaller than i normally get. size wise, i would say between weaned and small (according to RodentPro). Next monday evening, they will more than likely be fed. do i still need to worry about them doing the dirty?

  4. #4
    West Coast Jungle's Avatar
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    Re: Questions about keeping ratties

    Rats are easy to take care of but they do stink. I keep my colonies outside in a greenhouse but when I brimg some inside I found that there is a non toxic kitty litter called Good News which is recycled newspaper with carbon or something but it helps ALOT with the smell as opposed to aspen. I feed mine rodent chow and they are always getting veggies, pasta, fruit and other treats (my wife spoils them). Some shreded newspaper for nesting, hide box and always plenty of water (I read they can become canabalistic if they are extremely thirsty). The more full you keep your water bottle the less it will drip. Rats will breed easier than mice and can take more extreme temps and still breed, as low as 50 degress and no higher than 90. They do play alot when their youger and you can have as many as 3 females to 1 male if you have a big enough tub. Big Apple herp has the best price on lab rat tub set ups that I have found. Hope that helps you get started.

  5. #5
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    Re: Questions about keeping ratties

    I heard care fresh bedding works good for smell. I am about to steal some of my brother's to use in my rat cage whenever i get another.
    lots of snakes

  6. #6
    BPnet Senior Member Nate's Avatar
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    Re: Questions about keeping ratties

    It certainly does. Thank you Raul

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    Registered User markface's Avatar
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    Re: Questions about keeping ratties

    something else you can do to reduce the urine smell is add a couple drops of vanilla to the water bottle . the rats seem to like it and it does seem to work to some extent .
    Mark

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  8. #8
    Apprentice SPAM Janitor MarkS's Avatar
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    Re: Questions about keeping ratties

    A few rats aren't too bad for smell, my son kept a pair in his room for years and as long as you keep them clean they aren't too bad. I have my rat colony set up in a room in my basement that has a heavy duty exhaust fan in the ceiling that is vented to the outside. I have air intake from the outside for that room as well. The door to the room is magnetically sealed and very tight. I've got over a hundred adult rats in a 6' X 5' room and you can't smell a thing in the rest of the house.

  9. #9
    BPnet Senior Member Nate's Avatar
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    Re: Questions about keeping ratties

    Quote Originally Posted by MarkS
    A few rats aren't too bad for smell, my son kept a pair in his room for years and as long as you keep them clean they aren't too bad. I have my rat colony set up in a room in my basement that has a heavy duty exhaust fan in the ceiling that is vented to the outside. I have air intake from the outside for that room as well. The door to the room is magnetically sealed and very tight. I've got over a hundred adult rats in a 6' X 5' room and you can't smell a thing in the rest of the house.
    that's pretty awesome! that's an idea for my future plans

  10. #10
    BPnet Lifer wolfy-hound's Avatar
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    Re: Questions about keeping ratties

    As long as you clean the cage regularly they won't smell bad. I always know when I've been slacking on my rat bin cleaning.
    Give them whatever leftovers you want. There are a couple things you aren't supposed to feed them, like avacodo I believe. Otherwise, my guys eat nearly anything. Stale cookies, the last bit of meatloaf, spam that I won't eat bc I can't rem when I opened it.. lol. They are not picky. Dried fruit is a real goodie. Mine have loved everything I offered, but live crickets drive them WILD. Try that and watch the fun.
    Wolfy

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