Just a couple questions

[kriwu]

I've done a lot of reading about raising rats as prey, but can't find answers to a couple questions:



1. Where do you buy the original breeding rats? Petco, find a local breeder, talk to a reptile shop that breeds them? Order online even? I'm not looking for show rats, just healthy ones to start the colony.

2. What size enclosure/tub do they need? What size enclosure should the litters have until I am ready to cull/freeze them? I am going to be raising them to just the adult age.

3. How do you keep them entertained? I know they are curious animals, what are the basics that should be included in their enclosures for stimulation?


I know the other essential information, but the above questions are ones I can't find plain answers for. I'm only able to find what people do for pet rats. I want them to be happy and healthy, but just need the basics.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

1/ Ideally try finding rats from someone that breeds feeders and buy small rats 4 to 6 weeks in age that you will raise to optimum weight 200/250 grams, do not buy adults and do not buy breeders.

2/ I keep 1.3 breeding groups in 9 gallons concrete mixing tubs in rack, you will also need to figure out how many rats you need, if you rotate your male or your females and if you also want to use individual birthing tubs. Raising to adult age can vary greatly in size from medium to xl so the size of your tubs will depend on that.

3/ I breed feeders and the only thing they are provided with are 2x4 pieces as chewing blocks, for the rest they adult breeds and the other play with one another, those are not pet, caging is kept as simple as possible.

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[kriwu]

1/ Ideally try finding rats from someone that breeds feeders and buy small rats 4 to 6 weeks in age that you will raise to optimum weight 200/250 grams, do not buy adults and do not buy breeders.

2/ I keep 1.3 breeding groups in 9 gallons concrete mixing tubs in rack, you will also need to figure out how many rats you need, if you rotate your male or your females and if you also want to use individual birthing tubs. Raising to adult age can vary greatly in size from medium to xl so the size of your tubs will depend on that.

3/ I breed feeders and the only thing they are provided with are 2x4 pieces as chewing blocks, for the rest they adult breeds and the other play with one another, those are not pet, caging is kept as simple as possible.

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Thank you for the info. What is the lowest temperature feeder rats can live/breed in?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Temps can very from 48 to 88 however the lower or higher and the production will drop.

Optimum temps for breeding low to mid 70's

[Jay_Bunny]

I agree with Deborah! I house mine in the cement mixing tubs and I keep a 1.2 or 1.3 in each tub. I do not rotate males but instead keep them with the females at all times. The only problem I've seen with this is that the females do have litters fairly regularly and they can get worn out or lose weight fairly easily. I supplement their diet with low protein dog food (but from good brands) and fresh foods. I'm getting good litter size and healthy pups. I'll need to look into the wood as chew blocks though as a few breeding groups have started chewing the tubs.

[wolfy-hound]

I culled the chewers and haven't had an issue for a long time.

I do provide stuff for them on a regular basis. I save toilet paper tubes and paper towel tubes and put treats and food inside and pinch the ends shut. I also use paper and put treats in the middle, then wad it into a ball. Giving them treats on a regular basis, or chew things like the hard doggy bones or sometimes even real bones. They entertain themselves just fine, but I like giving them things anyway. It's not like I'm spending much money on it and it surely can't hurt to give them extras.

I've watched the pups roll around with a wad of paper for an hour playing. They're very entertaining.

The best breeders will almost always come from a feeder/breeder. They are breeding for healthy, fast growing, high producing animals. Pet breeders do not concentrate on fast growing or high producing. Pet stores often have rats from the same suppliers that produce feeders, so if they are healthy looking rats, you can buy from pet stores, but they usually don't have young ones.

If you have rats in a rack system, and the temps drop super low, you can cover the top of the wire for 2/3 of the tub size and the rats will still stay quite warm. A little extra bedding and they'll be fine without extra heat. Heat on the other hand is a killer. A fan in the room and keeping things clean helps.

[Jay_Bunny]

My boyfriend doesn't want to cull them as some of them are "pets" or the "chewing isn't that bad of a problem yet, just wait". So for now I have to figure out something else for them to chew on. I also give them paper towel and toilet paper rolls on occasion. I heard something about soaking wood blocks in no-sugar-added fruit juice as a chew treat.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

My boyfriend doesn't want to cull them as some of them are "pets" or the "chewing isn't that bad of a problem yet, just wait". So for now I have to figure out something else for them to chew on.

Sadly once they know how to chew they never stop and the worse is that they will teach other (tub mate or offspring to do the same)....the is not solution aside from culling when it comes to chewer, same for biters.

[Jay_Bunny]

I know this and I've tried talking to him about it but he's very stubborn and becomes attached to some of them really easily. We've had one tub just about completely chewed out. The hole was large enough for the rats to easily escape but for some unknown reason they didn't. Another tub had a hole the size of a quarter. We replaced both but I'm already seeing some chewing again.

[wolfy-hound]

Put the chewers into a large tank with a secure lid and make him clean that. Then he can have his chewer pets and your bins won't be destroyed and you won't end up with loose rats.

I have a huge tank with lid for chewers. I usually hold them to feed off, since I don't have many critters to eat larger rats. But I also put extras in there to grow up a little, or as a big holding bin. It's roomy and well ventilated because of the size and the chewing ones can just stew about not having anything to chew through.