As promised, pictures of the actual q-tank for the ratties.


And here they are IN the q-tank. Normally there wouldn't be this many in one tank, but since they will live together in the breeding colony, and were purchased all together, here they be. They seem terribly happy, with the male(who was raised by a VERY nice lady who loves her ratties) being rather nonchalant, while the females(obvious colony rats, who were overcrowded and unstimulated) are bewildered and checking out the entire pen, dragging torn phone book pages around, carrieing food bits around, and poking at the toliet paper tube full of goodies that they can smell, but not yet open. They'll figure it out.


As you can see the females are beginning to groom, and after about half an hour in the cage are now calming down and exploreing, picking out the best spots. One decided the oatmeal can is the bee's knees, and keeps going into it. The largest female likes the box more, but is dissatified with the interior decorating job I did with bedding and paper! She is rearranging everything. No squabbles, and hopefully soon they will start fattening up and becoming happy rats for breeding.
Since I just realized it sounded wierd to say my breeding rats are a "colony" but then referred to the new females as "colony rats" in a disparageing way, I thought I'd clarify.
MY Colony of breeding rats are in rat racks, but they are not crowded, and are supplied both with objects to chew and play with, but also get their treats stuffed into toliet paper rolls, with the ends tucked in to make them have to work at getting them out. They also are offered mealworms or crickets(depending on individual tastes) and other treats to keep them fat and happy. I want my feeders and breeders to be as happy and content as possible in their lives. Even the big bin of weaned feeders gets toys, treats, enrichment, boxes to hide in and etc. Happy rats are healthy fat clean rats. IMO of course.
Plus having the Q-tank on my table means I get the entertainment value too.
Wolfy