Trying something new...need input

[Nate]

Alright I'm having problems with 2 of my snakes. they're both trouble eaters, and i'm really getting sick of my "methods" with the rats. I'm trying to figure out a way to save myself some time, effort, and money.

Here's my weekly schedule:

Monday evenings, I hit up the local pet shop for 2 mice. I go home, and feed them off to my pair of 06's...those little boogers are beasts! no problems feeding..they always come out hungry and attack without hesitation

After that, I visit a guy that is local to me that breeds and sells rats. I usually pick up 3 small rats. I have 2 snakes that i am still having problems with, the male is about 800g, and the female is about 1250g. I've tried every method that has been suggested and i've just come to the conclusion that they'll eat when they are ready to eat. they show interest but sometimes it's just a no go, and it's beginning to be a waste of time and resources.

I've been thinking about it for a little while and I think i've come up with an alternative to killing and freezing the rats...I really hate doing f/t because half the time i forget to pull the rats out of the freezer on feeding day and it's 7pm before i get home, which means i have to wait hours on end before the thing is warm enough to feed...and when it bursts...bleh...won't go there!

My male has successfully fed when I've left a p/k rat in with him over night, but the next morning, if he hasn't eaten it, the smell is just unbelievably horrid.

So I think i'm going to make my first attempt at keeping a few rats alive instead of giving them the old pillow bag & home run treatment.

Just a few questions for now...

What is a good bedding for rats?

Are they allergic to Aspen bedding? it seems when I put them in the enclosure with the snake they start sneezing and push the aspen around.

How do you control the smell? I probably won't have more than 5 at a time (right now), and the g/f is completely against keeping rats because of the smell.

How often do you do maintainence on the rats enclosure? is it a daily job or once every few days?

Are small rats old enough to breed? I normally get a mix of males and females and I don't need to breed them yet. Would I be better off with 2 enclosures separating males and females?

I think I have a few more questions but I can't think of them all right now. Sorry for the lengthy post..i appreciate the help

[jglass38]

Wow. That was a heck of a post Natedog...In the end you want to know how to keep rats alive. It couldn't be any easier.

Glass tank or rubbermaid modified to have a screen top (do a search, I know someone did instructions on this or I could help you out)

Aspen bedding

Water bottle

Food dish with lab block supplemented with some fruits/vegs, grains and leftovers.

Rats are ready to breed at around 250-300 grams. I am not sure exactly how long it takes to get there. In the meantime, keep a couple females together and a couple males in a separate tank. Rats like company! I clean once per week. Throw out all bedding, clean off any hardened feces, spray down with Chlorhexidine, let sit for a couple minutes, wipe dry and put in new bedding. I have over 25 rats and there is very little smell.

Hope this helps!

J

[Nate]

It does indeed.

but i'm still curious about the rats reaction when i put them on Aspen...they seem to sneeze and act like they don't like aspen, they start pushing it around and act like they don't like it all. maybe i'm just over exaggerating..but still one of those things that isn't quite clear to me.

Thanks Jamie

[jglass38]

It does indeed.

but i'm still curious about the rats reaction when i put them on Aspen...they seem to sneeze and act like they don't like aspen, they start pushing it around and act like they don't like it all. maybe i'm just over exaggerating..but still one of those things that isn't quite clear to me.

Thanks Jamie

Aspen is the recommended bedding for rats. I haven't seen anything like that.

[xdeus]

I use pine shavings and have only had one rat that was allergic. I've found that the rats are more prone to problems with dusty bedding than the type of bedding. I also add shredded newspaper. It seems like they prefer it for bedding, and it gives them something to do.

As far as controlling the smell... well, the males smell worse than the females. The smell seems worse in warmer weather when they drink and urinate a lot more. There are a few things you can do like change or add bedding material more often or adding a little kitty litter to the bottom of the cage to absorb/neutralize the ammonia smell. Some people have had success adding a little vanilla extract to the drinking water.

I clean all of my rat cages once a week. However, I think it depends on the size of the enclosure and how many rats you keep in each enclosure.

Rats should be at least medium sized before breeding. You don't have to worry so much about the males. Either the females won't allow them to breed if they're too small, or they just won't be "ready". However, females need to be a certain size or else you will risk birthing problems and possibly death. You should only need one male as they can handle a number of females. I pair up my male with seven females rotated weekly. Also, you will need at least two enclosures as you will want to separate the females before they give birth. Rats are able to get pregnant shortly after giving birth which can be very hard on the females body.

Good luck!

Just a few questions for now...

What is a good bedding for rats?

Are they allergic to Aspen bedding? it seems when I put them in the enclosure with the snake they start sneezing and push the aspen around.

How do you control the smell? I probably won't have more than 5 at a time (right now), and the g/f is completely against keeping rats because of the smell.

How often do you do maintainence on the rats enclosure? is it a daily job or once every few days?

Are small rats old enough to breed? I normally get a mix of males and females and I don't need to breed them yet. Would I be better off with 2 enclosures separating males and females?

[JLC]

but i'm still curious about the rats reaction when i put them on Aspen...they seem to sneeze and act like they don't like aspen, they start pushing it around and act like they don't like it all. maybe i'm just over exaggerating..but still one of those things that isn't quite clear to me.

It could just be the stress of getting scooped up out of their comfy homes, trasported across town in some horribly noisy vibrating contraption, and then tossed into an entirely new environment (one with a predator in it, no less!).

[jglass38]

I use pine shavings and have only had one rat that was allergic. I've found that the rats are more prone to problems with dusty bedding than the type of bedding. I also add shredded newspaper. It seems like they prefer it for bedding, and it gives them something to do.

As far as controlling the smell... well, the males smell worse than the females. The smell seems worse in warmer weather when they drink and urinate a lot more. There are a few things you can do like change or add bedding material more often or adding a little kitty litter to the bottom of the cage to absorb/neutralize the ammonia smell. Some people have had success adding a little vanilla extract to the drinking water.

I clean all of my rat cages once a week. However, I think it depends on the size of the enclosure and how many rats you keep in each enclosure.

Rats should be at least medium sized before breeding. You don't have to worry so much about the males. Either the females won't allow them to breed if they're too small, or they just won't be "ready". However, females need to be a certain size or else you will risk birthing problems and possibly death. You should only need one male as they can handle a number of females. I pair up my male with seven females rotated weekly. Also, you will need at least two enclosures as you will want to separate the females before they give birth. Rats are able to get pregnant shortly after giving birth which can be very hard on the females body.

Good luck!

All good info! Although I would get a second male as company for the other guy. Just me though..

I am considering mixing in some Pine with the Aspen to see if it smells a little better. I do notice that mid week the Aspen gets a weird smell. Not exactly dirty but not that pleasant. I think it's the brand I have been buying. I am also going to try giving them some newspaper to make nests. Anything to keep them busy and stimulated.

[xdeus]

All good info! Although I would get a second male as company for the other guy. Just me though..

I am considering mixing in some Pine with the Aspen to see if it smells a little better. I do notice that mid week the Aspen gets a weird smell. Not exactly dirty but not that pleasant. I think it's the brand I have been buying. I am also going to try giving them some newspaper to make nests. Anything to keep them busy and stimulated.

They seem to love the newspaper, especially the pregnant mothers. I get those weekly half/size newspapers and tear a few strips for them. I also give them blocks of wood and cut up those rawhide chew strips for them to gnaw on.

I agree, keep them busy, stimulated, and happy... this way I can sleep a little better at night when I take their babies away.