Rats!!

[Picklepaige]

I've been looking to adopt two male rats for a while now, but I haven't had any luck finding any. Well, lo and behold, when I went to the shelter to volunteer, there were two male rats up for adoption. I, of course, adopted them, but because I really don't know what they need, I won't be bringing them home until next week.

So, for you rat lovers, what exactly do they need. I already have a large, 3 story ferret-style cage and some toys, but I really don't know what to do in terms of food. I know they love free-range time, and I don't mind them roaming around my room with the cats and dogs not in there.

Would it be ok to buy harnesses for them and walk them around in the front yard for exercise and exploration? I would also love name sugggestions. One is brown, the other is grey and white.

I'm so excited, these will be my first rats!!

 

[Brattina88]

I'm so jealous! I've been trying to find a couple males, but there only seem to be females avaliable in the area. I contacted a breeder a couple weeks ago, filled out an adoption application, and she's put me on her list & said she'll e-mail me when the next litter is born... It's taking too long!
So -- while I don't currently own a rat, when I do I plan on feeding a homemade mix here's a good recipie to follow.
I fed rat lab blocks to my Korben (rip). You have to read the ingredients and pick what you think is the best for them you can provide. A popular brand is Harlan Teklad... I haven't found *any* good food at any chain pet stores, though

 

[Picklepaige]

So, they can eat a high-quality dog food with a few grains and veggies added in?

 

[SmexyPibble]

Hello, I have two females at the moment and on the 3rd we'll be rescuing nine! Rats are the best pets! Congrats on your new additions, first of all. If you can get your rats INTO a harness, then taking them outside with a harness sounds like a splendid idea. The problem is getting the harness on. I don't know one rat who likes having a harness on, none-the-less lets you put a harness on them! They love going outside in the fresh air. You can take them out in a ten gallon tank and let them into the grass one by one. Or let them sit on your shoulder while you do gardening or yard work. I've found that females are more likely to hop off your shoulder while you're outside gardening with them, but males would rather sit on your shoulder and watch your work.

Males are much calmer and "squishier" than females. They'll sleep and nap with you or lie in your lap while you're on the computer or watching TV. Females, on the other hand cannot STAND sitting still! They're all over the place; investigating that, exploring this.

Your cage sounds good. Too many people get tanks and do not realize that tanks are NOT okay for ratties. Also a high five to you for getting a pair, as too many people keep single rats, while rats live MUCH better and grow up MUCH more social when they are kept together rather than alone.

One thing is that they especially hate hamster balls. Those clear balls you put your rodent in for them to roll around the house in? Rats HATE 'em. And I wouldn't even try it with males. They won't even roll; they'll just lie down and fall asleep right then and there

I'd check out the Feeding section at www.fancy-rats.co.uk, there are a ton of helpful articles and threads and such.

Good luck!

 

[Punkygirl0101]

CongRATS! I love rats! Used to do rat rescue..stopped currently, but will get back into it in several months to a couple years (Depends).

As for the cage, if you were getting females I would worry about bar spacing..but since its males and they are not babies I wouldn't worry!

I feed Suebees mix (Brattina posted a link) BUT you also have to feed a high quality lab block (Like harland teklad lab block. Go to kimsark.com, or a low protein high quality dog food, as the suebees alone is not adequate). And I can't help but give mine whatever dinner I am eating if its healthy for them! Last night they had penne pasta with veggies and chicken!

Please join Goosemoose.org. Its a great rat forum (The most well known rat forum, lots of members who can help with any questions, and of course there are a ton of rat lovers!)

As for going outside. I find its better to make an outdoor pen, or buy a rabbit outdoor pen. A lot of people have made their own outdoor play pens which work great! You still have to fully supervise though!

 

[Picklepaige]

Thanks so much for the info, guys!! My mom isn't wanting to order any food, so I'm going to have to stick with dog food I can get at Petsmart. Would it be best to get a lite formula dog food, since it would probably have more grains and lower protein/fat? Someone told me Nutro lite would be good for a rat. And just add fruits and veggies to that? Rat feeding sounds way more complicated than dog/cat/horse feeding!

 

[lizzybeth727]

I've had several rats, and have always fed the food at petsmart. I know there's better stuff out there, but, this is what I feed. I buy the mix rat food (it looks like birdseed, or hamster food, has lots of different seeds and other dried things), and also the pellet food. The mix is good for mental stimulation - gives them a variety - but they often pick out the best pieces and don't eat the other, possibly healthier, stuff. So the pellet food is a good "balanced diet" type of food.

If I run out of one of the foods or just want to give her something special, I'll give her my dog or cat's food. I also give dog treats and biscuits, and pretty much any fruits and vegetables that I eat (although it's more for mental stimulation than diet). One of her favorite treats is a piece of uncooked penne pasta, stuffed with peanut butter, and frozen. Yum!

Oh, and the bird section is a great place to find rat toys and treats!

 

[Punkygirl0101]

Seed mixes are NOT good for rats. There is nothing nutritional. Rats are omnivores (Are very much human like in what they can eat). And eating seeds is actually extremely unhealthy. And pellets are made of alfalfa, and rats can NOT digest alfalfa.

 

[FoxyWench]

nutro SENIOR would be a perfect low protine dog food to compliment the subees mix!

when i had my rats i fed subbes and merrick senior, then every day theyd get some fresh veggies/cooked pasta/a little of what i was getting for dinner.

the subees, SOUNDS complicated, but once youve got it all mixed and bagged for storage its realy simple, the ratties love it and as long as its low protein dog food there should be no isses. again lots of fresh veggies should be given daily.

in terms of the cage, because there not babys and male you shoudlnt have an issue with bar spacing, babies however can easily squeeze through anything over 1/2 " spacing in case you ever want to add in the future...

lots of TOYS! hammocks are a favorite, mine LOVED parrot toys and ropes too...males tend to be kinda lazy when in cage so give lots of comfy sleeping spots lol.

use a PAPER based bedding.

pine and cedar both contain natural oils that can cause deadly respitory infections, and i generally dont like aspen because of the dust.
Carefresh (and walmarts generic version) is great for ratties and if you have a compost pile its biodegradable.

i wouldnt take them out on the leashes as most ratties simply manouver out! lol. however the ferret playpens work well for Supervised time outside...though most males will simply want to climb in your hood or pocket and just hang out! lol.
youll have so much fun with them!

 

[xpaeanx]

I'm a first time rat owner myself! I've been feeding Suebee's mix to mine. The mix was REALLY easy to make, and actually very cheap! (I didn't put in dried fruits because I've been giving them fresh fruits and veggies every night). The most expensive thing was the container, but the amount that I made looks like it will last me a LONG time! I looked for the lab blocks that punky said, and there's another food called regal rat or something... but I couldn't find them... and I don't like the idea of ordering food... so I went with Suebee's.

I found this site really helpful...
http://www.ratsrule.com/

there was one more too... let me see if I can find it!

ETA: Here it is!
http://www.ratclub.org/rat_care.htm

 

[Punkygirl0101]

xpaean-You should also supplement with a high quality dog food (Low protein, like a lite or senior dog food) or lab blocks. You can use Mazuri which can be found at PetSmart. Suebees alone isn't adequate!!

 

[xpaeanx]

punky... that's part of Suebee's diet... it says it right on her page... I use the same dog food she mentions... I figure she's already done all the work... LOL... so I'll just copy it!

STAPLE DIET
I have had a hard time in the past getting my rats to consistently eat lab blocks, so after reading a lot of dry dog food labels, I have decided to feed my rats a staple diet of Solid Gold Holistique Blendz dog food. The protein is listed as 18%, and it is all high quality protein. Compare the ingredients list to other dog foods, and you will clearly see the difference.

I supplement the Solid Gold with a homemade grain mix, detailed below. I fill the bowl each evening, at "feeding time," giving them about half Innova and half grain mix. The grain mix is not complete by itself. It needs to be supplemented with a high quality lab block or dog food as the staple.

 

[Punkygirl0101]

Its recommended to NOT mix the dog food in the diet though! A lot of people put the dog food on the bottom of the dish and top with the grain mix. (Mainly cause the dog food is the important part of the diet, so you have to be able to measure it appropriately. If its mixed in with the rest of the suebees then they won't get enough of it usually. The same thing has to be done with lab blocks. (I keep them in a separate dish, and I do use dog food when I run out of the lab blocks since they are ordered online and sometimes don't come in time). And then the suebees bowl is only filled up once a day, but I keep the dog food/lab block bowl filled up all day.

 

[709Juggalette]

CongRATS! You will probably become addicted.Rats are quite addicting.Unfortunatly I am down to two now - sadly had one pass last night...I used to do rescue too.And the occassional breeding of fancy rats.But now I just keep pets.

I prefer males to the females too,because they will sit and cuddle with you while you watch TV or go online or read...whatever.The females are rather adventerous and rather run around and play.

Seed mixes are NOT good for rats. There is nothing nutritional. Rats are omnivores (Are very much human like in what they can eat). And eating seeds is actually extremely unhealthy. And pellets are made of alfalfa, and rats can NOT digest alfalfa.

Yes,seed mixes are BAD for rats.
They don't contain the proper nutrients in them.
Pet stores rarely carry any GOOD foods.

I also wouldn't feed JUST dog food to rats,cause that is too much protien and it will give them skin issues.

I make a homemade diet for my rats similar to Suebees.They also get Nutriblock and alot of the same stuff I am eating...rice,cooked corn,peas,bread...etc.I will also sometimes give them a treat of fish or chicken (I am vegetarian,so this only happens when I have some...my daughter is semi-veggie).

Pine/cedar are big no-no's! I use aspen and Yesterdays News and have been for yrs with no problems.Carefresh is good too,but I personally dislike it.

Good luck!

 

[FoxyWench]

my biggest side note to add to this...

BE CAREFULL

Ratties tend to become like pringles...once you pop you cant stop,
when i had mine they would magically multiply overnight as my dad put it, one day i had 2 the next time he came into my room i was up to 3, and the next time up to 5 lol.
there rather addictive! especially the males who tend to be smushy lover boys!

 

[709Juggalette]

I highly agree with the above poster!!

 

[arklady]

Try rat chow with some monkey chow and fruits and veggies. I had separate cages for my two males and they were a riot. You can train them and it is a lot of fun!