Rat help

[Riven]

We are planning on getting a pet rat, but we need more information on care and such. Does anyone have suggestions on good sites, etc. ? We've went through the basics and looked at sites, but you just never feel like you've read enough and worry that the sites weren't good information...

I was planning on feeding the Oxbow rat blocks. We weren't totally planning on getting one until August when Hailey got back from California, but it looks like we have found one that will be traveling back with Hailey from California. I did some asking around and we found a girl who works at a pet store and took the rat because she was pregnant, and has some babies to rehome and they can pick her up on their way back home. One is a black and white hooded, which is what Hailey was wanting, she already picked out the name Sugar for her new pet, but hasn't really been told she might be getting one before she gets home.

Thanks for suggestions!

 

[minrex]

I haven't known many (well, okay, ANY) rats that liked the Oxbow Regal Rat food. For some reason it doesn't seem to be very palatable to many rats. (I've known about a dozen rats who were on that feed and not one of them liked it.) Maybe the rats in my experience were all just weird statistical outliers. *shrug* When you get your rat, I'd be interested in hearing whether it likes the Oxbow feed.

 

[tunes]

Goosemoose.com Nicole. It's the best rat forum.

Also, get 2 rats, not one. Rats should be kept in pairs or more. They are friendlier, healthier, and live longer lives. It also gives them someone to cuddle with at night.

 

[RDZCRanch]

I'm about to get some rats for the first time in quite a few years. Meanie sent me a couple documents to read through for education, if you want I can forward them to you via email? You can PM me your email address.

I'm going to feed my guys a block diet that Meanie has and will ship and they're going to be on a paper type bedding like yesterday's news.

Past that...I'm not commenting because I don't know jack, LOL! Good luck! I love ratties and had them when I was growing up...they are awesome pets!

 

[Riven]

Pair huh? Looks like the one we found in Cali might not work out, which might be okay then because that one was the only female. I know there is a big rat rescue in SD... you know anything about that Peggers?

I've emailed Meanie for information and suggestions. I was actually hoping that they were closer to San Diego and could go through Wee Companions, but no luck.

Hmmm two huh?

I was planning on using a 5' tall QC cage, that should be suitable right?

Is there a better rat block? Is Oxbow not a good one or maybe they just didn't like it?

 

[Riven]

I was looking and found that Capital City rat rescue just had more rats come in. They do have a black and white female. Andi was a little jealous about Hailey getting a rat... I guess she may be getting one as well now!

I am worried that if we get the rats before Hailey gets home the rat will not bond with her... am I wrong on this?

 

[tunes]

Don't worry about bonding. Rats love lots of people, especially those who play with them and provide foodage.

Cage is plenty big. Definitely get 2 rats. The rescue I know of in SD is out by Rapid. Don't think there are any nearby me. I know Omaha Humane Society usually has bunches of rats though.

My rats won't eat ANY lab blocks. They all hate them with a passion. I've tried Oxbow, I've tried the one's Meanie has, I've used Harlan Teklad. They will not eat them and it's a complete waste of money for me. I keep trying though, hoping that at some point they will cave. I use SueBee's mix instead. I wish I didn't. It's a lot more expensive to use the mix.

 

[Riven]

Is the 1 x 1 wire spacing going to be okay? I wasn't sure what sizes of wire they can fit through. I really don't want to cut a rat out of a cage finding out!


Is this the SueBee's diet? It has a recipe, not a thing to buy that why I wanted to be sure. Thanks for all your help. I'm just trying to be totally retarded and all the site have different stuff on them...
http://www.ratsrule.com/diet.html

 

[Dragonflye]

Is the 1 x 1 wire spacing going to be okay? I wasn't sure what sizes of wire they can fit through. I really don't want to cut a rat out of a cage finding out!


Is this the SueBee's diet? It has a recipe, not a thing to buy that why I wanted to be sure. Thanks for all your help. I'm just trying to be totally retarded and all the site have different stuff on them...
http://www.ratsrule.com/diet.html

I used a Martin's Cage for my rats- the spacing was 1/2' X 1".

Yep, SueBee's diet is a recipe. It's pretty high in carbs, but overall not a bad diet. My rats never liked any of the blocks Peg mentioned above. They did like Nutro Lite dog food however, so I made a SueBee/Nutro Lite hybrid type diet.

It's great that you are doing your research! Rats make awesome pets!

 

[tunes]

Are they babies? If they aren't babies, then 1 x 1 is fine. If they are littles, they will try and squeeze through it. If all else fails, you can wrap it in hardware cloth until they are big enough to not fit through.

I also do like Nikki and use the Nutro-Lite. That's about the only thing they seem to not turn their nose up.

 

[3CsMommy]

Suebee's is a way better alternative to Regal Rat. For the dog food, Solid Gold has a weight loss one that I used for my mice. Other than that, the recipe as quoted made me enough food to feed 2 mice and a hamster for about 6 mo and would probably be comparable in feeding a pair of rats. I made sure to be very sparing with cooked pasta and potatoes as treats while feeding it, just to offset the amount of carbs in it. Treats tended to be broiled/boiled lean meats, steamed and fresh veggies, and the occasional piece of fresh fruit (apple, banana).

Definitely get a pair, esp. if you can get littermates. The big QC cage sounds fine for space, and they might benefit from a chin sized wheel if you have any at home.

 

[Hillybean]

When I have people adopt rats, I recommend three. That way if something DOES happen to one, the other isn't alone.

Be careful with soft mushy foods because they can in stuck easier than solids.

www.camarattery.com

They are a rattery based in CO, but they have several helpful articles. Do's and don't, goods and bads, etc.

-Hilly

 

[Riven]

The rescue gal answered quite a few of my questions. She said that they will have plenty to pick from early August because a lot of this last bunch that came in were pregnant. So we will maybe get young ones. I have a cage that is about 30" tall by 20" wide that is 1" x 1/2" if that's big enough until they get older we can do that, or I'll just order them one.

Looked like she had some in a FN, which sucks because I had a FN I sold not to long ago, lol.

That mix sounds easy enough, I've only seen the nutro in 50# bags around here... would Chicken Soup Light be good for them? My mom is a dealer for that, lol.

We have a large wheel here they can have, it's a smooth one, that should be okay right? I didn't know if they had good grip or not on them.

I'm sure we'll find the "right" Sugar in no time, this gal said she also had some rats being fostered in North Platte, that's an hour from us, instead of two and a half-ish as well. So I'm going to get the app done tomorrow, but for now... I'm taking the night off and going to watch a movie!

 

[menagerie]

I agree, you need at least a pair of rats. Dont' worry that if you get them before Hailey comes home that she won't be able to bond with them.

Suebee's mix is crap, IMHO. It's too high in carbs and most of Suebee's rats have a history of being OBESE.

As for cages, 1" x 1" works for adults, but not for smaller rats. Also, if you're getting females, some never get big enough for the FN not to be a problem with the spacing. Make sure any wire shelves are 1/2" x 1/2" spacing. The 1" x 1/2" floor spacing is asking for a foot to go through and a broken leg. I will email you the rat care pamphlets that Tab is talking about. Stacy at CCR is good people and will get you set up with good rats.

Peg, the lab blocks I sent you weren't Harlan. I've never had a rat that didn't eat Harlan. I'm pretty sure you will be able to buy Harlan from Stacy. If not, Wee Companions does sell Harlan and will ship.

 

[Riven]

Their site says they are no longer selling HT, so I may get some ordered from WC in a couple weeks so I have them.

 

[tunes]

I know the ones I got from you weren't Harlan, but I've used Harlan before, in addition to the ones from you and from Oxbow. They won't eat any of them. They buried the HT under their bedding. I thought they were eating it!

I fall on the other side of the SueBee mix. I don't have any obese rats. The boys are bigger for sure, but not hanging fat rolls. The girls are just girls, no bigguns here. They will actually eat the Nutro lite too, where they won't touch the lab blocks.

Maybe if you start them out on the lab blocks and give them no choice in their diet they will eat the blocks, but after being on SueBee's diet for years, there is no way they are going to eat those nasty lab blocks. They just won't make the switch. I wish they would. The blocks are a heck of a lot cheaper. It's fun though to watch Saturn chow down on a cheerio. She turns it and turns it and turns it until it's gone!

 

[3CsMommy]

Had I been able to get HT I'd have tried it. Since I couldn't, I went with the mix. I didn't avioded obesity issues by using considerably more of the low cal dog food than suggested, and the lowest amount possible of the sunflower seeds (1/4 cp, if that) and uncooked pasta (1/3 cp). I still didn't feed carbs as treats and made sure my guys had plenty of time to climb around and play on things to work off their energy.

 

[Riven]

Well we got the okay for adoption from Staci at the rat rescue! We are going to be doing some painting and remodeling in Hailey's room ( their HQ ) so we will wait a bit to get them due to fumes, etc. Now we just need to get things ready for them! I'm still not sure what to think about food, I will find out what they are on, and move them them on that and go from there!

 

[menagerie]

Congrats, I guess she's letting you adopt even after asking for my referral. :neener: