Caring for Our Rats
There
are many options for providing your rats with the
best care. It is up to the
owner to weigh the pros and cons of each and make the best educated decision
for their rats. We will share here what works best for us at this time. Diet
Our
rats enjoy a staple diet of Harlan Lab Blocks -- known as Harlan Teklad
#2018 or Native Earth 4018 blocks. These blocks can be
ordered from the National Pet Pharmacy with low shipping prices. Bedding / Litter
We
primarily use Harlan Teklad's SaniChips for the litter in all of our
cages. We love how the Sanichips look in the cages and are impressed
with the absorbency and lightness of the product. You can order
SaniChips from the National Pet Pharmacy along with your lab blocks!If we run out of Sanichips we will use Premier Pet Aspen shavings from Tractor Supply Co.
If you obtain your bedding through a pet store, we highly recommend freezing your bedding for 48 hours before you bring it anywhere near your rats. This will get rid of any ectoparasites that may be lurking on the bedding from the pet store.
Since discovering the No Sew Accessories website, our rats also enjoy a variety of things we can make without a sewing machine!e!
Cages
We use and highly recommend the Martin's Cages versions R-680 and R-695 for housing rats. On occasion we will use select models of Super Pet and double-unit Critter Nation cages. Our "maternity wards" are modified Sterilite bins to provide safety, security and a draft-free environment for the new mother and her pups. We use single level Super Pet cages or sterilite bins for our elderly rats who cannot maneuver ladders and ramps in their old age.Enrichment
The
rats receive different play items each week to keep them mentally
stimulated. Some of the cages indulge in a moderate exercise regimen by using the 11" Superpet Run-Around
mesh running wheels. They also enjoy SuperPet or Rody Igloos, various
home-made hammocks, cardboard boxes, cat ball toys, treat-hiding
contraptions, bird ropes, etc. We do not
use nor advocate the use of wood products in the cages. Wood products will be
chewed and soiled. It is very difficult to keep
bacteria at bay when using wood products. We also have two large modified Martin's Cages playpens to use with the rats and their 'out time'.