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| Copyright (C) 2008 Reb Dora Rattery. Nothing (graphics, photographs, text, etc) may be used or reproduced without my permission. |
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| Rat Care I would like to point out that I am not a vet or by no means an expert on taking care of pet Rats. The information here is simply what I know from experience and what I have been taught by those who are more experienced in Rats than I am. One of the first and most important things to remember about Rats is that they are social animals. No matter how much time you spend with your Rat it cannot come anywhere close to having a same species companion to snuggle and groom when you are not around. * I believe the only time a Rat should be housed alone is in two or three cases. 1.) One or both Rats are aggressive and do not "appreciate" company. 2.) The animal is older and it's companion has passed away. 3.) It's a temporary seperation as one animal is sick, giving birth, or some other reason. Diet The diet of the Rat is very important. I use the Mazuri's Rat and Mouse Diet as it is the best that I can find locally. You can find it in most PetSmarts as well as you can order it online. While it may be a bit "pricey" I have never had any problems with it and my Rats keep a good weight and have stayed healthy on it this far and that is what is important to me. Food and water should be available to pet Rats at all times. Cages Aquariums are not recommended for Rats as the ammonia from their urine can build up faster and harm their sensitive respitory systems. Although I don't recommend it unless it's your only option, I have used aquariums with "Tank Toppers" on them which adds to the air flow. A good wire cage with bar spacing of no more than 1" is good. Be sure to do a search on the internet for a Rat Cage Calculator to help determine if your cage is big enough for the amount of Rats you want to keep!! |
| MORE TO BE ADDED SOON. |