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I'm so excited! Is there anything else I should do to prepare for my new babies?
I'm getting 3 female rats today. They're 5 weeks old. I have their cage all prepared.
Here is the cage that I have- http://pet.imageg.net/graphics/product_images/pPETS-5485928dt.jpg
It's the Critter Nation Single unit. It holds up to 8 female rats and has 1/2" bar spacing.
I covered the bottom tray and the shelf with fleece. I hung two hammocks up and a wooden ledge. I also have a litter tray in the corner and a Wodent Wheel (http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2755132), a few bird toys hanging, Lixit water bottle, and this food bowl- http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2754306 (it's actually meant for birds).
I'm going to feed them the Mazuri lab blocks and Dasani water with these vitamins- http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753474
I'm getting an igloo today when I get the babies.
Is there anything else I should do? Anything to make them more comfortable?
CongRATS!!! your organisation is exemplary. Lucky little ratties!!!
It is fantastic to see your wonderful preparations:
Great cage, but no way would I house more than 3 rats in it. I have 3 girls and my cage is a similar size and they definitely need every inch even though I let them out for free play for more than an hour per day.
I've found three rats to be a good minimum ideal number. There will be a dominant one and the 'underlings' get to share in Miss No1's bossiness so it is not as stressful as one alone having to deal with that.
rats might not use a wheel other than to explore it and lounge in it so dont worry if they dont. As yours are babies they might though so it will be interesting to see if they do.
Additional Needs: here are other things that I can think of.
'treat' and supplement their diet with fresh fruits and vegies and give them nuts in the shell as an activity (they love to get almonds/ pecans/etc out of the shell, but not peanuts as they usually have unhealthy fungus spores on them).
Worm your rats regularly...put drops in their water or directly into their mouth with a tiny syringe (no needle on end!!!). Worming mixture can be bought at vet or pet shop. I get one over the counter from my vet that I dose via syringe and it also treats mites.
VIP: locate a vet in your area that knows rats. Not all vets have much to do with them. A good vet is a blessing. Mine is great. I can ring if I have a problem and often all that is needed is some advice over the phone via the assistant for which my vet does not charge me. I buy a lot of my supplies from my vet for the same or cheaper than the pet store and I get qualified advice on products that my vet approves of.
collect small cardboard boxes and tubes for them to play with. Mine go through a cardboard box once or twice a week...it is shredded by the end, but they love that. It is a tiny bit of extra 'housework' to clean out shredded box bits each day, but worth it for the fun they have.
rats are so intelligent and I always think that if I am going to lock them up in a cage then I have to make it as fun as possible for them.
RE vitamins...Mazuri has added vitamins so be careful you dont overdose them on vitamin needs as it could be dangerous to their health...this is something you could ask your vet about
Oh another thing, rats like to wash their face and hands in water after eating fruit like watermelon...it's so so so so cute. so as well as a fresh water dispenser provide a BOWL of fresh water - not on a shelf as it might fall off and hurt a rat. I have very solid stoneware bowls from the petshop - my 3 girls can stand on the edge but not tip over. I also use this bowl for training to 'dive for frozen peas'/corn kernels/blueberries, on hot days I give them some ice cubes in a bowl ...they love that!!!
I have the bowls in a few different sizes -see link. smallest one for feeding natural unflavoured yoghurt - my rats love it and it's healthy for them and for serving other treats like watermelon and I use the larger one for 'pea diving', ice cubes etc. the important thing is that the bowl is heavy so it cant tip when rats stand on sides: see link
http://www.pet-dog-cat-supply-store.com/shop/index.php?page=shop-flypage-9734
You are so well prepared that I am sure you have read lots about caring for a rat. Daily play is important. Your girls will bond to you and become very trusting and affectionate over time, but give them time - especially in the first weeks as they need to settle in and learn that you can be trusted. Never force them and NEVER EVER grab them by the tail...it can cause 'degloving' - an injury that might never heal. The main thing at first is to win their trust - from there it's all FUN FUN FUN
to litter train pick up every little accidental 'raisin' (rat poop) and place in the litter tray...do not clean it out for the first week and do not wash at all until they are trained...a bit smelly I know but worth the effort, next two weeks clean out only half twice a week, by then they should have the idea and you can clean out more regularly and wash the litter box and they will still use it...pee is harder to train for. I use a tiny syringe to suck up some pee from the floor of the cage, where it invarialbe is!!! and squirt it into the litter box...it takes quite a bit of repeating this to give them the idea to pee in the litter tray
the second thing to teach them is to come to their name...this is actually an important thing to do and can mean their health and safety if you need to pick them up quickly in a moment of danger...after that and litter training the rest is up to you
Good luck with everything...you've done a great job. Ive given you links to some of my favourite ratty videos and subscribers..there's lots of great ideas that rat owners share : >
Whats On My YouTube Today?
Giant Hamster
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