I saved a pet rat from becoming snake food, someone didn't know the difference between a pet rat and a feeder. They said that the snake won't eat anything if it smells like humans so they chopped the tip off his poor little tail.
Right now he's in a small loaner cage which I plan to get him a bigger, better one, I look forward to spoiling him and making him feel welcomed in our family, I'm just unsure of the bedding. I've never owned a pet rat, just married a couple. Any helpful feedback I get would be GREATLY appreciated! Thanks in advance.
2006-12-26 07:50:22 · 8 answers · asked by Ann 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
I have heard they get bored easily and learn very fast. I look forward to giving him the affection and the challenges he may need. As soon as he twitched his little pink nose at me I was a goner.
2006-12-26 08:26:36 · update #1
You have a big heart. Thank you :*) So you're smitten by a Ritten already. I caught rat fever in 1997 and delved head-long into learning everything I can about these awesome small animals.
BTW, there is no difference between a pet rat and a feeder rat when they are purchased at a pet store. The store will sell the rat either as reptile food or as a pet, whichever profits them more. Even rats that are labled as feeders make wonderful pets.
DO NOT USE CEDAR OR PINE SHAVINGS FOR PET RATS. Both are toxic and are hard on the rat's respiratory system.
Safe bedding for rats that I use:
t-shirts, bedding, pillow cases, etc.
aspen shavings
newspaper only if it has been printed with a safe soy-based ink
Yesterday's News
rabbit food (rats don't care for these as a food)
Eco Chips
There are also beddings that others in the rat fancy use but are not available to me. Be careful of Care Fresh, it has been reported most often that this bedding causes excessive sneezing in pet rats.
Also be very careful with the use of hay. Make sure it is a soft hay like Timothy. Hay has been known to scratch ratty eyeballs.
The following care pages are from people that I know and trust in the rat fancy.
http://www.petinfopackets.com/rats/ratbedding.html
http://www.ratz.co.uk/ratbedding.html
http://www.curiosityrats.com/products2.html
http://firstrats.tripod.com/id24.htm
http://wererat.net/rathelp/litter.htm
http://www.petrats.org/maximizingsales.html
And there are more........
You are welcome to e-mail me at spazrats@yahoo.ca to talk about the care of pet rats.
spazrats
Specializing in the health and care of pet rats since 1997
http://spazrats.tripod.com
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/holistarat
2006-12-26 08:32:05 · answer #1 · answered by spazrats 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Best Bedding For Rats
2016-12-14 18:27:42 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Best Bedding For Rats From
http://amzn.to/1P0Zg6z
.
2015-12-13 07:16:54 · answer #3 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Good question! Wood shavings such as cedar and pine are a big no no for rats. It causes respiratory problems. Try using a paper based product such as yesterday's news or care fresh. I prefer yesterday's news (in the kitty litter section usually) because it is less dusty than care fresh, so less sneezing for the ratty. You may want to consider getting your rat a buddy, probably a younger male as it's easier to introduce an adult male to a younger one so they don't fight. Rats are very social animals so it's important that they have ratty friends to play and cuddle with! Good luck with your new pet, they are lots of fun, I have 3 ratty boys myself! :)
2006-12-26 08:00:11 · answer #4 · answered by dottidal 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Aspen is definitely the best. Pine or cedar will give them a great risk of respiratory problems and corn cob litter turns their feet and tail green (it doesn't hurt them, but it doesn't look good, either!)
Good luck. Rats rock. I have three and they are a lot of fun and very entertaining. But I'd get him a friend so he has a buddy to sleep with and play with when you can't play with him (ie. middle of the night).
2006-12-26 08:52:03 · answer #5 · answered by ღQueenღ 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
You can go down to a pet store and get a small rodent litter which is good. They also have food for the rats there as well.
2006-12-26 07:57:47 · answer #6 · answered by Veneta T 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
probably cedar but never use pine because the rat might eat it and pine is very poisoness to rats,hamsters and guiniepigs because theres something in it...and you could also buy some rat vitamins for it but no more than two a day to keep it healthy.
cage needs,
1.water bowl or bottle
2.food dish most new cages come with one
3,bedding-newspaper or cedar
4.a hide out for the rat to sleep in.
5.a wheel for the rats excercise
6.toys for the rats enjoyment
7. and most importants love and attention
2006-12-26 08:10:12 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 5⤋
"Carefresh" is the number one brand!
It's absorbant, doesn't smell when wet, and doesn't cause any harm to the animal.
Some types of bedding, like cedar, pine, or even aspen may be absorbant, but can cause respiratory problems in small animals.
Would you like it if you had to sleep on wood clippings? I think not.
2006-12-26 11:34:18 · answer #8 · answered by ~Metamorphosis~ 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
you'll need pet hay for him..You can get at any Petco. And they normally like a little house to sleep in. A bowl for food. And a bottle for water to hang on his cage. and many some lil' toys to chew and climb on.
Good Luck!
2006-12-26 08:01:16 · answer #9 · answered by ~ Ruchira~ 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
A big four poster bed preferably with some sort of floral duvet . Failing this some sort of pull out divan . Avoid the type that fold out of the wall as a rat may graw throug the retaining wire causing it to spring up inadvertantly .
2006-12-26 08:36:48 · answer #10 · answered by clintwestwood 4 · 0⤊ 5⤋