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Printable Version of Topic "Rat home's again, Opinion, and links for examples"

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---- Rat home's again, Opinion, and links for examples (http://www.golivewire.com/forums/peer-yybanta-support-a.html)


-- Posted by DarkSunshine at 10:16 am on Oct. 2, 2008

So as some of you may have seen i am looking into getting rats. I think i will get to femals as I don't want baby rats, and i'm worried males were be to quick to fight and dominate eachother and I have heard stories of hamsters killing eachother so it could be the same for rats. Anyways there names are going to be kee-kee and Sophie. But thats not the point of this post.


So this was the cage I was thinking of getting them. Hopefully yhe price is the same when i go into the store. If its too much more maybe I can talk my parents into ordering it in if I pay them back right away because i'll have the money. Anyway, this is it. It's a farret home but I think the bars will be okay for full grown rats.

http://www.petsmart.com/product/zoom/index.jsp?productId=2753641


But I'm getting them as baby's probabaly, and I want to litter train them so I can have them in my room. So do you think it would be Okay if I originally have them in a larger rabbit cage as baby's and move them to the bigger one when there big enough that they cant slip through the bars and or hurt themselves on the flooring?

This is like the cage i am hoping to use for them as baby's. We have it from out old rabbit who died months ago.( R.I.P Sahara)

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2753290

Thanks


-- Posted by liv21 at 10:21 am on Oct. 2, 2008

I prefer male rats.  Females aren't as docile or affectionate.  But boy rats will pee everywhere, so maybe girls are a better choice if you want them to roam your room.

About the ferret cage, you might want to look for one without the wire floor.  I think it's only on one tier, but it can cause bumblefoot and it's a pain to clean.

The rabbit cage is a good idea too.


-- Posted by bangalore at 10:21 am on Oct. 2, 2008

Actually two male rats can live fine with each other and they're usually less high strung than female rats.
Also, that cage you are choosing has a wire bottom and I do not recommend that. It's bad for their feet first of all and rats like to burrow and dig. So I would recommend getting a cage more like your old rabbit one so you can put bedding in the bottom for them to sleep in and such.


-- Posted by riotALEXriot at 10:21 am on Oct. 2, 2008

I used to have a male rat, and he was my pride & joy. We had a great bond, but then I had to get rid of him. Rats live good alone, if you care and play with them daily. Males are more lazy and calm, which means they'll be fine together as long as you buy them from the petstore where they come from the same family. Females are more likely to fight, actually. And they're also more lively.


(One of my petstores down here have a lot of rats & there is like 20 males in one cage and they get along fine)


-- Posted by Chasey at 10:23 am on Oct. 2, 2008

The wire floor on that ferret cage won't be too good on your babie's feets. The bar spacing shouldn't exceed one inch.

Male rats are fine together, as are female rats. Just never keep a male and a female together, and never just keep a single lone rat

Try for a cage like a Tom Rat cage, Savic Freddy or Ferplast Jenny. Something like them.


-- Posted by Pwny at 10:24 am on Oct. 2, 2008

Males are best together. Buy them from a breeder who has them together. Females are more likely to be unhealthy. And pet store rats are extremely unhealthy. Specifically the females.


That first cage would be amazing. Not the second. Way too small.


-- Posted by DarkSunshine at 10:25 am on Oct. 2, 2008

I saw like grass mates and I thought i would put them on half the wire so if they need to get off the wire they can, Plus if they chew on it its okay and it will help to keep there teeth down. I looked at ALOT of rat cages and they were all too small for having too rats, and there toys and such, and i would feel bad having them in here. this one has tons of room and I can but stuff to cover the wire bottoms, and there some plastic spots and its easy to clean :) I like it.

I'm not going to keep them in the rabbit cage there whole life because it's no fair to them, at all. it's only until there big enough to roam around the big cage and be safe.


But yeah i was worried about the wire causing bumble foot, so I was thinking the grass mats would be an OK soloution and leaving some wire open wouldn't hurt them because they can coose. thats my therry anyway. and it will keep there teeth down.lol.


and okay so two males rats is okay. i was really hoping to get a male and a female but... I don't want baby's so yeah


-- Posted by Chasey at 10:28 am on Oct. 2, 2008

Yeah like don't get a male and a female because they will definately breed from 5 weeks of age and you'll end up with hundreds =)  
Males are okay, just never ever feed them citrus fruits.

Also don't worry about keeping their teeth down; rats grind their teeth together naturally which prevents them from overgrowing. They don't need to chew. I would definately cover all the wire in the cage because not only can it cause bumblefoot, but legs can slip through and break.


-- Posted by Boondox at 10:29 am on Oct. 2, 2008

wire floors arent good for rats feet
but u can cover that up or take it off
and male rats are fine together
first cage is good
but not the second one, too small


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