This section describes the care, feeding and handling for standard and dwarf rats. Please consider the articles below as a starting point.
Rats Live in GroupsRats are social, they need to live in groups of two or more. This article, from the National Fancy Rat Association explains why: Want to know to know more?
Which Gender Is Best For Me? Males or Females
There are many pros and cons that come with owning either a male or female. In some cases, if you are willing, you can also have a rat neutered or spayed, and in doing so, keep a mixed gender group. No matter which gender you decide on, your new friends will surely love and bond with you!
Males
There are many pros and cons that come with owning either a male or female. In some cases, if you are willing, you can also have a rat neutered or spayed, and in doing so, keep a mixed gender group. No matter which gender you decide on, your new friends will surely love and bond with you!
Males
- Less active
- Generally want to cuddle more.
- More scent marking
- Larger in size
- More active, more serious
- Less likely to want to cuddle.
- Less scent marking
- Smaller in size
Dwarf Rat-Size Matters!Which to adopt? The Standard-sized rat or the Dwarf Rat? That is the question! While they both intelligent, sweet and beautiful, the dwarf is certainly not for everyone. If you are considering adopting a dwarf click on the picture to learn more about this amazing type of rat.
Preparing for Your New ComerBefore you bring your new friend home, you need to have a few things set in place. Make sure that you have already set up the cage. Here is a list of things to think about and simple supplies to purchase.
- If you have a rattie at home already, you must the new-comer. This means placing the new rattie in another part of the house or another "air-space" if possible. Make sure that you take care of your rats first, before you adopt the new rat. Germs can be breathed in or carried on your skin and clothing.
- Cages-Purchase See Home Sweet Home below, for more details. If you are buying a new rattie and you already have a rattie at home, then you must purchases a new cage/tub for the new ratties, for reasons stated above. Looking for a good cage? Visit >Martins Cages.
- Toys-there are million types of items all around the house that ratties will think of as a "toy" consider boxes, packing peanuts, paper rolls, dryer tubing, bags, old clothing, rolled up paper balls, the possibilities are endless.
- Bedding: Pine is thought to be toxic to rats. Please see the links on "Bedding" in the paragraphs below. We use some Yesterday's news; however, we no longer use Carefresh bedding. It is too irritating to all of our noses, due to its dustiness. We do recommend Aspen!
- Food-is often a complicated topic. There are many theories on how a rattie should be fed. I try to make things simple for myself and for you. Diet; however, is extremely important. Please read the paragraph on feeding below.
- Food Dishes-They are optional. Some of my cages do not have food dishes. Rats like to move food to various locations and sometimes use food dishes for a toilet area. If you want to use one, purchase a large one meant for rabbits that will not tip when they stand on the edge. You can use separate food dishes for dog food/grain mix and fresh foods if you like.
Feeding Your RattieMany, if not most, of the pre-packaged so called rat food diets are is not an appropriate diet for ratties. Mainly because, it doesn't have what they need and has a few items that rats really shouldn't have, such as corn.
Here is a list of items you can gather that will allow you to create your own mixture. This is the list we base our diet off of.
Don't have time to mix this diet? Visit our Rattie Boutique and purchase the mix made fresh, brought on ratlet pick-up or shipped to you!
Here is a list of items you can gather that will allow you to create your own mixture. This is the list we base our diet off of.
- Science Diet Senior Dog Food
- Total and Puffed Rice
- Wheat Bran Cereal
- Barley Flakes
- Wheat germ
- Dried pastas
- Oat meal
- Pumpkin seeds
- Dog biscuits
- Raisins
- Sunflower Seeds
- Harlan/Mazuri Lab blocks
Don't have time to mix this diet? Visit our Rattie Boutique and purchase the mix made fresh, brought on ratlet pick-up or shipped to you!