wombat wrote:So I'm thinking about getting some rats soon, they'd be my first but I have had various rodents in the past.
Does anyone have any tips for beginners? It won't be until sometime next year but I plan on getting a cage and everything sorted beforehand, so cage recommendations or feeding tips would be helpful too.
Get a big cage - as big as you can go. Rats need plenery of space (even if you let tchem out daily) and you're almost guaranteed to end up with more than 2/3 down the line so it's best to invest in a big cage from the beginning. Many American forums will tell you that fleece is the best thing you can use in a rat cage, however loose substrate(cardboard or horse shavings are popular) is much better in terms of odour control and offering rats the opportunity to forage, nest and dig which are all very strong instincts. A cage with a deep base is best, but you can also get Perspex trays made if you have a wire floor cage.
Food wise, look into a balanced mix - nuggets are boring and often not nutritionally complete. If you're in the UK, I definitely recommend Rat Rations, and you can also purchase the Scuttling Gourmet book to learn about nutrition.
My biggest tip would probably be to avoid pet stores like the plague. By buying rats from a pet store you're supporting the rodent equivalent of puppy mills. The animals aren't bred for health or good temperament, only to look pretty and make money. Find a good, reputable breeder with ethics that you agree with and get yourself some well socialised, healthy babies. Oh and if you can make it to a rat show (even if you don't have rats yet!) you should definitely come along to chat and learn. The community is very friendly and helpful