The BRODENTS! Rodent Enthusiast Thread!

[cardboardteeth]

hello everybody !! sorry to be posting again, but I have some more questions ;v;

at the end of the year, I'm considering getting ratties. I was looking around for some good cages and I saw this one [single level] - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001N ... PDKIKX0DER do you guys think this'd be good for two adult rats?

[Sabatea]

hello everybody !! sorry to be posting again, but I have some more questions ;v;

at the end of the year, I'm considering getting ratties. I was looking around for some good cages and I saw this one [single level] - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001N ... PDKIKX0DER do you guys think this'd be good for two adult rats?

Absolutely! I have the same cage and it’s wonderful. Tons of space to hang toys and accessories, and the wide doors make for easy cleaning. The only issue there may be is that there is not a tall bin in the bottom for substrate. If you planned on using litter with them, you may have to buy a taller pan in the bottom to accomodate it. ^^

[cardboardteeth]

@sabatea
thank you!

I was actually thinking of putting fleece on the bottom, since I've heard it's okay for all small rodents. Is it true for rats?

[Sabatea]

@sabatea
thank you!

I was actually thinking of putting fleece on the bottom, since I've heard it's okay for all small rodents. Is it true for rats?

I used fleece for a long time with rats, but eventually moved on to substrate. My rats, though not all will, tended to rip holes in the fleece. It also wasn’t the best for smell, but if you have a few different squares and can switch them out often that will help a lot. Something to remember is also that fleece itself should be used as a barrier between the rat and the urine, and it will be best to have something underneath the fleece to help pull the urine away.

I’ve heard of some people using towels, puppy liners, paper towels, etc. underneath the fleece. I personally used a reusable diaper sheet thing? xD It was a strip of cloth that was meant to be absorbent and ysed to make reuseable diapers. :3

[ryukrem]

@sabatea
thank you!

I was actually thinking of putting fleece on the bottom, since I've heard it's okay for all small rodents. Is it true for rats?

I create fleece liners with U-Haul furniture pads. The padding soaks up the pee so there is no smell and the fleece is soft on their feet. I only need to clean my cage once a week and because of the U-Haul padding underneath, there is no ammonia build up. I love it!

[Kisiel]

@sabatea
thank you!

I was actually thinking of putting fleece on the bottom, since I've heard it's okay for all small rodents. Is it true for rats?

While it won't harm them, fleece is absolutely disgusting and stinks after a day or two. The main reason why I hate it is that it offers no digging, foraging and nesting opportunities like loose substrate does. I'm a strong advocate of scatter feeding (it's one of the best enrichment tools out there!) which can't be done correctly on fleece/liners. Rats love digging through the substrate to search for food and will pick out suitable pieces to make nests with. I clean out the main cage every two weeks, sometimes more, and they don't stink at all. The only smelly cage atm is the pregnant doe cage, but that's purely due to the fact that there is much more protein and greens in their diet right now.

Edit: the kinds of loose substrate I would recommend are marketed at horses. So either wood shavings (must be klin dried and dust extracted) or cardboard shavings/squares. They come in big bales of about 20kg and are very inexpensive. Lasts forever too. Things such as care fresh or paper pellets that you can buy at pet stores are way overpriced and not very good either.

[cornspurrd.]

Popping In to share a Danny Picture! He's Getting Big!!

[depressedanonymous,]

Popping In to share a Danny Picture! He's Getting Big!!

I thought that was a hamster at first (didn’t see tail and the angle makes snout look shorter) and I was S H O O K

[cornspurrd.]

In Gordon's Best Interest I'm Trying to find Him a New Home
Because Of His aggression Towards Other rats He Needs a home
with people to Play with Him more than I can, The Other
Boys Would appreciate The Extra Room Gordon Would Leave
Behind. I believe A friend Of Mine Is taking Gordon So I'm exited
to Provide Him a better home, while also Being Able to say
Hello To Him If I'd Like.

[Kisiel]

In Gordon's Best Interest I'm Trying to find Him a New Home
Because Of His aggression Towards Other rats He Needs a home
with people to Play with Him more than I can, The Other
Boys Would appreciate The Extra Room Gordon Would Leave
Behind. I believe A friend Of Mine Is taking Gordon So I'm exited
to Provide Him a better home, while also Being Able to say
Hello To Him If I'd Like.

Sounds like he needs neutering, not rehoming. Hormonal aggression is a health issue and requires medical attention from a vet, which will still be the case in his new home.