Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi,

I had my first rat chew out last night. I suffered minimal damage to the house. Just one of my sons Xbox game manuals suffered a complete shredding. That is what got my attention to begin with. Anyway, the funny thing was that I had a 1.2 group and only one went off to find a new nest. The male and one female stayed in the chewed cement tub, as if nothing happened. Should I cull the female that probably chewed and made the escape, or can I keep her in good faith knowing she won't do it again? Any help on what to do with the female that escaped would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Bill
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2.1 Tripple Het Caramel, Orange Ghost, Genetic Stripe
1.1 Het Lavenders
1.1 Het Caramel Albino
0.1 Het Albino
0.1 Spider Het Albino
0.1 Het Pied
1,1 Pastel Het for Orange Ghost
1.0 Albino
0.1 Spinner
1.1 Super Pastel
0.1 Jungle Pastel
1.0 Pied 50 percent White
0.1 Clown
0.3 Normal
1.1 Kids
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Chocolate Lab

Once they know they can chew out they will do it again and again. Any rat can chew through any plastic that they can get their teeth over, even flat surfaces.

Since only one left the tub, is that probably the one that chewed. I am guessing yes...

Bill
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2.1 Tripple Het Caramel, Orange Ghost, Genetic Stripe
1.1 Het Lavenders
1.1 Het Caramel Albino
0.1 Het Albino
0.1 Spider Het Albino
0.1 Het Pied
1,1 Pastel Het for Orange Ghost
1.0 Albino
0.1 Spinner
1.1 Super Pastel
0.1 Jungle Pastel
1.0 Pied 50 percent White
0.1 Clown
0.3 Normal
1.1 Kids
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Chocolate Lab

Yes, most likely.

Thanks,

I appreciate the advice.

Bill
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2.1 Tripple Het Caramel, Orange Ghost, Genetic Stripe
1.1 Het Lavenders
1.1 Het Caramel Albino
0.1 Het Albino
0.1 Spider Het Albino
0.1 Het Pied
1,1 Pastel Het for Orange Ghost
1.0 Albino
0.1 Spinner
1.1 Super Pastel
0.1 Jungle Pastel
1.0 Pied 50 percent White
0.1 Clown
0.3 Normal
1.1 Kids
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Chocolate Lab

Rats are actually pretty smart and will learn from watching each other. If one got out by chewing through the tub then chances are they all "know" how to get out now.

I learn this the hard way a few years back. I had an escape similar to yours and decided that I only needed to cull the escapee and replace the tub. Less than a week later, that new tub had three holes in it. The only rats that were in that tub were the three that were in the tub that was originally chewed through.

I fed off those three and purchased yet another new tub. I no longer breed rats for a variety of reasons.

Essentially, you will need to either cull off the rest of the rats that were in that tub or at the very least move them all to a new tub and watch them closely. I also wouldn't "mix-and-match" them in other tubs with other rats... just in case, you don't want them teaching the rest of your colony how to escape.

This is just my personal experience... others may have other advice or have had better luck following an escape.
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Stay United!

"...I say 'apparently' because despite all our progress she is not at all a tame or handle-able snake and gettting her from that cage would re-start a war.. and we've had a good armistice for several months now."-Gus Rentfro - I love this quote!

100% agree on the rats....monkey see....monkey do!

do not under estimate rats!........they are smarter than some people!!!

Pitoon
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Homepage
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You may try placing your "chewers" in caging designed for rodents. I've never had a "chew out" with the Big Apple Herp professional rodent cages.
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Michael

If the only option to feed my snakes was to have live rats around, I don't know if I could do it...NASTY little animals.

Well,

I feel 100 percent opposite. If I had to feed anything but live I would bail out of the hobby. I decided to install the huge sticky traps all over the room...If they get out again, they will be sadly stopped.

Regards,
Bill
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2.1 Tripple Het Caramel, Orange Ghost, Genetic Stripe
1.1 Het Lavenders
1.1 Het Caramel Albino
0.1 Het Albino
0.1 Spider Het Albino
0.1 Het Pied
1,1 Pastel Het for Orange Ghost
1.0 Albino
0.1 Spinner
1.1 Super Pastel
0.1 Jungle Pastel
1.0 Pied 50 percent White
0.1 Clown
0.3 Normal
1.1 Kids
0.1 Spouse
1.0 Chocolate Lab