Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello, I've recently acquired a small colony of rats and was wondering what everyone uses for chew blocks. I went to the store today to see what they have and it was $3.50 for 6 or 8 pieces of wood the size and thickness of popsicle sticks. I'd be spending $20/week just for chew toys! What kind of wood is used in these blocks? It seems a trip to home depot and a half hour on the table saw would be a much better alternative. What are your thoughts on this? Thank you, Scott Sullivan.

Thanks.

I had some of those dental bones for dogs, not the nylabones but the really hard biscuit type that is formed like a bone or the green ones that are shaped like a toothbrush. They aren't real cheap but every once in a while I will buy a couple and break them into enough peices for everyone to have one. The males seem to chew a lot more tham my females do and they will finish off a 1" long piece in about 3 days. The females' last much longer.

I have also found that my males will play with things more than the females do. I put a 1" thick round of cactus wood in with my boys and after they hollowed out the center they would play with it and stick their heads through the center. Of course, eventually that was chewed away to nothing too. If you buy a lenght of the cactus wood you could saw it into chunks yourself. I never give them anything too large cuz it just gets nasty from them peeing on it!

Marcia

I am no expert on rats, but I don't provide mine any chew blocks. They eat enough hard foods though and get special foods (not necessarily junk, just different foods so they think it is a treat) a few times a week. I have had them for only 6 months, but I don't see any problems with their teeth. As for wood blocks as toys...no idea there. I guess my females get bored...but my males are entertained a few times a week since they are hand tame pets.

I used to use red clay saucers, the one that go under flower pots. Like Marcia said though, yukkk! They were harder to clean than the tubs. I have been told that rats grind their teeth and don't need chew toys. Mine seem to do fine without them. You bring up a good point though. Rat teeth grow continuously. This is hardly ever a problem, but should be checked every once in a while.

DeMak

I'm not sure if this will help you, but I throw cardboard in there all the time. They love it! It may not help their teeth, but it seems to keep them happier. The rolls from toilet paper or paper towels, pop tart boxes, beer boxes ... you get the idea.

>>Hello, I've recently acquired a small colony of rats and was wondering what everyone uses for chew blocks. I went to the store today to see what they have and it was $3.50 for 6 or 8 pieces of wood the size and thickness of popsicle sticks. I'd be spending $20/week just for chew toys! What kind of wood is used in these blocks? It seems a trip to home depot and a half hour on the table saw would be a much better alternative. What are your thoughts on this? Thank you, Scott Sullivan.

While they don't HAVE to have chew toys I tend to give mine leftover chicken, bones and all, and boxes. But they don't chew like hamsters and gerbils tend to.
Now my kids do give cat jingle balls and stuff to their pets and they do enjoy them. But I wouldn't sweat it and certainly wouldn't spend money on it.
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Sonya