Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Howdy, I have a 50 gal glass tank with a screen top (36 x 18 x 16) I bought for my corn snake not long ago. As sad as it may be, I need a pet that is much more interactive than my corn. All she does is sleep under the substrate and it looks like my tank is empty all the time. She does come out in the evenings and I do handle her, but reptiles do not associate with humans as mammals do. To her, I am a heat source and a provider of food, nothing more. Don't get me wrong, snakes are really cool to look at, just not social enough. So, I figure, I get a pair of rats instead.

From what I have been reading on the net, a glass tank is not an ideal cage, but would work. What do you all recommend I use to keep the rats entertained (besides me in the evenings)? Will they drink from a bowl (I have a nice big bowl I thought my corn would soak in , but hasn't) or are bottles the only way to go? Any recommendation on food?

I was thinking about getting a bird play center to put in the cage that would offer climbing, chewing, and all sorts of fun. I would also get a couple bird ladders to make it easier for them to climb out of the cage.

Any suggestions on nesting boxes for them? And is there someplace on the net that I could buy rats from that is trusted? Thanks for all your help!

Hiya!
Welcome to the world of rats. Kudos for checking into them before purchasing First of all, most places don't ship because it's so expensive. Where are you located? Maybe someone knows a breeder or good store close by.

I swear by martin's cages (www.martinscages.com) and recommend nothing smaller than the R670 (rat cabin) for two rats. I loved my 680's because they are the same length and width of the 670 but taller. They still fit perfectly in my tubs for easy cleaning. Martin's also sells aquaruim toppers too if you want to go that route (1/2 tank-1/2 wire cage). Definately get powder coated though, galvanized holds odors and looks icky after a while. Also, I recommend getting a flip top cage or not sealing the top and ordering extra springs and holding it down with them. MUCH easier for cleaning. You can also cover the floors with something. What I find works best for me is self stick linoleum. I just cut to fit and stick. It lasts through washings and all. I can just wipe the shelves and floors down for spot cleaning and then toss everything in the shower on weekends.

For substrate: I've decided I like Yesterday's news cat litter (same as the small animal one but you get more for a better price). I've been experimenting and can go 2 times as long between changings with that as opposed to CareFresh Ultra. Carefresh, Aspen or ecobedding are all good choices. If you have a Pet Supplies Plus nearby, they're cheaper than Petco for that. I was shopping today and there was a HUGE difference in price here. NEVER use pine or cedar. They have oils that are toxic to rats.

Rats should have a water bottle. A bowl won't work cause they'll fill it with bedding or spill it. I just got a glass bottle and love it. Can run it through the dishwasher or boil it it needed.

They should have a staple diet of lab blocks. Mazuri, PMI and Harlan Teklad are all good choices. A lot of petsmarts carry mazuri, Purina dealers should carry or can order it and I order my Harlan from Kim's Ark Rescue (www.kimsarkrescue.org). I also mix in some Nutro Natural Choice dry dog food and a little bit of Zupreem parrot that I snag from my boyfriend's bird lol. I supplement my girls' diet with snacks daily. Either something we're eating that's fairly healthy or with fresh fruit or frozen veggies thawed under warm water. They also love pasta, oatmeal, baby food, whole wheat toast, little bits of cheese, yogurt. Occasionally they get "fun" treats...like on christmas and birthdays...but small amounts and very rarely. The girls loved the birthday cake they had last night hehe.

I recommend a Wodent Wheel...Think Martin's Cages Sells them or try www.wodentwheel.com. Get the Wobust one. I got the next size down and they don't like it...and the big boys don't fit lol.

Definately get some kind of hidey box. I've found a plain old igloo is perfect. It fits under the shelves in the Martin's cages and doesn't get smelly like wood. Easy to clean too and no bottom to fill with pee and then have marinated rats.

um...lets see what else did you ask? oh yeah bird toys. Yeah they're good, but can be pricy. Honestly some of the favorite toys of the rats have been homemade. Hammocks from old tee shirts and hung up with diaper pins, golf practice balls without holes (watch for chewing though), pinatas made from paper towels and stuffed with cereal and treats then hung in the cage, toilet paper rolls filled with the same and the ends folded in or covered and tied off, the wheels (make sure it's a solid wheel)

Well it's almost 7am, I think I covered more than you asked so I'm gonns try to get some sleep..If there's anything else you want to know, just ask

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~Meg~
~~(XX)8:> Have you hugged a rat today?

Meg said it all.
One thing I want to add, I used Wodent Wheels for years with male rats. I love those things, I still have one in the rat playground but the rats only visit the playground they don't live in it.
When I got females they chewed both of the smaller wheels made for females to bits, they destroyed one of the Wobust Wheels made for males. Completely ruined them & I have just the one Wobust left over. I am now using the safety wheels that most pet stores carry.
These have the 1/2 x 1/2 wire so that feet can't get stuck in them.
Only problem I've had with these wheels is that they get squeaky.
I use cooking oil spray to stop that & it works.
Rats are fabulous pets, you'll love having them!
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PHRatz

50 gallon tank... have you considered a small turtle? Believe it or not they are pretty interactive with humans. Not like rats but I'm thinking get a Martin's cage for rats, fill that tank with something else that's more active than a snake.
Hermit crabs are fun to watch, they're active at night & a 50g tank would hold 10-15 or so. There'd be a lot of action with that many.
What else could do in a tank? Bearded dragons are interactive with humans... what else?
Gotta think more about it. lol
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PHRatz

...and what happens to the poor corn snake?

.
>>These have the 1/2 x 1/2 wire so that feet can't get stuck in them.

I thought about this after I posted it & thought that's not right.
I measured the wire on those wheels & it's actually 1/4 x 1/4 spacing.
Most rodent product catalogs carry them I think you could find one on a website to look at if you googled one.
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PHRatz

Thanks for the info. I may go ahead and get a Martin Cage and keep my snake as well. Do there cages touch the inside of the bottom? I was thinking of getting a couple crocks feeders to stick near the bottom if the caging goes that far. Also, do you put down any carpet for the upper levels of the cage? Thanks!

>>Thanks for the info. I may go ahead and get a Martin Cage and keep my snake as well. Do there cages touch the inside of the bottom? I was thinking of getting a couple crocks feeders to stick near the bottom if the caging goes that far. Also, do you put down any carpet for the upper levels of the cage? Thanks!

You can't tell in their pictures but Martin's cages do not have wire on the bottom. I put my crock feeder directly on the bottom.
The upper levels & the ramps have that small wire spacing so I don't bother covering them. I've tried but it never has worked out.
Carpet would have to be washed often, you can use craft canvas, cardboard, linoleum...just about anything you can think of but in the end they rip it to shreds. I worry about what they're chewing being dangerous more than I worry about what they're walking on at the upper level.
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PHRatz

Definitely use a water bottle for rats, a bowl will quickly get spilled or filled with substrate and worse.