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Post by lex on Oct 26, 2004 19:13:13 GMT -4
Hi I'm new to the board. I have or have kept many species of rodents and am glad to find a rodent board I live in Toronto ON and was hoping someone could help me. I have a pair of rescue rats that are about 5 weeks old and appear to have Siamese markings coming in. They need a home asap as I don't have the room to accomidate them when they are full grown. They can go seperately.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Oct 26, 2004 20:16:07 GMT -4
Hi, and welcome. I live in NYC. I know of no one here who lives anywhere in Canada. But if they do let us know! Ask around. Go to pet stores and ask workers. I found an excellent rescue group here that way - one worker rescued many rodents (but kept it quiet from her boss!). Ask local Humane Societies, other animal societies, and the SPCA. Call some vets' offices. Search on the Web. Just be sure you find someone who lovers rodents - NOT a snake person.
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Post by lex on Oct 27, 2004 23:51:27 GMT -4
Oddly enough, I rescued them out of a feeder bin. There were a bunch of albinos, a few black ones and then 2 Siamese. I tried to tell the small animal people they should take them and sell them as pets for a higher price but they ignored me.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Oct 28, 2004 3:13:30 GMT -4
Some people are stupid. Glad you rescued them. I have saved quite a few myself (although not rats, not yet), and it is a nice feeling! I would have gotten some rats but the cage I found for them I suddenly had to use to save a bunny at a yard sale who was crammed into a 20 gallon tank; her photos are on the Lagomorph forum. I was, however, told cages are not best for rats; tanks are. (?). The rats can supposedly eventually gnaw the bars so much metal fatigue kicks in and the bars break. Rats make great pets bonding with the human more than any other rodent. So I hope you care for yours and enjoy them; I just do not have room for more right now. Check the Relaxing Rodents forum for photos.
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Post by lex on Oct 28, 2004 14:36:08 GMT -4
Rats actually seem better off in cages as they are very active and like to climb. As long as they have toys and things to do they don't usually fall into obsessive behaviour like bar chewing. Because they are so active you would need a pretty big tank even for 2.....50 or 75gal with a strong wire mesh lid. If you have the space for that kind of set-up and put lots of branches and things in the tank it is pretty good, as well as cleaner as they can't throw things out of the cage around them.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Oct 28, 2004 18:50:42 GMT -4
That's good to know. Someone at a pet store once told me a twenty gallon tank was OK for two. But I wondered. . .
Good to know a big cage is alright. Could you give me the approximate minimal dimensions for two rats?
If one rat dies, it is hard to introduce a new one to the lone rat?
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Post by lex on Oct 30, 2004 16:23:31 GMT -4
I'd say minimum size cage for two rats would be 1.5ft long, 1ft wide and about 2-2.5ft tall with two levels or a half second level. Most rats will not use wheels which is why it is important to have a decent amount of space for them.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Oct 30, 2004 21:00:15 GMT -4
Thanks. I copied and pasted that into my archives for future reference. A pair of rats, a pair of GPs. a pair of degus, and a couple of birds have long been on my wish list. Some day. I wonder why they don't like wheels . . .
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Post by rasputin on Feb 22, 2005 9:01:03 GMT -4
I provide a wheel for my rats, but only the youngest, Buttons, will use it. He doesn't run in it, but he sometimes walks slowly in it.
Mostly, the others use it for a place to perch while eating.
Found attachable shelves recently of a sort that the rats seem to like -- going to buy more as money allows and give them more floor space on the sides of the cage.
I kept the rats in a tank with a cage top for about a month back when they were babies -- the smell became so bad that I decided it could not be healthy for them, and they have had only cages ever since. In a cage, they have decent ventilation, and they absolutely love hammocks, though they do eventually destroy them, which is hard on my wallet at present.
Still, what ratties want, ratties get.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Feb 22, 2005 21:51:54 GMT -4
"Hammocks"?? Do they sleep in them?! I got two GPs last month - adoptions, with big cage and stuff, all free. I saw an ad in a pet store. So they, and the rabbit, came about and came to me by chance. I have a feeling someday there will be a flyer in the pet store "two fancy rats and cage, free for adoption". And there I will be. Or maybe it will be degus! Important question: when let out of their cage is it hard to get them back in it; do they hide? And do they cause any damage outside?
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Post by sapphireratties on Mar 9, 2005 3:17:03 GMT -4
Yes ratties LOVE hammocks, they also love big wire cages (as they LOVE to climb!) if you are in the states the BEST cages are martins cage, www.martinscages.com rats are chewers so you would have to go around on your hands and knees putting up wires, and covering holes and such.
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Mar 9, 2005 6:46:37 GMT -4
What exactly would I have to protect with wires? The walls? Legs of furniture I assume. Would they gnaw cloth, such as on a sofa bottom?
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Post by sapphireratties on Mar 10, 2005 13:41:42 GMT -4
well the cages from martins you don't have to protect the wire!
The "body" of the cage is 1/2 inch x 1 inch, and the floors (not the actual bottom of the cage), ramps, and balconies are all 1/2inch x 1/2 inch.
If you are concerned about bumblefoot, don't be. Bumble foot is caused by dirty living conditions, obese ratties, and a bit of genetics (some belive). As I'm sure your ratties aren't obese or in dirty living conditions, then you would have no problems!
Yes, I am absolutely sure they would chew on it! Rats are chewers! They will chew on anything they please. So if you do not want to spend money on expensive toys make your own (big hits with my crew are soda boxs, toilet paper tubes *both little ones and the big ones that come from those huge rolls*) comfy perch bird perchs (they are bendable), and shredded paper dig boxs.
Ahh ok, lol, I just got the protect with wires thing (I think? lol) you would have to either keep them away from or protect things like your computer wires, cables, anything that may electrocute them.
as for the bottom of couches and such, just get some 2x4's or something that will cover the gap between the bottom of the floor and the top of the couch, put the boards up there, so they can't get under there or chew on the legs. I don't really think to many people have a problem with ratties chewing on table/couch legs and such. They seem to have more of a problem with the rotting food they stash UNDER the couch.
Also if buying hammocks is hard on your wallet try going to wal-mart (or a fabric store) and going through their remnants bin, then go to a hardware store (or wal-mart, lol) and get those S hooks, cut a small hole in a properly cut size of material (which you can cut yourself from the stuff you buy out of the remnants bin), and put the hook through the hole, vwala, you got yourself a cheap new hammock that they can chew to shreds if they want to!
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Mar 10, 2005 22:09:26 GMT -4
As I just rescued two gerbils today (post on that later, in that forum) space is even more limited. But thankfully I and others can review all that useful information.
I asked about that as I was warned about my bunny chewing, but she chews NOTHING outside the cage, unless something made of cloth is blocking her entrance to a favorite hiding hole.
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