what do you keep rats in?

vincenzo · 12-28-03, 06:28 PM

i have my 1-4 rats in a rubbermaid container and they seem to enjoy eating there way out!! why would a female try to eat her way out and how can i stop this it really pisses me off!! it happened once when i had a female by herself then i put her back in the colony and haven't had problems since then and that was 2 months ago
any help appriciated
thanks
vince

Hamster of Borg · 12-28-03, 07:06 PM

Rats are chewers, a simple fact of rodent life. With four, you have four times the amount of potential destruction, four times the amount of activity. Plus, when one starts the others get interested in doing it too. Only way to stop it, is to use a container with flat/untextured surfaces so they can't get ahold of anything to chew on. Or simply put them in a more secure environment. I just stick to typical rodent caging - while a little more inconvenient for cleaning, much more convenient for security.

Ham

mykee · 12-28-03, 07:17 PM

I use Big Apple Herps' rodent breeder racks. I love them.

12-28-03, 07:17 PM

the freezer lol

Linds · 12-28-03, 10:46 PM

Missing from the pic is a 3'x1'x1.5' blue sterilite tub. Only time I had anyone chew their way out was when I accidentally forgot to put a water bottle back in the tub which gave them an access hole to go to work on.

<img src="http://www.ssnakess.com/photopost/data/504/22themeatfarm.jpg">

sapphire_moon · 01-01-04, 09:19 AM

I just use a regular rat cage. Very inconvient for cleaning, but I only have lone starter pair (1.1) and can't wait till they start!lol

You could make them stop chewing on the cage by getting that bitter spray. and by keeping chew toys in their cage.

Linds how do you keep the screen down on the top?

Lisa · 01-01-04, 10:43 AM

We are using rat cages for the moment but as funds allow we will be switching to rat racks.

Linds · 01-02-04, 12:35 PM

The holding tank on the top? I just usually keep that white bucket (filled with water) on top, if not then something else. They cannot reach the top, but I wold rather not chance that they would hold on to the frame wnd wriggle out

sapphire_moon · 01-02-04, 12:40 PM

no the rubbermaids, I'm sorry, I should have been more specific. How do you keep the screen on the rubbermaids down??

Linds · 01-02-04, 01:25 PM

Some type of heavy-duty glue, I forget what it is called (I don't have anymore so I cannot check). It is clear and takes 24 hours to set. Hot glue won't permanently affix the hardware cloth to rubbermaid surface for some reason.

Auskan · 01-29-04, 07:11 PM

Linds, in your rat sterilite containers, how have you affixed the water bottles to the outside?

Jayson · 01-29-04, 09:55 PM

Jumbo cat litter pans $7.99 @ TSC. construct a wood frame lid with 1/2" hardware cloth through food on the top and stick a water bottle through one of the holes.

Linds · 01-30-04, 04:45 PM

I drilled a hole for the spout, then I drilled two holes in which I attached two hooks (shaped pieces of wire coathanger). A broad elastic band is used to hold the bottle on via the hooks.

AlexPan · 02-03-04, 05:16 AM

why go thrue all of the trable of gluing the lids onto the rubber maids, worring about them getting out?

I just go and get my selpg a cracked 30 galon ocvarium with a lid, that way it all together costs under $30.00. and there is no way they can chew thrue glass.

sapphire_moon · 02-03-04, 06:38 AM

ya, but some people don't have the room to have something that large for the amount of rats they need to feed their snakes.
Plus they DON'T chew through. You get a rubbermaid/sterelite container that has NO lips or curves on the inside so they don't have anything to get a hold of. I don't glue any screen, I use bolts, the screen stays in place, the top stays on, and no one gets out.
It's not hard to do. Plus I can make my own feeding basket to watch how much food they are eating. and to easily add/remove food. I would think with a normal lid you would have to cut into it, or just throw the food in there.