getting a rat...advise needed. - Page 3

Corey209 · 11-29-12, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmbraceCalamity

No one said they need a 50 gallon, but it's nice to give them more room than a little 29 gallon. That's an appropriate size for maybe two geckos that are a fraction the size of a rat and much less active. Plus, the fact that they're extremely intelligent means they do best with mental stimulation and toys, which is hard to provide in such a small cage.

~Maggot

He's only getting one rat for scent, a 29g is plenty big enough for a single rat. Plus with the zilla cage top you can add in a branch and the rat will climb all around the cage. He also already has the 20g so it would only cost him $20 for the top.

EmbraceCalamity · 11-29-12, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey209

He's only getting one rat for scent, a 29g is plenty big enough for a single rat. Plus with the zilla cage top you can add in a branch and the rat will climb all around the cage. He also already has the 20g so it would only cost him $20 for the top.

How is a branch to climb the same as "mental stimulation and toys"? That's just decor. And perhaps you didn't bother to read, but when asked, he said:

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeEuGi

Yes it will be a pet.

So to care for it as a pet, it would do better in a larger enclosure with mental stimulation and toys.

~Maggot

Corey209 · 11-29-12, 08:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmbraceCalamity

How is a branch to climb the same as "mental stimulation and toys"? That's just decor. And perhaps you didn't bother to read, but when asked, he said:So to care for it as a pet, it would do better in a larger enclosure with mental stimulation and toys.

~Maggot

Most people only keep climbing accessories for pet rats but the cheapest way for plenty of room would probably be a bird cage

EmbraceCalamity · 11-29-12, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey209

Most people only keep climbing accessories for pet rats but the cheapest way for plenty of room would probably be a bird cage

I see you're ignoring what I'm saying. And most people keep monitors in fish tanks. Doesn't mean it's the best way to care for them.

And, actually, the cheapest way would be to use old furniture and just make a few tweeks.

~Maggot

Corey209 · 11-29-12, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmbraceCalamity

I see you're ignoring what I'm saying. And most people keep monitors in fish tanks. Doesn't mean it's the best way to care for them.

And, actually, the cheapest way would be to use old furniture and just make a few tweeks.

~Maggot

Have you done scientific tests on the mental stimulation of rats? I'm pretty sure climbing is stimulating unless you want to build a maze for one rat.. and I doubt he wants to strip old furniture.

EmbraceCalamity · 11-29-12, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey209

Have you done scientific tests on the mental stimulation of rats? I'm pretty sure climbing is stimulating unless you want to build a maze for one rat.. and I doubt he wants to strip old furniture.

Climbing a branch hardly counts as mental stimulation. It's better than nothing, but here's an entire list of toys, houses, and games here:
Rat Toy Ideas
And here's a setup with lots of real mental stimulation:
The Grotto

~Maggot

Corey209 · 11-29-12, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmbraceCalamity

Climbing a branch hardly counts as mental stimulation. It's better than nothing, but here's an entire list of toys, houses, and games here:
Rat Toy Ideas
And here's a setup with lots of real mental stimulation:
The Grotto

~Maggot

That's a little over kill for a rat, half the people here don't put that much effort into their cages besides the heating.

EmbraceCalamity · 11-29-12, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey209

That's a little over kill for a rat, half the people here don't put that much effort into their cages besides the heating.

Seriously? I'm pretty sure most people here put a lot of effort into their setups.

And again, I didn't say any of this was necessary. I said it would help the rat do best as a pet.

~Maggot

Corey209 · 11-29-12, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmbraceCalamity

Seriously? I'm pretty sure most people here put a lot of effort into their setups.

And again, I didn't say any of this was necessary. I said it would help the rat do best as a pet.

~Maggot

The most recognized people here obviously put a lot of effort like with infernalis' monitors. But I can guarantee it only adds up to about 30-40% who actually put time into it.

EmbraceCalamity · 11-29-12, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey209

The most recognized people here obviously put a lot of effort like with infernalis' monitors. But I can guarantee it only adds up to about 30-40% who actually put time into it.

Please, please make a thread saying most people here don't put time into their enclosures except heat. I want to see this.

~Maggot

Lankyrob · 11-29-12, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey209

That's a little over kill for a rat, half the people here don't put that much effort into their cages besides the heating.

You have been herre less than a month and have madew that judgement basedon what evidence?

Sorraia · 11-29-12, 09:55 AM

There are a lot of people who put quite a bit of effort into their pet rats beyond an aquarium or a branch. You would probably pass out if you saw some of the set ups I have! lol

I just came out of the rat hobby, after about 10 years of breeding them for show and pets, and some 20 years keeping them strictly as pets. I've seen a lot of changes over that time, and I've seen a lot of set ups. There are people out there who stick their rats in a tank (or even tubs) and call it done. But there are a lot of people who go well beyond that. There's a whole sector of the rat hobby that recommends a minimum of 2 cu ft cage space per rat. These people also deck out their cages with all kinds of equipment, including but not limited to multiple toys for mental stimulation, toys, chains, and branches for physical stimulation, various hides, hammocks, levels, balconies, etc. Some people even include litter boxes and put in the effort to litter train their rats (I used to, until a stubborn rat undid all my efforts in short order), others offer dig boxes and hide treats and toys in it so the rats can "forage" for food. There is a lot of effort put into diets beyond what you can buy in a pet store too.

I don't think it is fair to say "most" people do it any one particular way. There is also absolutely NO reason to discourage someone from putting full effort into their animals.

EmbraceCalamity · 11-29-12, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sorraia

There are a lot of people who put quite a bit of effort into their pet rats beyond an aquarium or a branch. You would probably pass out if you saw some of the set ups I have! lol

I just came out of the rat hobby, after about 10 years of breeding them for show and pets, and some 20 years keeping them strictly as pets. I've seen a lot of changes over that time, and I've seen a lot of set ups. There are people out there who stick their rats in a tank (or even tubs) and call it done. But there are a lot of people who go well beyond that. There's a whole sector of the rat hobby that recommends a minimum of 2 cu ft cage space per rat. These people also deck out their cages with all kinds of equipment, including but not limited to multiple toys for mental stimulation, toys, chains, and branches for physical stimulation, various hides, hammocks, levels, balconies, etc. Some people even include litter boxes and put in the effort to litter train their rats (I used to, until a stubborn rat undid all my efforts in short order), others offer dig boxes and hide treats and toys in it so the rats can "forage" for food. There is a lot of effort put into diets beyond what you can buy in a pet store too.

I don't think it is fair to say "most" people do it any one particular way. There is also absolutely NO reason to discourage someone from putting full effort into their animals.

I don't think he was even just talking about people here who keep pet rats (in fact, I don't know of any besides OP and me here who do). I think he was talking about all setups, since he mentioned heating, and rats pretty much never need heating.

~Maggot

Sorraia · 11-29-12, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EmbraceCalamity

I don't think he was even just talking about people here who keep pet rats (in fact, I don't know of any besides OP and me here who do). I think he was talking about all setups, since he mentioned heating, and rats pretty much never need heating.

~Maggot

I was referring more to the mention of tanks and maybe a topper with a branch being sufficient for rats. I know after that it kind of went on to include other critters and what seems to be "bare minimum". But to add to those here who keep pet rats, I have a few left, but don't plan to replace them once they go, at this current time.

DeesBalls · 12-06-12, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Corey209

That's a little over kill for a rat, half the people here don't put that much effort into their cages besides the heating.

haha, have you seen some of my enclosures, and racks i have for my snakes?? plus i know alot of us here build our own enclosures for our snakes, or lizards, or what not... we all put alot of time into them..

I am keeping her as a pet, not food, so im not going to do the "bare minimun"- heck even if she was going to be food, she would still get fed right, cared for, and even given attention to, she is still a living creature.

as what this original thread was about- i know nothing of rats/mice, except for thawing them out and feeding to snakes, lol- so i asked what was good for rats set up. I have about 12 old book shelves, so i decided to make on out of that for her cage- i mentioned it had heating in it because it was going to be for a gecko, but i traded the gecko. (I already took out the heat pad and all that)

So annoying how all post these days seem to start some type of argument