Housing
- Escape-proof,
wire-mesh rodent enclosure with plastic or metal solid flooring
is preferred housing.
- Rat enclosures
need to be large enough to accommodate a large exercise wheel,
nest or burrow area and feeding area.
- Minimum
size for adult rat: 15-20" x 15-20" x 7-10"
high. 15-20 gallon aquarium fitted with a wire-screen clamped
top may be used, but is harder to clean.
Diet
- Commercial
rat/rodent pellets with protein level of 20-27% for adults should
be offered free choice (ex: Mazuri Rodent Diet, Purina Rat chow
Code 5012, Purina Formula lab Chow, Wayne Lab Blox). Special formulas
are available for growing, breeding, nursing.
- Supplementation
or "treats" are not recommended for rats on a good pelleted
diet.
- Common seed-based
"small rodent" feeds are inadequate to meet a rat’s
nutritional requirements.
- Rats are
cautious feeders and may avoid strange foods.
- Fresh water
should always be available.
- Softer pellets
for rats<3 weeks old. Babies start gnawing pellets and drinking
water around 2 weeks, wean at 3 weeks.
- Hand raising
is difficult, although it can be done by bottle every 4 hours.
Behavior
- Rats are
tame and intelligent pets. They rarely bite (unless significantly
provoked).
- White rats,
in particular, have placid temperaments; Hooded rats may be more
aggressive, more active, and subsequently harder to handle.
- Rats are
usually nocturnal.
- Rats are
social rodents. Because they don’t fight, both males and
females can be housed in single sex groups.
Information
taken from The Exotic Companion Medicine Handbook for Veterinarians.
The Animal Health
Clinic recommends annual wellness visits for all rats. If you have
any questions, feel free to call us at: 701-237-9310 |
