:: Housing ::

:: Cages ::

Here at Asbru Stud, our rats are kept in large spacious cages, all of which are indoor aviaries. We have 3 Ferplast Duettos and 2 Brio Mediums as our main cages. Our two guinea pigs (Crash and Carrie) also live in our rat room.

We recommend that rats are kept in wire cages, allowing for ventilation and climbing. Tanks are unsuitable, as their poor ventilation only serves to enhance the build up of ammonia in the cage, which irritates rats' lungs. Hutches are not ideal, especially for does, as they do not allow for climbing so can be boring and unstimulating for rats, not to mention the negative effects on fitness that these factors may bring. Wood will also absorb urine, which after a while will not clean well even when regularly disinfected. Wire cages with metal bases are perfect for busy rats, as plastic bases may end up being chewed - although this is rare. The smallest ideal cage for a pair of rats is a Critter 2 (or similar), although a Savic Freddy 2 is easier to clean for the owners. It is important to note that whilst adequate space is given to the rats, when young they should not be given far more space than they need as this may have negative effects on their interactivity.

:: Bedding ::

As our rats reside in our house, we keep them on shredded cardboard bedding - manufactured for horses, but ideal for small animals. These pieces of cardboard are the best choice because they are heavy and large enough to be difficult to kick out of cages, although there are better beddings for reducing odours. We have used flax bedding and have found that this is great for reducing odours, but a nightmare for keeping your house tidy! Also suitable are paper-based unscented cat litters like Bob Martin's, as well as megazorb, aspen or hemcore. Shredded paper or newspaper may also be used, although may increase staining. Wood shavings are not recommended due to the risk of internal damage caused by phenols released by them. They are also generally very dusty, which is not ideal. Scented beddings are unsuitable as they also contain toxic phenols.

:: Accessories ::

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