THE DONT'S
- DO NOT EVER pick rats up by their tail!!! It can lead to severe injury and even in thier tail falling of.
- When making bedding for your rats you shouldn't use cedar or pine shavings. Cedar shavings can cause liver disease or respiratory problems in any small mammal. Pine shavings have a high level of oils that can cause skin problems. Just avoid shavings. Save yourself the trouble!
- Don't use a glass aquarium, it does not provide enough air flow and can lead to a build up in feces and urine that can cause problems in your rats health.
- Don't stereotype, pet rats aren't dirty, and they aren't obsessed with cheese!
- Don't mix boy and girl rats unless you plan on having ALOT of babies. Rats are pregnant for 21-23 days and will give birth to an average size litter of 6-24 babies.
- If you do happen to have babies once they are about 4-5 weeks old the boys and the girls should be separated. If you dont want to keep them make sure you give them to a good pet store so a good owner can take them home.
- When giving your rats nesting materials make sure nothing can get caught on loose strings or cut by splintering pieces. Also make sure they are not too small so the rat cant choke.
- Don't feed your rats lettuce, tomatoes, chocolate, onions, frosting, licorice, raw beans, raw brussel sprouts, raw artichokes, green potato skins or eyes, green bananas, orange juice, raw red cabbage, bleu cheese, raw sweet potatoes, rhubarb, raw tofu, and especialy fizzy stuff. Rats can't burp so carbonation will build up and the rat may die.
- Also try not to feed your rats cucumber, radishes, spinage, dried corn, collards, turnip greens, beets, swiss chard, avacodos, peanuts, and almonds. If you want to know why rats cant eat this stuff go to: http://fatratcentral.com/the-basics/diet/ or http://www.petratscanada.com/forbidden_foods.htm
- There are many plants that are poisonous to rats for a list go to: http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=18+1804&aid=1616
