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01-15-2017, 11:13 PM
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#11
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Newborn Pup
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Portland, Oregon!
Posts: 38
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Re: Rats or sugar gliders
Thank you for all the advice guys! I think I will go for rats, they just seem so sweet. Also as for the cage would it be possible if I stacked two of my old Guinea pig cages ontop of each other and connected them, and built a little ramp between them?
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01-15-2017, 11:36 PM
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#12
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PM Fluffy for custom title
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 4,545
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Re: Rats or sugar gliders
It probably wouldn't be a good idea,since guinea pig cages have huge bars that rats would easily escape from
I've seen modified C&C cages used for rats,but they have to be meshed over which can be annoying but would be a great idea if you were willing to put in the work.You'd need 20 grids if you made your own base without using grids and adding solid flooring,and if you bought the grids from Sears that would cost around $23.The mesh would be about $16,then there's the cost of zip ties which is minimal at around $3 or less.If you already have wire cutters or zip ties,that would make it less expensive,plus those items and the materials are worth the investment.
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01-16-2017, 11:38 AM
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#13
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Newborn Pup
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Portland, Oregon!
Posts: 38
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Re: Rats or sugar gliders
Okay thank you! I'll check later to see how big the spaces are, I have a old Guinea pig cage and a old bird cage that are in new condition, together they would be a really big cage, and if I remember the spaces were only about quarter of an inch, the same as my hamster cage, I also have some zip ties and wire cutters already. If it dosnt work I'll probably just go buy a big rat cage, but I'll see what I can do first with what I've got
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01-16-2017, 04:11 PM
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#14
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Hamster Pup
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: London, UK
Posts: 79
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Re: Rats or sugar gliders
As babies they could easily escape a guinea pig cage. As adults it would be unlikely.
On average as adults a female rat will weigh 350g-550g
Male rats 500g-900g
depending on build - give or take - that's just a rough guide. Breeder rats tend to be much bigger than pet shop/rescue rats.
Rats need a good width - about the same as hamsters really, nothing less than 80cm, preferably 1 metre + - but much more height, which is where a guinea pig cage can be a let down.
Rats are addictive though! As you can introduce new rats to existing rats (certain methods that need to be done to get it right as introductions can be tricky) - it can be hard to resist getting more....so getting the biggest cage possible will prevent you having to upgrade later when you can't resist adding another couple of faces
You need to decide whether males or females are for you! As babies they are all pretty much the same but when they get to about 1 year old you start to see differences between the sexes.
Personally, having had both and all my girls were typical females, I did prefer the boys. Boys are stinkier though! But I kinda loved the smell, they smell like biscuits and fake tan! haha. But it's a very individual choice, a good friend of mine had both sexes and really preferred females. I found the lads to be a lot more laid back, enjoying belly kisses and that sort of thing, whereas the girls were having none of that.
Here's a video of my set up when I had 9 rats
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s_dB_H-op7w
This is an adventure playground I built using C&C grids:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBPVaxd-SHE
And my favourite video that always makes me cry - pea fishing with Tinkerbell and all the old group, including my heart rat, Benji. They've all passed away now - it breaks my heart
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf75Y9B3ryo&t=1s
__________________
squeakysmallpaws residence home to: Buddy, Robert Lu, Hamela, Freddy, Mini, and yet to be named!
Departed but not forgotten: Jean-Claude Van Ham, Prince Philip, Mr Fox, Princess, Paris, Binky, Hambear
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01-16-2017, 07:35 PM
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#15
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Newborn Pup
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Portland, Oregon!
Posts: 38
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Re: Rats or sugar gliders
I'm so excited to get them!!!! Haha my first pet was a female rat named Po, she was my best friend but I was probably about 3 or 4, so I don't really remember her fully. Around the same age I had also made friends with a MASSIVE wild brown rat who would wonder over to my sand box and hang out with me when I went outside, thankfully he never bit me or anything, I think I thought he was just like Po. From reading I think males will personally suit me better and I found three of them I'm going to try and get from Craigslist, they all come together, there are two, 5 week old Rexes and one, 9 month old dumbo rat, they are all males and super cute, haha I'll check out your videos! Do you know how much a big cage cost me roughly? Also I already baught a litter tray for them and a hammock, but I need to get some fleece for the cage, is fleece usually on the cheaper side or is it more on the expensive side? Also do you have any suggestions on what kind of litter I should use for their litter tray?
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01-16-2017, 07:42 PM
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#16
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Newborn Pup
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Portland, Oregon!
Posts: 38
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Re: Rats or sugar gliders
I found an add on Craigslist selling 6 older rats and their cage, 5 males and one spayed female. They were for pets or feeder and were 4$ each or I think it was 24$ for all. They were all so cute and there were hooded ones, simease, brown, and I think a blue one. I'm kinda tempted to go get them but they are in Seattle which is kinda far from me, also I live with my parents and I don't think my dad would be to happy when we agreed on two rats and I come home with 6, haha. I just feel really bad for the little fuzz balls, they look so sweet
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01-17-2017, 06:22 AM
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#17
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Hamster Pup
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: London, UK
Posts: 79
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Re: Rats or sugar gliders
Substrate- it's the same as what's suitable for hamsters mostly. Although rats do suffer more from respiratory illnesses and therefore most people tend not to use sawdust even if it’s dust extracted. I did sometimes with my rats when I was waiting for my other substrate to be delivered and things like that - it’s one of them – use it all the time and it may lead to problems, use it sometimes (because you’ve run out of other substrate, not had time to order etc) and it’s fine. Dirty cages lead to respiratory conditions more so than any particular substrate and that’s across all animals.
Paper based betting – finacard, aspen, megazorb, pepper pellets etc all completely fine. But do use something different in their litter tray and always do that and then they’ll know to poop/pee in there. When I first got them – for the first 2 weeks I would move their poops and any wet bedding in there. If you put tissue paper on the hammocks and then they pee, then move the tissue paper or a little bit of it onto the hammock – each day and eventually they’ll be like – ok we pee and poop there. Once the alpha of the group knows that, he will make sure all the other rats do the same.
Fleece is a personal choice. I did use fleece – if you make your own cage liners and hammocks, it won’t cost you all that much – if you get them made specially (with the proper absorbent backing etc) the outlay cost may be expensive but will save you in the long run. However, you might have rats that destroy fleece. My girls destroyed all the hammocks and fleece, my boys never did.
So personally I’d start with a substrate and hammocks and then if your rats aren’t chewing up all their hammocks– you can make the switch to fleece.
Good idea to leave a container in the cage for digging – if you have a big cage like the critter nation. Again my girls like to dig, my boys preferred to lounge around – although they did enjoy digging about in soil as part of a free range activity.
Cages:
I think in the US – the big cages are the Midwest Critter Nation, which you can get in a single or a double = https://www.amazon.com/MidWest-Critt.../dp/B001NJ0DAY
Other cages are the furet tower (nightmare for cleaning), the savic freddy 2 or savic freddy 3 and also the Mamble cage on zooplus – that’s a really decent cheap cage.
This also looks good and much cheaper, maybe read the reviews on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Prevue-Hendryx-485-Products- 6&keywords=RAT+CAGES
This is the cage I had: https://www.amazon.co.uk/d/Small-Ani...savic+rat+cage
Here is a link to a rat cage calculator which will help you determine how many rats you could possibly have in one cage – it’s really useful as a starting guide while you’re figuring it all out.
Ratty Corner Cage Calculator
With rats you will be spot cleaning every day and doing a thorough clean every single week. In order to make that job as easy and effortless as possible - cages like the critter nation with huge doors just cuts the time down massively. Cleaning used to take me 3 or 4 hours when I had a cage you had to take apart to get into it. With the savic royal sweet (UK equivalent of the critter nation) it would take me an hour. It was so quick and easy.
Also I’d go for babies while you’re starting out. Check the personality of the older guy and the reason he is up for rehoming but personally I’d have some reservations. Rats are like dogs – you put in what you get out, but like adopting an older dog – most have issues, that may have been ok with the previous owner but isn’t with you.
But then again, I had that with Toby, it could be fine – Toby was beautiful, his brother died though. The family then returned Toby to the breeder so he could have friends, as they didn’t want to get more rats. No foul play, they did absolutely everything right. I brought him home with me with 2 of his baby nephew’s – who I’d gone to collect – Robin and Thomas and Toby was the most beautiful affectionate rat ever. He’d been very very well loved in his previous home.
Think of rats like mini dogs - they are as equally intelligent, need the same amount of time - except they will sleep all day while you're out. You can train them just as easily as a dog - to come when called etc. But it's much tougher starting with an adult.
Here's a video of me learning and basically raising my first 2 rat babies - Benji and Oliver - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLZSkWJu9xo
When I had that down, I adopted Theo who was a rescue adult rat:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeh7fkGS-_E
I would have struggled with him if I hadn't of had the time with Benji and Oliver first.
But Toby on the other hand was just a hunk of love and no issues at all. Theo had issues. Miles and Jackson had massive issues and I never fully won Jackson over. He never bit me, but he was always wary of me. He didn't like people and that was final. He put up with me! haha.
__________________
squeakysmallpaws residence home to: Buddy, Robert Lu, Hamela, Freddy, Mini, and yet to be named!
Departed but not forgotten: Jean-Claude Van Ham, Prince Philip, Mr Fox, Princess, Paris, Binky, Hambear
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01-18-2017, 09:16 PM
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#18
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Newborn Pup
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Portland, Oregon!
Posts: 38
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Re: Rats or sugar gliders
I actually ended up on getting a little grey baby guinea pig, his name is Desmond and he's so cute! I just couldn't have another pet with such a short lifespan, but Desmond is very cuddly and he already seems to really fit in
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01-18-2017, 09:37 PM
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#19
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PM Fluffy for custom title
Join Date: Mar 2016
Posts: 4,545
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Re: Rats or sugar gliders
Guinea pigs should not be kept on their own Definitely do some research on that,it's extremely important to understand the care requirements for guinea pigs as they're definitely not an easy pet to keep and it is so easy to do it wrong!
As soon as you can introduce a second guinea pig that should be done,preferably using a C&C cage which are extremely cheap and offer much better space for piggies than any storebought cage
Make sure you're feeding a high quality pellet as a base for your guinea pig's diet,and giving unlimited age appropriate hay.A lot of pet stores sell really unhealthy mixed foods which contain things piggies can't digest such as seeds,so they absolutely must be avoided.
https://kmshayloft.com/ The best place to get pellets for guinea pigs.They're better than Oxbow,however they are only available online,but they're completely worth ordering.
If you haven't already,make sure to take time to check out some of the wonderful guinea pig youtubers as there is a load of useful information available!
https://www.youtube.com/user/skinnypigs1
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqy...yZIMOSdbBFxuzA
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp_...n2Ta8ZJWixiDnA
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPm...BUAo0pEWRxf3MQ
There's lots of information available on bonding guinea pigs and why it is absolutely important to have multiple piggies if not cruel to keep them separately almost all the time except for those extremely rare situations where it must be done.Your situation is not one of those though,and most people would never encounter such a situation.
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01-18-2017, 10:41 PM
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#20
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Newborn Pup
Join Date: Dec 2016
Location: Portland, Oregon!
Posts: 38
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Re: Rats or sugar gliders
I used to have a couple of Guinea pigs before I had my hamster who lived to be 8, so it's not my first time owning them.
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