Rat - Treats & Chews, and Water Bottles?

[AngelZoo]

Couple things for rat owners.

What are good chews and treats for them (ones you buy at stores, not treats made at home.) More so concerned about the chews.
And what chews/treats are really bad for them that I shouldn't buy.

And I got Toshi a new water bottle today, but I noticed it says it's "spring loaded" so that it won't leak. But he can't seem to get any water out of it, should I be concerned? We he eventually just learn to push harder on it to get water?
In the mean time I've given him a little bowl of some fresh water, don't want him to get dehydrated, thanks! :)

[Desert Arabian]

Water Bottle: Kaytee water bottle

Chews: Pedigree Dentabones...my rats *love* them. Kaytee Chew Bites (http://www.kaytee.com/products/search/?pid=56640)

Treats: strawberries, oranges (does only), grapes, pears, apples, honeydew, cantaloupe, watermelon, cooked meats, cooked egg, mealworms, cherries, oatmeal, cereal, cooked pasta, baby food, yogurt, dog food (dry and wet), vanilla ice cream, bread, cornbread, cucumbers, graham crackers, Kaytee Mouse & Rat Healthy Bits, Kaytee Nurta-Puffs, Kaytee Yogurt Drops, Kaytee Carrot & Berry Nibblers

Extra Info: Do not give rats water in a dish. They will pee and poop in the bowl, and they can tip it over easily. I used to use Critter Canteens, those were spring-loaded, and they were cr*p! I hate them! And I vow to never use them again...total waste of money!

Here is what the Kaytee water bottle looks like, I love it


Kaytee Waterbottle (http://www.kaytee.com/products/search/?pid=94200)

[AngelZoo]

I'm giving him greenies right now, for chews and teeth cleaning hee hee.

I only gave him some water in a dish while I held it so that he wouldn't get dehydrated, until I'm able to go out and get another water bottle :)

And yes the water bottle I have is the Critter Cateens! grrrr

I was like using my finger to see How hard I would have to push... to get some water out.

Maybe I'll just trade water bottles from this to my ferrets, disenfect em both real well. The other bottle the rat shouldnt' have any problem with but Keiji's big enough to push on this stupid new one.

[wolfsoul]

Rawhide and dentabones works GREAT! :D

For chews, my rats get: dentabones (I reeeeally reccomend them, they are great!), petcetera rawhide chips (thin and round like potato chips, you can only buy them in Canada) Fortum honey flavoured rawhide hearts (thick heart shaped rings, they are made by Fortum, you can string these up from the roof of the cage, great fun!), compressed rawhide balls (balls made of rawhide, they are harder to get a hold of because they roll, they provide a challenge) pigs ears, wood, and that's all that they have in their cage at the moment :D

For the water bottle, try pushing Toshi up to it and poke his nose on the ball a few times so his nose gets wet ;) He'll learn quickly ;)

For treats, I usually give them some food that is part of their dinner food, so then I can give it to them then instead of for dinner. But actual treat treats that they rarely get, are most fruits (I try to avoid sugar, so I only give them their homemade frozen fruit meals three times a week), chocolate ( I also give it to them if they sound like they are coming down with something) and a few other things that probably aren't the best lol :rolleyes:

To keep him busy, you could try teaching him tricks ;) My rats know some :D

[luckies4me]

AngelZoo, did you not go to the links I had posted in the other topic thread?


I just have to say that everyone I know, including myself absolutely LOVE CRITTER CANTEENS! :D They are by far the best water bottle you can buy, they never leak ever, they stay cleaner as I noticed they don't get the film on them like other water bottles do, and they last a lot longer (the lids don't fall off). ;)


Have you not posted on the RFC? I think you would get more help there than here at PT, no offense to fellow ratty owners. :p

[lv4dogs]

Angelzoo, thats what I did, gave my critter canteen to my ferrets, as some of my rats could not get any water out of it. I have 2 kaytee water bottles & one by some other company for my rats.
I give my rats dentabones, rawhides, meat bones left over from supper, treats they get EVERYTHING (except junk food) I eat. Their main diet is a rat seed mix (seeds fruits etc) mixed w/ lab blocks. I also give them some dog food & cat food. Sometimes alfalfa or sweet grass too.