Wire floors can damage a ratties delicate feet and lead to sores or a condition called "bumblefoot". They can also get their feet and legs stuck in the bars, which can cause nasty accidents. If you decide to get a wire cage please make sure the ba spacing is no more than 1/2 inch for adults and 1/4 inch for youngsters under three months. If you are aquiring kittens (3 to 6 weeks old) you should not put them in a wire cage. Keep them in a tank until they are old enough not to risk injury. Also kittens can squeeze through anything the size of thier head or smaller.

If you must use a wire floor you can cover the bottom with carpeting or wood, non splitering of course. Some people use linoleum, however if your rats chew this is not a good idea as most of the time the linoleum is glued. You should try to find a cage with a solid bottom and pull out tray for easier cleaning. Martins cages and also Quality cage company in Portland OR have awesome cages for failry cheap and they both ship. Martins cages also takes special orders and will custom design a cage to your liking.

If you have bucks make sure you keep them in a powder coated wire cage. If you use galvanized wire, the bucks urine with erode the wire and can lead to zinc poisoning.

Also make sure when you get more rats that you get the same sex as you have now!! I cannot urge this enough, but look at your rat to determine the sex before you buy. Most petstore people cannot tell baby rats apart. If you need any help on determining sex let me know. It is fairly easy to tell the sex's apart. I can tell my kitten apart the first day they are born.

Also make sure that if you do go to a petstore to buy the rats you should look for the following things before deciding to take that rat home.


Check the eyes ears and nose. Make sure they are clear and free of discharge or poryphoren, a red discharge that sometimes looks like blood. This is a sign of respiratory illness and could also be MYCO. Pick up the rat and listen to his breathing. You should not hear any rasping sounds at all.

Pick a rat who is calm and goes to you. Most petshop rats are the result of bad breeding (not all) so you nee to be careful. They are more prone to illness and cancer, not to mention a plain old bad attitude.

Look at the fur. Are there any scabs? Check for mites/lice. Scabs on bucks can also be the result of too much protein. You may need to evalute their diet. Make sure does are not pregnant. Does are capable of getting pregnant at four weeks of age and sometimes sooner, bucks being able to reproduce at three weeks of age. If the doe is pair shaped rather than round she could be pregnant. You can feel if there are any kittens inside by palpating her abdomen. Kittens are very easy to feel and sometimes can be seen moving.

The last thing, please if you can, go to a breeder. These rats are much more healthy and happy rats. They are usually held since birth and more tame. Undesirable traits are bred out and the rats live longer healthier lives. They are less prone to Myco outbreaks and SDA.

Hope this info helps.