Originally posted by YellowLabLover

Luckies4Me is a breeder and I won't bother giving you anymore advice because a) it will be repetative and b) she gives better advice. She will post here soon, give her a while to find the thread.


-YLL
hehe I found it LOL! You give EXCELLENT advice YLL, don't worry, and you are faster than me. Dylan is getting to be a handful so I don't have as much internet time as I used to.

I usually do not recommend feeding store bought mixes due to the amount of seed in the diet and the use of corn/Ethoxyquin. They just lack the right amount of goodness for a rat. Didn't know what else to call it LOL, besides goodness? hehe OK, I must be tired. Anyways, if you want to learn more about feeding I have a feeding article up on my website here:

http://www15.brinkster.com/luckies4me/feeding.html

If you are set on buying a mix from the store I would only recommend 8and1 food. It is naturally preserved and the protein and fat levels are just right for rats and it contains hardly any seed, though it does have corn. The corn does appear to be good quality though. I also feed my rats lab blocks. Mazuri, Halan Teklad and Oxbow make great pelleted diets.

As far as caging goes something like YLL has would be excellent if you would build something like that! You can also try Enchanted Forests cages, which have excellent custom cages for a good price. Here is their website:
www.enchanted-forest.biz

I am ordering some cages through them as soon as I can come up with a design. You can also try SuperPet cages which I use, as well as www.Martinscages.com and www.Qualitycage.com

As far as bedding, I use Aspen and Hemp as well as Carefresh Ultra. They all have igloos, ferret tubes, hammocks, parrot toys, cardboard boxes etc. for stimulation. Rats are very social and need time spent with them throughout the day. So if you are never home then I would suggest looking for another pet. If you have a lot of free time then it's all great.

I will concur with YLL on veterinary costs. Rats are mighty expensive animals to keep. Most are prone to Myco outbreaks, tumors etc. which can get to be pretty costly. I usually recommend if you are thinking about getting girls, that they be spayed before the age of three months in order to avoid getting mammary tumor once older.