Modern day rat keeping

Modern day rat keeping is a far cry from where we started. Mostly gone, are the days of inappropriately sized or ventilated cages such as those geared towards hamsters or tanks for reptiles and fish. While some things remain the same, we now have deeper insights into biologically appropriate behaviors, habitats, and healthy development which have shaped our care of the species. 

​

   Our rats are kept in colonies of the same sex, ranging from 5 to 12 individuals in an enclosure that is both wide and tall with 1/2" bar spacing or less. Research in ammonia development has shown that fleece and paper bedding are not safe, and the once vilified wood beddings are less a threat to upper respiratory health. Our enclosures have 12" of safe substrate (coconut coir, aspen shreds, kiln dried pine, hemp) appropriate for tunneling, various climbing accessories, and several nesting materials.

We use a house-made and formulated foraging mix as well as a staple diet that is baked in house. All our rats have access to several water sources and appropriate chewing materials to keep teeth ground down safely.

​

     Breeders of good conscious will not adopt out single rats, opting to only adopt in pairs and trios, because rats are highly social creatures who need to engage in species specific behavior that we as primates cannot replicate. Raising rats that know how to function with other rats means keeping babies with their colony until at least 8 weeks, whereas in the past it was not unusual to see 4-week-old babies being sold.

​