Habitats
Right now, I am using two R695 cages and two R685 cages from Martin's Cages. I use vinyl flooring to cover the wire floors and rubbing matting to cover the ramps. I also have a smaller Martin's Cage and a Super Pet cage (given to me by someone whose rats I took in to rehome). I have aquarium tanks used for mothers with new babies, older rats who cannot use the ramps in the cages, and quarantining new or sick rats.I also have the usual water bottles, food dishes, toys (usually bird or ferret toys), hammocks (or other similar hanging objects for rats to sleep in), igloos and cardboard boxes. Some of the rat's favorite toys are: cardboard boxes (fun to shred), toilet paper rolls (try putting a snack on the inside of the roll), hammocks (homemade or store bought, they don't care!) and Hawaiian Delights (a bird toy brand that makes tasty treats with cookies, nuts and mineral blocks). I try to change it up every week so they don't get bored.
Litter/Bedding
I like to use a pellet litter (such as Critter Country, Yesterday's News or Harlan Teklad Pelleted Paper) with a softer bedding (such as Harlan Teklad SaniChips, Harlan Teklad Diamond Soft or Kaytee Soft-sorbent). This way, I have the odor control & absorbency of the pellet litter, and a little cushion for rattie feet with the softer bedding. Normally, I use Harlan Teklad litter and bedding products unless I run out of it before I get the next order.
I use Harlan Teklad Diamond Soft or AlphaDri for mothers with babies or sick rats. It doesn't do anything for odor, but the bedding is white and completely dust-free. This allows me to see any waste or bodily fluids from the rats, and it doesn't aggravate any respiratory problems.
Nutrition
As a staple food item, my rats get Harlan Teklad lab blocks (2014 for the males, 2018 for the females and 8604 for pregnant & nursing females and babies).I make my own dry rat food mix using the following:
• high quality senior dog food (such as Innova) • cereal (Cheerios, Total, Rice Puffs, Wheat Puffs, etc) • granola • rolled oats • unsalted seeds (flax, sunflower & pumpkin) • soy nuts • pasta noodles (whole wheat veggie pasta and soy pasta) • dried vegetables (peas, tomatoes, carrots, etc) • dried fruit (pineapples, bananas, apples, papayas, blueberries, etc)
I also give my rats fresh food every other day. They get variations of the following: • bread (wheat, white, french, soda, banana, zucchini, etc) • cooked noodles and rice • raw, cooked or frozen vegetables • raw or frozen fruitI strictly follow the guidelines for rat nutrition found on my Rat Information page.My rats absolutely love Yogies (as I'm sure just about every other rat does), so they each get a couple a day. I also use baking chips as treats, such as chocolate, white chocolate, butterscotch, etc as a once daily treat.
Free Range
All of my rats are given time each day to run around in my bathrooms, in the hallway (when I block it off), on my living room furniture (couch, tables, laz-e-boy), on my basement couches or in my room (rat-proof). With so many places for my rats to play, they never get tired of free range time. Obviously, males and females are not allowed to play in the same area at the same time! Also, they are never left alone while they're out of their cages so it's a great time for socialization with humans (normally myself, my boyfriend, my friends and/or my sisters).