more questions

[OrlandoBloomnut]

okay does anyone have the time and or is willing to make me a list of all the stuff i need for 2 rats if any one wants to that would be so helpful if so please say brand name ,size ect ect..... and i am in the US .
and another question what is the right size of wire spacing ??
hmmmmmmmmmmm stiiiiiilll no ratties but the rattie mom to be will wait

[Heather]

There is really no set checklist for rats. Everyone has differing ideas about cage accessories, toys, food, cages. Personally, this is my list and by no means is it better than the next person's.

For 2 rats:
Martin's cage powdercoated either 690 or 680
Harlan lab blocks 2018
1-2 Super pet bubble wave tubes
1 hamster size roll about ball, lid off, wired to inside of cage
Fabric (flannel) for bedding
First aid kit containing:
Nutrical
sharp finger nail clippers (for nails and teeth (in emergency)
Betadine
needleless syringes
Can of Ensure for sickies
neosporin
Benebac
Few jars of vegetable or fruit baby food (sick rats not able to eat hard food)
---end first aid kit-----
Water bottle (I use All Living things and haven't had them leak)
Small All Living Things plastic food crock
Super pet igloo

[Sapphire_Rats]

large cage (NO smaller than 24 inches x 18 inches x 24 inches for 2 rats)
lots of toys (big bird toys, comfy perches, etc..etc..)
good healthy food (either a harlan lab block or suebee's mix, which can be found at www.ratsrule.com/diet.html )
boxs or igloos
hammocks (either store bought, dearpie bought or homemade)
litter (paper based cat litter or hardwood shavings such as aspen)
other fabrics for inside hides (nothing that can get tangled on toes, or "fingers")


that is the basics without "naming names" lol.

Edit:

how could I forget, lol.

Water bottle (i use critter canteens and so far so good, lol)
A good vet waiting in the wings, lol.

as far as wire spacing, for good sized adults 1" x 1" is fine but for babies you are going to need something along the lines of 1/2" wide x 1" tall, or 1/2" x 1/2". (which www.martinscages.com has or a large bird cage or any other cage with modified pvc coated mesh wrapped around it)

[Dearpie]

Don't forget you need a vet fund also.  VERY important.

[OrlandoBloomnut]

thanks that helps alot :)waaaaaaaaaaaaa i want ratties .oh oh oh mom bought me a rat magizine it's called RATS  soooo im happy

[ttiwedas]

Here are the supplies I have with my two babies:

One Martins R695
One water bottle
Two food bowls, one small one large(small used for suebee's mixture, large for dogfood)
One bag Wellness Lite Dogfood
One batch Suebee's Rat food
One large bag Carefresh Ultra for bedding
One rat hiding place(I chose to offer two, one half log, and one medium Roll-a-Nest)
Assorted toys(I chose one superpet ferret hammock, one Boodah rope-21inches long, one paper bag filled with paper shreds, one medium klackety bird ladder, one small hanging knotted bird rope, two hanging bird treat toys)
One critter kabob, for fresh fruits and veggies
I would also include in your estimate of beginners rat needs, two vet exams/consultations, which for me cost $124, and one first bout of rad antibiotics, if you are planning to buy from a pet store, at $33.75 a pop, for more than the first round of sniffles.
And of course, one container of cheese flavored Yogies!

[Dearpie]

OH, don't forget to save all of the shredded paper that comes in the Martins cage!! That's the best toy in the world!! 

[BJ in WI]

You can save yourself a lot of $ by making your own toys.  I went to a craft store and bought a bunch of wood crafty pieces for a small amount of $.  I then died them with koolaid.  Just take the mix and a small amout of water (no sugar) and smear it on the wood and let it dry.   Put a bunch of the different colored wood on a piece of untreated rope separated by knots or round wood peices. I also hung keys. You can usually get them free or really cheap from a hardware store. Hang a few together, my girls like the noise it makes.  I made a ton of toys with my son for under $10.
Also. I save all my kleenex, oatmeal,& saltine boxes for them to use. That way I can throw them out when I clean the cage so you don't have anything smelly left in the cage.  I also use shredded paper on the bottom on the cage. They love to use it to make nests and it's really cheap.
Those are just a couple things to keep in mind for fun thing for your ratties, so you can save your pennies for the really important things.
Just my 2 cents 

[OrlandoBloomnut]

thank you all for your sugestions they are very helpful

[cerulean.blue]

Also. I save all my kleenex, oatmeal,& saltine boxes for them to use. That way I can throw them out when I clean the cage so you don't have anything smelly left in the cage. 

Yup, I do this too. They love it. If you make Suebee's Mix, save all the boxes from the ingredients. You can put them in the cage as toys. 

Wal-Mart also ALWAYS has at least some fabric on sale from $1-$3 a yard and you can get that and use it for scraps or hammocks. It's MUCH cheaper to make your own hammocks, as they always get destroyed in one way or the other.

Good Luck! 

[OrlandoBloomnut]

soooo how long would a batch of subees mix last two or three  :BlueDumboSmile:ratties know i m pushing it on three with my mom illbe luckey to get two thats all i want .......for now :cheeky:aaaahhhh i don't even have rats and ggmr is taking hold ahhhhh savvveee meeeeee

[cerulean.blue]

One batch of Suebee's would probably last a month or two with 2 or 3 ratties.

[trubandloki]

I had two girls and one batch of suebees lasted me so long that I donated about half of it to the humane society and made a fresh batch....

(so long = more than six months)

my girls got fresh foods twice per day too.

[sjay]

If you want homeaid toys, take an ice cream pail and cut it down and make an igloo out of it. Mine love paper bags as toys, the lunch bag size. Get a wodent wheel or the like. Mine runs everynight. I even am known to visit thrift stores and look for baby toys. Some of us here have toy barns for a hiding spot. Toilet paper rolls are good for wee ones.
It'll save money and make Mom happy. There should be a spot somewhere about homaid toys. Good luck!! And I have dog biscuits for treats. Timothy hay etc...

[OrlandoBloomnut]

those are some cool ideas thanks i realy like the dapper rat site they have lots of ideas  that are realy cool