So guys I will be buying my first rat ties in a couple weeks so I am reading up all I can. I've decided to two males. I am wanting some advice being new and all, what would be the best cage to house two males with enough room. Kinda got a budget of £80 for the cage. Also I need to know what else to get apart from toys? Am I right in thinking that you would need hammocks, ladders. A corner toilet tray, water bottle. Also is there a 'best' rat food brand?

Also I was wondering what would be the best (stuff) to put into the bottom to reduce the smell, I will clean it out every day but I really can't have it smelling **much** . So would I need to lay down a bedding then put in some shredded paper or something.

Thank you in advance!

T.p

I dont have rats but was going to get some so I know a little!

Yep they'll need hammocks, toys, lots of things to climb on, some like a wheel.
Bedding I was going to use was finacard which is small cardboard strips and you can buy that online for a big bale.
I think megazorb would be ok too, that's very absorbant so helps stop smells a little and I use that for my mice.

Alot of people follow the Shunamite diet for their rats as I dont think any pre-bagged rat food is ok on it's own.
Check out rat-rations as the shunamite diet can be a little confusing to figure out (well I thought so anyway) and you can get ready-made mixes from them so you'll know your rats are getting all the foods they need.

Where abouts are you?
I have a rat cage for sale, a Freddy 2 max including 2 corner shelves and 2 ladders (these are pink!) for £60. I'm close to Cambridge.

Hope that all helps a little.

I personally use megazorb - comes in huge bags and very absorbent. only problem is no one round here stocks it so have to order it online.

If you get a wheel make sure its one designed for rats so their tales can't get caught in it

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Proud Mummy to
Cat - Holly
Guinea pigs - Pixie, Purdy and Popple
Rats - Biffy, Cooper and Moz



R.I.P to all my pets who have passed. They may be gone but they are forever in my heart.

I used cardboard squares bedding but will be changing to megazorb when I've used this up.

If you can stretch or find one second hand I'd go for a liberta ABode cage. They are under £100 new so normally around £40 second hand and they are a fab size!

Mine have hammocks, baskets, fleece tubes, plastic tubes, ropes, sputniks (a must IMO for rats mine LOVE them) a litter tray hidey homes, parrot toys etc anything that looks fun!!

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Owner to-
lots of rodents
2 monster dogs
1 slinky cat

Wood shavings, as you probably know, aren't recommended, I use Ecobed & like it, when it comes to cleaning, spot cleaning every day is good but if you did a full clean each day it could be counter productive as the rats will probably scent mark more to make themselves feel 'at home'. I do a full clean once a week, everything getting washed & dried- cage, bars, toys, hammocks, bridges, shelves etc

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These are amazing only recently bought some as I thought they were a bit of a gimmick but the rats LOVE them! & they've now come out in new manly black & grey too

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Wow, thanks so much you guys. Better information here than trawling the net for ages! I shall look more into the diet requirements and that cage that was mentioned. The Megazorb bedding seems cool too! I just want to have absolutely everything ready for when they come home with me

Thats a tad far for me, living in the south east of Surrey. But thanks for the offer!

Ooooooooo manly black??!! I'll have to sneaky buy them I think!

I've got the new pink and purples for the girls and I love them.

Oh food wise I use bits from rat nations, rat nuggets (mine love them!), Reggie rat mix, cereal like rice pop things, bran flakes all mixed in a big pot then they get our left overs, cat food once a week as a treat or dog food (high quility) but the FAvs are weetabix, porridge, spaghetti Bol, shepards pie etc

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Owner to-
lots of rodents
2 monster dogs
1 slinky cat

No one near me stocks megazorb but I just went into every local horse supply place and found a couple who would actually order it in for me

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