Translations:AY Honors/Small Mammal Pets/Answer Key/20/en

Rats

Cage: Rats do best in glass aquariums. If you can find one that is no longer water-tight, you can often get it at a bargain price. It need not hold water to serve as a suitable home for a rat. It should have a wire mesh lid, and you should consider mounting a fan nearby to blow into the top to increase air circulation. Wire cages can be used too, but find one with a solid tray bottom, or keep it filled with bedding any time it is occupied. Rats can easily catch their feet in a mesh floor, and this can lead to a broken foot or leg.
Bedding: Wood chips (avoid cedar and pine) or corncob bedding will do fine.
Feeding: Rats are omnivores and will eat just about anything. That is true of humans too, but we all know that it is not healthy to eat just anything. The same is true of rats. Pet stores carry rat food known as lab blocks. If you cannot find a lab block, you can use dog food in a pinch, but dog food is formulated for high protein, and rats don't really need all that much protein. You can feed them small amounts of vegetables (fresh or dried) or dog biscuits too. Rats can thrive on hamster and gerbil food as well.