New Cage
I just went to the pet store. I needed more bedding. This time I am trying out 'corn cob' bedding. While I was there, I saw that they had rats in! There were four hooded ones and a dozen of a species they called 'african soft fur'. I looked at all the hooded ones first, but they were all females. The guy thought there was at least one male but there wasn't.
So then I looked at the other kind. They were so incredibly soft. They were really small though and had giant eyes. They were all VERY VERY squirmy and kept leaping out of our hand onto the floor. I felt so bad for them because they kept hitting the floor. Those poor things. Anyway, none of them even held still long enough to see what sex they were. I decided that they were too small anyway and my boys would probably pick on them.
I got them to take my name and work-number so they can call if any 'usual type' rats (hooded, dumbo, hairless, etc) come in.
Then I looked up above the register desk and they had an assortment of cages. I saw a nice 'starter kit' for rats that was on sale for $20 off. It was $109.99... which is really good, considering that the cage I was thinking about ordering from the States was $80 with $60 shipping and then I would have had to pay more because of the currency exchange rate and then even more for customs... and it would have been for only the cage, not the additional stuff that came with the one I got.
The kit has the cage which is 24" high (including a 6" deep litter tray which is good because Marty just started kicking bedding out of the other cage), 15" deep and 24" wide. It has two additional levels and ramps. Then the starter stuff... it has a odor/stain spray to clean the cage, a big water bottle, ceramic food dish, a nice rat food with mostly rat blocks, yogurt drops, care guide... and for some reason, it comes with pine shavings. Pine isn't good for rats because it causes respiratory problems. I will put that bag in the closet for now. I won't use it for my ratties.
So then I looked at the other kind. They were so incredibly soft. They were really small though and had giant eyes. They were all VERY VERY squirmy and kept leaping out of our hand onto the floor. I felt so bad for them because they kept hitting the floor. Those poor things. Anyway, none of them even held still long enough to see what sex they were. I decided that they were too small anyway and my boys would probably pick on them.
I got them to take my name and work-number so they can call if any 'usual type' rats (hooded, dumbo, hairless, etc) come in.
Then I looked up above the register desk and they had an assortment of cages. I saw a nice 'starter kit' for rats that was on sale for $20 off. It was $109.99... which is really good, considering that the cage I was thinking about ordering from the States was $80 with $60 shipping and then I would have had to pay more because of the currency exchange rate and then even more for customs... and it would have been for only the cage, not the additional stuff that came with the one I got.
The kit has the cage which is 24" high (including a 6" deep litter tray which is good because Marty just started kicking bedding out of the other cage), 15" deep and 24" wide. It has two additional levels and ramps. Then the starter stuff... it has a odor/stain spray to clean the cage, a big water bottle, ceramic food dish, a nice rat food with mostly rat blocks, yogurt drops, care guide... and for some reason, it comes with pine shavings. Pine isn't good for rats because it causes respiratory problems. I will put that bag in the closet for now. I won't use it for my ratties.