oh crap rats in an aquarium

[Petunia]

an online buddy of mine has a daughter who gets to have their classes' two female pet rats for the summer

She knows I've got rats now so she wrote to me for advice, etc. She wants hammocks so I asked her to send me a photo of the cage so I can recommend the best ones, etc

well I just got the photograph, these two rats are in a glass aquarium with a mesh top- looks like a fairly small one too, maybe 10 gallons?

:shock:

I don't know what to tell her, they are just caring for the rats over summer vacation, they do not own rats and I have no idea if she'd be able to go out and buy a suitable cage, but Gosh, I don't even know where to begin!!

any suggestions on how to handle this?? I've never had anyone ask me for advice, I'm pretty new to rats myself (just got my first ones a little over a year ago)


oh where do I begin??! maybe I should send her some links?? but even the "Rat Lady" Debbie D says aquariums are ok

me personally, I could not keep a non nursing rat in a glass house....... does anyone do it anymore and is it ever really ok? (again, for a rat without little babies, I understand they need some place where the itty bitties can't get hurt or lost etc)

oh dear, the awesome responsibility!!

 

[jorats]

No, an aquarium is never ok for rats, unless birthing. I had something similar happen with my son's class but with a hamster. I sent the teacher a care sheet and bought their hammy a bigger cage. My son knew it was not suitable and together we worked it out.
I would tell the little girl to talk to her teacher about proper care. Sending links is a good idea and should also be sent on to the teacher. Educating them is really all you can do at this point and hope for the best.

 

[crumbilina]

What about trying to find a cage on something like kijiji or craigslist that is inexpensive or free? Just watch for it? I have seen a few at some times, so maybe that is a possibility (depends on your area though). Then switch them to the new cage and provide them with some sort of care sheet.

 

[Slapdash]

What about trying to find a cage on something like kijiji or craigslist that is inexpensive or free? Just watch for it? I have seen a few at some times, so maybe that is a possibility (depends on your area though). Then switch them to the new cage and provide them with some sort of care sheet.

Ironically this was posted on another thread, a martins for 50$ in NH, not sure how far it is but I'm sure you could talk the seller down a bit if they're still available...

viewtopic.php?f=57&t=18982

 

[Slapdash]

Theres also this one...

Good luck this is a tricky situation.
http://nh.craigslist.org/pet/1738156146.html

 

[Rachael]

but even the "Rat Lady" Debbie D says aquariums are ok

I have NO respect for her and would never think of her as the rat lady. Some of the things she has said are cruel on the rats side.

As Jo said... never suitable.

 

[SQ]

In the past not as much was known about rats and much that people thought was ok was later found to be wrong.
We are all continuing to learn and grow as rat owners.
I don't think any knowledgeable person would suggest an aquarium as a good home for rats anymore.
As for Debbie D., I think that is a different thread for another day but unless I missed something, her website recommends cages for rats: http://ratfanclub.org/cages.html
Some people may use aquariums for nursing moms for the first two weeks (until little eyes pop open) but others use cages with small bar spacing such as martins cages.

Sounds like you have been given some good suggestions.
Hope they can get a good sized appropriate second hand cage and educate the teacher on proper care.

Letting students take home the pet rats over the summer is a very very bad idea .... what happens if they get ill? And how would inexperienced people caring for them recognize they were ill before it was too late.
This teacher needs a lot more then just a good care sheet. Hope the teacher will join this site and learn more about how to properly look after animals under her care.

 

[Moon]

Yes, the old books from way back when said aquariums are okay, to give them a seed mix and to put them on pine shavings. I was looking at an ancient one I had the other day.... oh the misinformation! No wonder my rats were kept completely inappropriately once upon a time, but that's what the books said....