Reacting to my old rat care and first cage setup...

[@RavenIsAnArtist]

2 years ago, I got 2 rats (coco and lucky). They lived in a 10 gallon tank with nothing but a clear castle. A food bowl, and water. My parents gave them to me, one day I held lucky and something just clicked. I asked to have their tank in my room, and since then I've done sooo much research on them. As of today, coco and lucky are living the life in a double critter nation with the same exact size tank they were in once before, being used as a dig box. So many toys, sleeping places, and climbing places now. I have also since got a lot more rats, and have 4 separate groups!

[@jade2911]

It’s kind of nice to know that even the best pet KZbinrs made mistakes, and weren’t born the perfect pet owner. I love that you were able to learn, make improvements and share your experiences with us to make our pet care better! I love your channel! ❤️

[@SubwayBrat]

❤️

[@disgracefulcabaret3640]

Honestly you don't need so much space to feed them properly. I'm in a box room & the girls food is in a storage box!

[@christyanasummers8420]

Yesss

[@echothegecko37]

@@disgracefulcabaret3640 I don't agree but it's ur opinion

[@mattstevens5502]

Sameee

[@Ella-tv9yt]

With my rats I put some of their food in eggs boxes it’s really easy enrichment.

[@bugzythebunny2161]

Ooh I’m going to try that with my degus! Thanks!

[@UnsolicitedThoughtsOfARose]

I do the same!

[@gerwinthetiel8878]

I do that too!! (but for my bird)

[@_Useful_channel_]

🐭🐭

[@niamh7666]

I’m stealing this ! HOW DID I NOT THINK OF THIS !!! I give them a boiled egg once a week 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ never thought of the egg box

[@cecerats]

the merch design looks so cute on a t-shirt!

[@_Useful_channel_]

🐭

[@mariaroose7466]

It does, doesn’t it!

[@maryoleary5044]

I think this video will have a lot of us going "yup! I did that too!" But Emi U kept researching and learning how to make their little lives even better!!... which makes you a fabulous animal carer!

[@robloxiancheesepuff6460]

My dad said I can get any small animals i want in a few years and I chose rats. You have helped me so much to learn how to care for them so now I won't make those mistakes!

[@burntbeansoup]

How's it going?

[@mojothebudgies2901]

I basically live my entire life improving how I care for my animals as I feel so guilty when I think back! lol I remember even with my first pet, a female syrian hamster, I remember always trying to improve. Sadly I never discovered back then about large enclosures with unbroken floor space & paper bedding. I remember buying a rat wheel. This was in like 1999! I also had budgies & canaries in cages I would never use now!! And didn't feed enough vegetables or allow enough out of cage time. 😭 I have improved a lot thankfully, a lot of which is because I live alone and can have my entire living room as a bird room if I want. 😆

[@unlikewyn]

I'm so sorry all your views are gone :( that must literally suck. As a dedicated follower on all avaidabale social medias, it's hard to miss a video😂 good luck on hubble - (I drew that first fanart hehe lol ^•c•^) ~sincerely, a fellow rodent keeper and cat lover

[@canaryinacoalmine_]

Congrats about Hubble! So glad you are rescuing that cutie! He is going to have a great life! Sooo happy for you! YAY YAY YAY!!!

[@lilithjensen9806]

I love rats but my mum does not allow rodents, hopefully when I move out I can get three little guys ❤️

[@nataszas1998]

I feel bad rats are super nice and adorable pets

[@ratatat1009]

My dad hates them "because they're rats" so i photoshopped rats on him. He hated it obviously

[@boomarang3018]

Ratatat that’s amazing 😂

[@suiramnaimad4045]

Rats are super diagusting and awfull pets why would u want some ?

[@nataszas1998]

Suiram Naimad NO THEY ARE NOT I UNDERSTAND A OPION BUT YOU CAN KEEP THAT TO YOURSELF

[@x_nekomew_x]

Congrats on the kitty!

[@wispy15]

So excited to see Hubble on KZbin! I hope your having fun with him!❤️

[@richsobania625]

Aw×wwwwwww

[@Iamafishandsoareyou]

Hey Em! I love your channel, but I was wondering if there will be a “Ask me about my Mice” merch?

[@jenl3928]

Their will! Shes working on it!

[@sophieharris5895]

Ahhhh yes I was wondering the same thing, because I LOOOVE her merch and her channel but I don’t own rats🥺🥺

[@dawncowan7009]

Happily I found you and Isamu shortly after adopting unwanted pet rats. But I can see how we all wish we could go back in time and change our pets care. I had hamsters and Guinea pigs in the past, that now I feel guilty about their enclosures. Also they did live very long lives, most of them. We didn't have all that info back when I had them. So I did my best. As did you.

[@personiguess2453]

I’m just realizing how truly unprepared i would be for rats if not for this channel. I love and appreciate the information about enrichment and proper rat care on this channel :)

[@sofiabartholomew7525]

Omg I remember watching you when you had this exact cage years ago😅

[@alexdwyer570]

I just got my first rats and have watched so many of your videos to help. Thank you for teaching me so much so I can best support my two boys - Macaroni and Ravioli!

[@ghost-iq4ew]

I'm a crocheter and I made them one of their hamacas they started biting it so I sewed so material underneath they still love it and the hide their food in there and love napping in there it's so sweet

[@agnespaisley7897]

I love it when people make these videos because it shows everyone that everybody makes mistakes

[@sofiabartholomew7525]

You should do a full video on reacting to your first ever rat video on your channel.

[@dawncowan7009]

An old hoodie hood or dressing gown hood with 3 shower curtain hooks makes a cheap option on hammocks. My boys love them .

[@abigail1023]

I put my first rat in one of those tiny cages not fit for any living creature, but I soon upgraded to a huge, 3-story Martin's cage.

[@jennifermorley9836]

Ordering a couple shirts and a tote and pins from you soon. Definitley a conversation starter

[@josephineguerrero1802]

This was my first cage as well to! You are such an amazing rat mom and have worked and researched so hard I have just been looking on your much store it’s soooo! Cool love your rats and your new kitten Hubble tow❤️🐭🐱

[@Graces_life]

Love your merch just wish I actually had rats so it would make sense 😂

[@Jejimals]

My old rat cage was a hamster cage... I learned a lot from then and I now have a 4 story wide and tall metal cage, they absolutely love it.

[@rhoffman222]

Mistakes were made but your lip color is no mistake!! Stunning!! Your whole makeup look is beautiful.

[@its.emmaokay1489]

I hope Hubble is doing good at settles in fast! 🐈💞

[@nickierainbow]

I really really like the Oxbow Essentials for adult rats though. I have had many rats reaching the age of 4 or 3.5 with this food as a base diet, mixed with a healthy mix and of course fresh foods. I just think it’s well balanced and healthy for them. I rarely had health issues, the occasional URI or strokes when they reach their elderly years, tumors in rarer instances (I have had more males though).

[@odirex]

I watched your channel for a year before getting my own rats. now one year into having them there's still so much to learn. 🐀🐀🐀🐀

[@abbyroseyingling]

i've been wanting rats for yearsss. i've finally decided i'm going to get two. cages are definitely pricey though.

[@Gillybelly13]

I just adopted two babies and I want to learn from my mistakes from my first round of rats. The first round is still around, so hopefully they will also reap the benefits!

[@knotsoangelic]

My boys and girls had the right cages but where very similar in your setup. Not enough toys or stuff, except I didnt even have any bedding but newspaper because I had no way of putting in bedding without it getting all over my floor and wasnt aware of modifications you could make at the time. I was also dirt poor, moreso than now and couldnt afford much in the way of enrichment or activities. However I did take them out every single day and did my best despite to give them the best life they could have, this i think is the main similarity in first ownership versus gaining more experience. Ive currently opted to keep my ferret nation instead of my shitty four story and have modified it exstensively (mesh, inner plastic pieces to allow more bedding, etc) and honestly comparing my old setup to now is a major improvement! We all grow over time and make mistakes early on. Improvement is what makes us good pet owners. :)

[@ratussymilk273]

Sadly my rat passed today.. she was such a good rat. Before she was in a tank, 4 months later she was in a huge cage. Sadly she got tumors and died 1 year later when 1 got too big.

[@ewkidneystones]

I have never owned rats but I’m thinking about it and I’m glad I’ve been watching your videos so I won’t make any mistakes (not enough space, letting ammonia build up, not giving enough stimuli, etc)

[@peacefulpeaches8350]

The pic of your rats was soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo cute

[@elizabeths5326]

thanks to your videos I will be starting out by providing my rats with the correct bedding and providing them with enrichment!

[@jasmineyoung6961]

Will the pins be back soon? I would love to have one!

[@phdyoutubedegree1939]

i started watching you after getting my buddies. Everything she is saying is spot on. You will learn a lot about raising rats as you go and you will definitely find out what works and doesn't work for you and your rats.

[@lisacarson6223]

I have 2 senior rats that I absolutely love. What should I do when one passes away? I don't intend to get anymore once they're gone.

[@a1exdanvers816]

if you don't think the second one will be around very long, just care for them and interact with them for as long as you have them. If they'll be around for 3+ months, maybe rehome them?

[@em84c]

If someone is selling an old rat maybe you could get it to keep your rat company. I just see your comment is 1 year old. What happened?

[@lisacarson6223]

@@em84c thank you for the advice. As it turns out both of my boys passed away.

[@isabellaayres7801]

Be careful with those foraging balls (the blue one with carrots) one of my old rats got her finger trapped in it and sadly it cut it clean off

[@Velociiraptor]

Oh no!

[@maryoleary5044]

And u gave the little chaps lots of free roaming time in your 'rattie safe' room too!

[@maiarostved]

I’m so excited for Hubble’s first feature on your channel!!

[@alexandrarose1983]

Hiii i just wanted to say i’m getting rats in november and you helped me alot with learning how to take care of them 🥰

[@justasillygoofyguy]

Have you got them yet? :D xx

[@drbettyschueler3235]

If you think your first cage lacked enrichment you would be appalled at the cage I had for my first (and last) rats in the 1970's. It was basically a 10 gallon fish tank with a water bottle, food bowl, some type of bedding material (probably pine chips) and a cardboard house. That is how they lived for over a year. I'm sure being in a fish tank shortened their lives as my brother's two female rats, who he got shortly after meeting mine, lived for 8 years. He had a much better setup, plus his rats free ranged for much of the day, so they led full, enriched lives, unlike mine.

[@jyrsijoita6124]

I wish i could get rats! But i have already 9 other rodents

[@benteboucher5322]

you can never have enough pets, right? (:

[@youdroppedsomething4334]

Wow, 9 :0

[@jyrsijoita6124]

Bente Boucher that’s right! But i will never have enough money

[@dominikacole1797]

U can have enough pets because one day u would be broke from paying for all of their food I mean ur opinion but chill 😐

[@jyrsijoita6124]

Dominika Cole i mean you should chill it’s just a different type of ”joke” ::D

[@Eternatease]

I wish I had known more about good and bad rat foods and illnesses and for instance how to recognise signs of a mites infestation when I started out in the early 2000s. Or how to recognise a knowledgable vet.

[@ris8065]

I don’t have rats. I would buy your mercy if I did. But I couldn’t emotionally deal with their lifespan, so I have a quaker parrot that will live upwards of 30 years...😂

[@em84c]

Yes the bad part of pets is the grief when they die. But I also worry that I will die before my pets and what will happen to them. So a parrot would stress me out a lot. I have a 10 year old cat.

[@hollindorf1007]

Thank you for making these videos! I'm getting my first rat today, and you've helped me so so much!

[@Emiology]

Hopefully not just one rat 😅

[@hollindorf1007]

@@Emiology only one for just a little bit. He's a rescue, and I'm rescuing a second one in a week!

[@jojooffaraway2675]

I wish when I had my first rats I knew they could be litter trained. Ah well. Now I know better for next time.

[@sophiagurney6553]

not me casually getting stressed that i have the same cage but quiet a bit bigger thankfully

[@outta_the_blueog4551]

its funny cause i use oxbow pellets as well with a birdseed mix with my mouse and when i scatter feed the seeds he has so much fun digging for the small little pieces and its adorable

[@outta_the_blueog4551]

i also do feed him veggies btw^^

[@divineclispe]

Omg this is such a cool idea emi !! I was so happy when I got this notification haha ! 🤍

[@rhiannonlindley4835]

We used to have this exact cage with our rats but then we had some really destructive females and they actually managed to chew through the base of cage. We ended up getting one with a metal tray

[@lorezzy]

Oh my. When I think back on my first pair of rats and the cage I had them in, I’d cry haha it was back in 2012. I got them a cage marketed towards rats, but luckily once I got them I realized the cage visibly was too small. And I saw the critter nation cages and bought them a double and I’ve always just used that brand ever since.

[@thedancingvegan13]

Just got a tank top!!! Thanks:) love your videos

[@rtrend112]

Can you pleeeaase do a video on exactly what you feed your rats snd how to make the mix? All I know is pellets and I really want to have healthy rats I love rats and I want them to live a long and healthy life I would be so great full if you did and thank you so much if you do

[@ptaymw]

Look up Isamu rat care here on youtube. There is at least two videos on this topic on Isamu channel, and where Emi refers people in one of her videos. You can also look up Isamu rat care on google to go to the website where the information on making a mix is as well.

[@readingwithfrenchy]

Suggestion on merch, pins! I love pins and I would be able to wear it at work on my shirt or lanyard.

[@Emiology]

I did pins a few months ago ☺️ maybe you missed the video! They’ll be coming back in stock soon

[@readingwithfrenchy]

@@Emiology yay!!! I'm so excited! I think I did miss that one because I would've remembered pins! 😁

[@sofiekkk]

Im gonna have that first cafe for my baby rats, i have strict parents so i need to have the cage at both of them, untill ill have enough to two big cages!

[@badwolf7922]

Hi! I had rats about 15 years ago and we are now starting to get them again and share the joy with our kids! We really enjoy watching your videos and learning ways to better care for them! I was wondering what kind of big cages you have? I’m sure you’ve mentioned it but I can’t find the information. Our cage now is 3 stories but definitely not as big as yours and I’m think once a little boys are bigger they will need an upgrade. Thanks for all the info! We love seeing your animals!

[@lilydrawsart5756]

I was a terrible rat owner when I was younger. I got my first rat at age 11 and kept her in a large bin cage and fed her hamster food. I feel so so bad about it. Now u have 5 girls in a cage that is similar to a critter nation, and I feed them lab blocks with other stuff mixed in for a better diet.

[@cecerats]

i had the same foraging ball and they chewed a huge hole in there

[@Wispa649]

where do you get the rat pee rocks from ??

[@sydney625]

Ild like to know as well please

[@stephaniemonette1074]

Hi there! Are you doing another other reaction videos to rat cages? Would LOVE your insight!

[@silvermoon2999]

This is kinda off topic but I absolutely love your hair❤️😍

[@cinnamon6014]

I love the merch!

[@enirehtaksirrah7936]

Could you find the hanging foraging toy?

[@Eternatease]

I know you already have plenty of other pages on for instance IG and Twitter, but do you also have a Facebook page? I'm not on IG and Twitter myself and also KZbin has problems with sending notifications lately, but I would still like to know what goes on with your rats and whether you post new videos or get new rats or lose one. Thank you 🐀💖

[@sophieharris5895]

Hi!! I absolutely LOVE your channel! It has helped me so much with caring for my mice and learning all about their behaviors and everything!💕💕 I was wondering if you were gonna make a ask me about my mice merch, because I love the merch but I don’t own rats🥺🥺

[@rdanielaa]

OMG your first rats looks like mine rats right now and the are my first rats too

[@rewindbekind9412]

My starter cages were horrible causing me quickly to buy the biggest cage possible. 300 dollars!🤯 Worth it to me😁 There is so much space my girls don't know what to do with it.

[@eraticatorr]

at first I was gonna get mouses, I did some research and ended up going with rats instead since they fit me better

[@marieboy8316]

i’m so excited to get my hoodie from your website for my birthday!!

[@-seesaw-kpop4370]

my friend back in the day held rats as pets I thought it was a bit random lol but after seeing them a few times I thought they were so cute and realy fun pets. I am a massive cat lady lol so I'll never be able to keep rats, rabbits, birds or anything like that (I would want those kinds of animals to have some time outside of the cage as well) but I really enjoy them as animals as well.

[@blueclover4399]

I love the new kitten 😍

[@ballkeeper6662]

would that cage work for mice

[@pewdsfelix7914]

I love your designs but I would really love to see more colors variations on the rats, for example I have one light gray dumbo (just like one of the designs), one black dumbo and a black and white hooded top eared. There for I would like to be able to have for example a mug with each rat, now I understand this may not be doable right now but I hope you see this. Love you channel ❤️❤️

[@Emiology]

More variations are coming ☺️

[@pewdsfelix7914]

Emiology omg I really didn’t think you would see this! This means a lot and thank you:)))

[@AmandaTitus85]

Im still trying to find the perfect bedding for my ratties. In the states, the hemp bedding is really hard to find. The kind I did find was for chickens and was way too dusty. I am currently using the paper pellet bedding because it’s the safest I could find and most cost effective here in the US at least.

[@Shottas4Twenty]

My girls have respiratory problems and I only use fleece. I use fleece for everything, even as substrate. Fleece is not dusty, once it gets wet it expands, so things fall faster through it after every wash. The downside to fleece though is that you have to wash it quite often not just for the smell, but for the sanitization. You cant have your pets running in their own litter all the time can lead to bumble foot. I recommend litter training if you are using fleece.

[@AmandaTitus85]

Aliza canjura ahh yes I forgot to mention I used fleece for a long time but I swapped out of it because of the mess with washing them and they were getting URIs

[@AmandaTitus85]

And my ratties are litter trained. They have a corn type litter material for their two litter boxes.

[@youdroppedsomething4334]

I use kaytee clean and cozy, it’s a safe bedding and I’d say it’s pretty good. You could also use care fresh, I heard that’s a good paper based bedding too..

[@ptaymw]

I used new county organics hemp bedding www.newcountryorganics.com/hemp-bedding-5-cu-ft-bag-33-lbs.html for a while and it was great! Unfortunately it doesn't work for one of my rats (allergies) out of three, and I had to try a bunch of different beddings for her. We are now settled with Kaytee clean and cozy.

[@elodiemorss9580]

i need a blanket with the merch design 😫

[@qiqifan73]

Omg love your merch!

[@nickybaker5365]

hi emi, just wondering what bedding you use for the base of your cage

[@lal0ray]

Love your merch so much Xxx

[@Topazurey]

I'm still watching all of your new Videos because I've finished almost all of your old ones 😬 whoops. No regrets here 🐀

[@Ella-tv9yt]

I love your videos !!!! You have helped me and my three boys so much!!!!!!

[@lexidiane59]

Love watching your vids! I have two male rats Pippa and Cowboy and hoping to get a third very soon 🐀💜

[@alycea481]

i really like her hairz

[@samcat2295]

Is there any better bedding then the one she shown at the start?? I don’t litter train my rats but I do what a cheaper one I tried care fresh but a day latter I found the rat (he was alone for health reasons) gasping for air and I would’ve assume he was sick but with was almost two months ago and that’s the only time it happened

[@tilde4350]

Dogs also greatly gain from being fed in other ways than just from a bowl. It is enriching for them just like for rats and such

[@Emiology]

I know :) I mean in general most of us are raised with dogs and cats who were just cared for generically

[@livp07]

I asked my parents for a mouse and they gave me 2 weeks to prove myself. They ended up saying no cause there was a huge family blowout and my parents hate rodents. I never really liked rats but the more I watch u the cuter they are and the more I feel like they are misunderstand 💔💔

[@ebonyhorne3597]

even with mice you need 2 unless it’s a male, just remember that if they ever say yes

[@livp07]

@@ebonyhorne3597 yes ⟟ know the plan was to get ⏃ male or three females

[@mf-ws3cj]

I got 3 new rats today time to binge emiology

[@gerwinthetiel8878]

gotta say I don't even agree dogs should be fed in a bowl they will love scatter feeding just as much and working breeds will LOVE snuffle mats!!

[@Emiology]

How do you scatter feed raw food lol

[@gerwinthetiel8878]

@@Emiology trrruuuuueeee!! well I mean if you give them treats you could scatter feed it of put it in slow feeding bowl at least... or licky mat..

[@anonpanda3451]

Love your content! I am considering to get a pair of rats and am living in a small student apartment at uni. Would you consider creating a video containing tips for caring for rats in a small space?

[@bendaff9618]

Hi Emi, do you know of any good (but at cheap as posspossible) hammocks?

[@MyPerfectMischief]

Ben daff - you could use an old shirt or piece of fabric (one that doesn’t fray would be best). I’ll sometimes use old shirts, pants, or fleece material.

[@harrietjensen1]

Love your videos so much

[@phdyoutubedegree1939]

once i received my 2 buddies and saw a video of a rat grieving over his brother. I was like...... Hellllll no will my buddies go thru that. The next week i got another 2. I saved 2 from a little girl who was not properly taking care of them. One is an angel and the other has bit me 2 times. I am blaming myself for the bites because of the situations. He is a bit skittish and tenses up when someone goes to touch him. so we have left him alone and wait till he comes to us rather us reaching out to him.

[@libbyford6765]

I am really interested in how you had pets in your uni room, was your university just a rare exception to the rule of no pets or did you hide them? Or get approval of some kind?

[@Emiology]

I wasn’t allowed them! I don’t recommend

[@annewilliamson8482]

Is that cage big enough

[@rae7128]

I watched this video with a rat on my shoulder

[@woodlandcreature8857]

There's alot of stigma around the furat cage, but is adequately sized for 3/4 rats. So many people are biased towards the pet planet cage, usually because of viewing bought adds

[@Emiology]

Viewing bought adds?

[@woodlandcreature8857]

@@Emiology this isn't a reference to your channel I should add, but lots of other pet KZbinrs do paid partnership's with pet planet

[@briannafontana6710]

I just found your channel and it’s so helpful! My friend impulsively bought a mouse with nothing for it so I took it in and I’m slowly learning all the rights and wrongs to owning a mouse from your videos lol! How would you recommend I get her to like me at least a little bit? I’ve let her be for a few days to adjust to her new surroundings so I wouldn’t stress her out other than switching out her food, water, and bedding but she still doesn’t like the idea of my hand being in her cage :(

[@kohlenhydrat2665]

Please adopt some friends for her! Female mice absolutely need a group.

[@briannafontana6710]

lilpeep I will definitely do that then! thank you !! :)

[@kohlenhydrat2665]

She also has a mice introduction video i think.. I'll see if i find the link..

[@kohlenhydrat2665]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/gJLCipWJe7Rpn5o Here's the link! (: I also have a cage recommendation for you. I also have that cage and it's really big and you can put enough bedding for them to burrow in

[@kohlenhydrat2665]

it's named "barney super skyline" but i can't find any link to it.. Idk if it's not getting selled anymore but you can also look for a used one on many different platforms (: