Top 10 Rat products to AVOID

[@rachelaylmer4314]

Seeing the rat in a ball is very upsetting, he’s so squished in there how could you think that’s ok 😞

[@kittenmimi5326]

Yeah like can't they see the rat is massive compared to the ball and can barely move

[@kirvish520]

it blocks their senses

[@idontevenusethisaccount6779]

Kitten Mimi OML I see you everywhere!

[@ratrat9646]

Rachel Aylmer and not only that it could also hurt there tails like small wheels can 😕

[@youdroppedsomething4334]

Horse Lady ღ That means you’re everywhere as well lol

[@veerlevandervloet4483]

I think it's really good that you admit on giving your childhood hamster an exercise ball. It's not good, we all know that, but it's relatable. I think about 90% of pet owners have been misinformed at least once in their life, especially back in the days when there was no internet. When I was little I got my first rat from a pet store that told me it was absolutely fine to keep her on her own in a small cage. I still feel bad about it today, but even my parents were convinced the pet store people knew best how to care for my new family member.. it's astonishing to me that there are still pet stores that give people the wrong information. Luckily you and other KZbinrs are here to show us what our babies really need. Now our 4 girls are well taken care of in their enormous mansion of a cage and that is also thanks to you😊

[@Emiology]

Definitely good to admit where you messed up! Even when I got my first rats I bought a bottle of rat shampoo and I never used it but I was just as misled in the beginning!

[@SquillagusNiggle]

@@Emiology one thing I will say, exercise balls can be ok for very small hamsters as long as they are decent-sized and properly made for safety. We have had several tiny Roborowskis and they love the ball, if we put it near them in their playpen they will dive into it and start running straight away. When they want to come out we trained them to scratch at the sides. Never had any injury or any stress behaviour, they'll often sit and groom for a rest and they learned the way around the entire house while inside. For larger rodents I am totally against it as the air volume they need is so much larger, but the tiny little Robos were happy as anything!

[@archiecook55]

I never personally had a hamster but I would always see people put hamsters in those balls and just think that it's okay and normal.

[@SquillagusNiggle]

@@archiecook55 it upsets me when people cram rodents into tiny cages and tiny balls that are obviously too small for them, same with wheels. With a big ball, it's really up to the hamster's behaviour to tell you if they're happy. We never 'put' the hamster in the ball, we always let it go in voluntarily and they always choose to go in, and choose when to come out.

[@jenm1]

All they care about is profit. You just shouldn't ever support pet stores by purchasing sentient beings there

[@kayeighrat9854]

When I first got rats people kept getting me these balls, those lids went right in the garbage and they turned into beds!

[@katiekellet2470]

thats what I've done x

[@Anne-bl5ib]

Cool! I have a hamster and I use my past hamster's old ball as a hideout for her.

[@ameliapiner9245]

I used the tops as guinea pig treat dishes lol

[@dungbeetlee]

I'm going to do that with a ball for my rats when I get them, I think they will make a cute little bed

[@candy_fruitxx]

@@katiekellet2470

[@sunnybunny6275]

Honestly that first exercise ball clip made me tear up. Poor poor little rat

[@Panda-cute]

I just watched and it's obviously panicking :( I hope it didn't get hurt.

[@rylenvanderhoek2834]

@@Panda-cute The Rat looked so stressed. poor rattie.

[@Panda-cute]

@@rylenvanderhoek2834 I just hope they took it out soon and it never had to go back but idk 😭 I would never do that to my girlies

[@rylenvanderhoek2834]

@@Panda-cute Yea- I'm soon getting Rats, and i'm NEVER getting an exercise ball for them! 😧 also, got any rat name suggestions? I'm getting 3 boys!😃

[@Panda-cute]

@@rylenvanderhoek2834 ooh! Names I considered before getting my ladies were Hannibal and Lecter for boys. I really like the names Fin, Blue, Rocky, etc otherwise. Try to think of names from stuff you like and then see if it fits your rats’ vibes, is that makes sense. :) it helps a lot! Otherwise what do they look yet if you know? Color based names also good

[@axelgoobie7880]

I just recently bought an exercise ball for my rats, thank you for saving them from my mistake haha

[@theanimalqueen6936]

:)

[@rockerbabyfi12]

I also really like that she gave an alternate use instead of wasting money or tossing a piece of plastic.

[@pastapartyify]

You got them a new fun bed! :)

[@CreepyMcSteezerson]

Yeah someone gave me one with my critter nation cage. I've now learned that your ready will naturally bond with you and you really don't need to confine them like that. They're very smart and can be trained to come on call. Most times I don't even need to. They just want to be around me anyway.

[@kalystalmao891]

awsten 😟 knight 😟

[@finley6161]

If using an exercise ball as a hide, still be careful. I've heard instances of small pets getting their feet trapped it the air holes when they climb them. Just something to consider.

[@sparx9565]

rachel i guess I recommend using something to seal the gaps like i used resin to cover a hole in the bottom of my hamsters sand bath and it works really well

[@kittenmimi5326]

Just seal that from the inside~

[@amandagreco2545]

This is where fabric comes to play u can place fabric and sew on opposite side so their feet don’t get stuck but once chewed u can repair quickly.

[@cutest_pets]

Oh Frick I read your comment so wrong (deleted the comment). I agree, this is where fabric comes in place

[@jsk-art]

Unrelated but it's cool seeing another Unus Annus fan here

[@Aeris357]

God the video of the rat in the ball and the one being bathed... I almost cried at their distress 😣

[@woomeebly]

I despise rodent balls. Just don't agree with them at all.

[@littlestars7537]

Ik it was so sad to see 😭

[@f1shstiks]

peruse aclip1234 i agree. some people say they are okay for hamsters as long as its large enough, but putting a hamster in an exercise ball has the same risks

[@teijaflink2226]

They should just stop selling those, they are just stresfull for the animals.

[@Danielle-rq4st]

I’ve been doing research on rats for 6 months and I’m getting 2 males in two months 🥰

[@terrestrial9622]

im getting 2 females somewhen this year. August at the earliest, already ordered the cage which is coming on monday

[@plushsoftiie7523]

Danielle MM same i’m getting 2 rats in 1 month and have done research for a couple weeks now!

[@graceclover8697]

I’m getting 2 males as soon as I finish researching and save up money. I need to get a second job tho😔

[@evy7406]

isnt 2 not enough? i remember her saying its ok but not recommended

[@graceclover8697]

@@evy7406 idrk tbh, I got 3 instead because 2 didn’t feel like enough for me

[@Kysa1140]

‘Why can mice live in tanks and rats can’t?” Well maybe because they are different and they require different care....

[@soph4850]

Literally

[@sofiabartholomew7525]

I’m so glad that you mentioned snak shaks!! They are such a hazard and very common. They clog up their digestive systems and in some cases they can die from it. Please don’t use these even though they seem like a great idea.

[@ChChChelsky]

I'm SO glad I never bought one I had in my Amazon cart!

[@Ms3queen]

Those freaking things should be discontinued IMO...

[@emmamills4875]

Sofia Bartholomew I am glad she said that to because I was going to buy one of the houses for my future rats

[@chirstenstanley363]

Yeah I told one of my friends who got one for her guinea pigs and she didn't listen to me. It died :(

[@pt7802]

Yeeters Stanley Actually guinea pigs can use them ,mostly as hay racks,but they are safe. Edit:But if they chew too much on it then it becomes a hazard because of the ingredients

[@amiaeckard7743]

So happy my exercise ball repurposing made it in as a positive example for you ♥️ there aren't a lot of trustworthy sources on rat-specific care out there so I'm rly glad KZbin recommended your channel to me

[@Emiology]

Thank you for letting me use it! 💞

[@fleurdejong2449]

I got two rats three days ago and since then I've been watching your videos non stop. You have really helped me set up a good enviroment for my rats :)

[@rmeows5087]

14:48 My father is a neuroscientist and has tested on rats (humanely) before in ways that benefit the rats as a side effect. He found that, in summary, younger rats need more sources of protein, while older ones are negatively affected by the same high amounts.

[@Disturbed_Banana_Man]

Thank you for sharing this this is very helpful!

[@alannah8223]

That video of the rat in the exercise ball was really sad especially since it looked really small for him. He look terrified.

[@silas.t.]

The subtitles get the word ‘rat’ wrong every time! 😂 One time it said ‘guts’ instead of rats.

[@ghost_animates7926]

2:19 it got it right

[@animalcrossingnerd8142]

My Said wrap owner

[@margalothegreat_hams]

haha yes it's said wraps, raps, bats, slats, racks, and once (in a different video) it even said rocks!

[@kirra0000]

“Make them safe for your guts to stand on”

[@littlestars7537]

I’m so so glad you mentioned that snak shak edible tunnels and huts aren’t safe as I lot of people dont know that they are made of pine how gross! I do inform people if I see them in someone’s vid though! I hope more people make vids on them and I know I will 😱😑

[@luka12398]

I'm a first time rat owner, but I have learned alot from you! I get a great cage at first, but only got 1 rat. I watched your video on rats being social, and I'm so glad I didn't make any of these buying mistakes. I hope you have a great day!

[@aardfay]

I have also noticed my rat's tumors got smaller/stopped growing as fast after I stopped feeding them those low quality blocks :\ It's really sad I didn't know about this before.

[@Ianto_Jones]

Which ones? The Snak Shak?

[@Ianto_Jones]

Nvm ik what u mean

[@caitlynr2409]

I panicked when Emiology said that u can’t use mesh cages as I wanted to use my chinchillas cage as my rats but then she said I can cover it so then I was happy as I have some fleece to go on the bottom I used to use for my chinchillas then realised I don’t need to use it 🐀💕

[@noone6aj128]

I had that woolly soft stuff in my rats cage and I took it out straight away thanks so much for the video!! It helped alot

[@rixavie]

I'm getting rats again in a week after not having them for a year and a half, and refreshing my memory on rat life enrichment etc woth the help of your videos have been incredibly helpful!

[@spoopybat7880]

I'm glad you're putting this information out there especially for younger owners (or their parents). I made so many mistakes when I was a kid and got my first rat. I used scented bedding, the fluffy stuff for his hide, wire bottom cages, store bought food mixes, and bathing (though I learned after one bath how much he hated that). As an adult I feel incredibly guilty for putting him through that stress/risk because I could've done better. I also know that a lot of my mistakes were made because of the misinformation I got from my very limited resources. So many pet owners have made similar mistakes and admitting to making them can be difficult, but showing that you've learned from that sets a great example for others. Rats are some of the sweetest pets I've ever had and putting good information like this out there will help improve so many lives!

[@rosierose8643]

i honestly might buy an exercise ball just because the little hide/bed you made out of it looks super cozy!!! it'd be fun to put some bedding in there too, and make it like a little den.

[@arsonsnail]

i know i'm a year late but i would suggest getting a little fish bowl or round plant pot instead! that way you don't have to cover it in fleece and it's a bit more budget friendly!

[@bengeesanify]

A good tip if you have or are getting pet rats is not to keep them in your bedroom because they can stink up your bedroom, but keep them in a room close to your bedroom.

[@allaboutchallenges5497]

I’m getting my first rats this weekend so I am binge watching all of the most important videos about them to make sure I’m prepared and know how to care for them! I’m so glad I found this page and I’m going to get everything they need and prepare it for their new home :)

[@arsonsnail]

how are they doing? i got a rat from my moms ex coworker on tuesday, i was supposed to be watching her but they don't want her and she's in a teeny cage and it smells so bad and she's alone :(

[@addisongutierrez5494]

the subtitles said "im looking at the tank my wife's living in" instead of mice

[@joanalovesyou]

when i adopted my hedgehog the breeder actually gave me an exercise ball...i wish i knew better not to use it

[@Hannah-xt9uv]

Yes the saucer is good

[@greenjasper2672]

Love these rat videos! I'm still doing my best to prove to my parents that I am worthy of owning pet rats. To do that I need as much information on them as I can get. I appreciate your videos they really help. 😃

[@venom_527]

TicTac wheels for the win🙌🏻 14 inches for females and 16 inches for males

[@suzielockwood8513]

My rats cage use to be at the end of my bed and he pulled my flat sheet into his cage and put holes in it and slept in there

[@AbisAnimals]

Pawsome video! So informative now I know what not to buy if I ever get ratties! I love your channel so so much! Loved your stream this morning! 🐭🐾❤️🐁🐀

[@iamsaztak]

If you have one of those mesh wheels, you can probably disassemble the wheel from the stand, and still use the wheel as a fun climbing tool. I found one for super cheap that I picked up even though i knew it wasn't the right kind of wheel for them. And they actually really love climbing on it. I imagine they could be attached to the cage in fun ways too (though I just use it during playtime). They find it quite fun to stand on the outside of the wheel and use their front feet to pounce-attack any rat in the middle lol they seem to enjoy the straight stabilization bars too for some reason. thanks for sharing.

[@Avocetexotics]

I don't think I will be able to get rats as long as I live with my parents. But once I move out I would love to own them. Even though I won't move out for another 4 to 6 years I figured It would be better to research as much as I can. I always think that it is better to know a lot about an animal and not own it, than own an animal and know nothing about them. Thank you so much for all of this amazing information! I love seeing all if you fur babies. Stay safe! Xoxo

[@showbizstudios655]

I’ve just been binging your channel, my mom got me a rat cage (it’s large and has plenty of room to climb) as well as bedding, feed, toys etc. for Christmas; now I’m brushing up on the rat care research I did a few months ago as well as making sure we get all the supplies we need. Unfortunately there’s not any rat breeders or rescues that carry rodents very close by (the closest one is about 7 hours, oh boy), but I’m still searching, because if I must get them from a pet store, it’ll be an absolute last resort. But I’m going off topic- thank you for all of your helpful information! Hopefully I can utilize it and give my babies the best life possible.

[@thaivining5098]

Look at Facebook groups! You might find smaller breeders or rats that need rehomed, that's where I got my boys

[@showbizstudios655]

@@thaivining5098 thank you for the advice! Though I got my little fur babies back at the end of January. Two girls, sisters, and I love them dearly :) their favorite thing to do is climb into my hoods and sleeves and they would do about anything for a dried banana chip

[@thaivining5098]

@@showbizstudios655 oh awesome! Congratulations!!!

[@littlepaws697]

Thanks for this video! This is very helpful, now I know what products not to buy for my girls. Love your channel ❤️

[@floofytailz]

I bought my rats a huge exercise ball because I thought it was fine as long as it was big enough. Thank you so much for the suggestion as it was expensive. I used it once and my rat was so afraid of it that he got sick but now I can repurpose it, thank you!

[@jadelynnray]

this video was so helpful! i dont own any rats yet but am planning to in about a year. righ tnow i am trying to do my research and figure out if i am suited to own rats and properly take care of them. your videos have helped me so much! thank you

[@graceebutrick1991]

As a first time rat momma, your videos have helped me make their lives so healthy and full of happy memories, thank you so much

[@SquillagusNiggle]

For a really good large, strong and safe wheel I recommend the Silent Runner... it comes in a few sizes and it's great, it's the big yellow one. Solid running surface that can be removed for cleaning, rock-solid metal base, real axle bearing so its very quiet and smooth, and the entryway is huge with very rounded holes and no axle in the middle so no risk of injury.

[@juliabuonsante779]

is it actually silent?

[@SquillagusNiggle]

@@juliabuonsante779 no wheel is 'silent' but it's really close. The only thing you hear is the hamster's feet and claws, the wheel itself as an actual all-metal bearing so it's really smooth-running. The smallest size was fine for our Robos, never had any trouble moving it until they got older. They love it, always rush towards that wheel when we put it in after cleaning.

[@cashmerecat7892]

@@SquillagusNiggle how much is it ?

[@coleredford7697]

@@cashmerecat7892 search it up and find out🥴

[@Mean_Jean]

You and Shadow the Rat are the best rat channels in my opinion

[@kaylaposey7616]

TheRatGuru is my personal favorite, but she hasn't posted anything for awhile now. :(

[@MyPerfectMischief]

IsamuRatCare is a very educational channel, too :)

[@sinandcyanide7505]

@@kaylaposey7616 I love that channel and was so sad to see there hadn't been any new videos for so long. I only recently got rats and was learning so much from her.

[@bingus4118]

i was thinking about getting an excersise ball, thank you for informing me

[@danapassero2232]

My rats are sooo spoiled, they have a bell hanging in their enormous deluxe household. Every time I gave them a treat, I would ring the bell. As so as it came to be, they rang the bell when they saw me eat. The rest is history, they trained me well..... Also, I never close their doors, they are afraid of heights and only go out on the ledge. After they ring for room service of course.

[@wiktoriaszweda2278]

The only time i ever had go wash my rats was when Mocha found my acrylic paints and decided to roll in them. Baby wipes just weren't doing it. He still was a bit blue for a week.

[@xxyy1318]

Dawn dish soap diluted? Olive oil?

[@Mercutihoe]

I’m getting my first rats tomorrow and I’m trying to make sure that I have everything right before they come home, thank you for this video!

[@atlas6121]

I’ve fed both of those nugget foods to my rats in the past and one of them passed away from a brain tumour 😥

[@Ash-07388]

Ive finally got my mum to agree to getting rats!! Ive been doing alot of research on then before i get them because i wanna make sure i take care of them as good as possible!! Your videos really help and ive been watching them constantly!! I cant wait to get my rats, im so excited!!

[@anneholterman9016]

As a rat mom the videos of the rats in a excerciseball really hurts my heart😪

[@blvckbabi7781]

I used a big fitted piece of cardboard for my cage and the rats love it so that is also an option if you need a cage base on a budget!

[@amayawolfe2792]

Thank you so much for posting this! The bit about the exercise wheel was especially helpful since I had just ordered a wheel that was 11" in diameter. As soon as you said that I quickly went and canceled the order for that particular wheel.

[@jessierobinson7512]

Well the clips were just too stressful for me to watch (of people using these products)! So glad you are helping to educate people about what is best for rats! ❤️

[@annatoullie4914]

Whenever I think about the rats pov while being bathed I think of that one scene from ratatouille where he's going through the sewers via flash flood river sewer system.

[@herbcutler3194]

They like to nibble on paper, that's the only product I'd say to keep away from them besides anything considered poison. But, my cavies chewed on a painting once and I kinda liked the nibbles. Added to it somehow.

[@Tyler171819]

The claw pulling of the excise ball was something I wondered about as a little kid, but adults never mentioned it so I assumed it didn’t happen V-V

[@shanak5560]

I got a playpen for my rats. The mesh too even zips up so I don’t have to worry about them climbing out. It’s a life saver when it’s cleaning day.

[@somidao2628]

for bedding, i highly recommended kiln dried aspen shavings (or aspen that has been dust extracted in general), or kiln dried pine shavings. if you want to use pine, it absolutely 100% needs to be kiln dried to extract the toxic phenols and scents that are harmful to your rats. these two beddings have superior ammonia control, aren't dusty, and are natural. they also tend to be cheaper and last longer than paper bedding, as they don't need to be changed out as often. one of the main problems i have with paper beddings is they have no ammonia control, and if they do, they most likely have additives. paper needs to be changed out every 2-3 days, while KDP or aspen can be changed out weekly. and i am completely aware that bedding comparisons say that carefresh is generally the best, but beware. carefresh tends to be extremely dusty, gets mushy when in contact with waste, and stinks like hell. 99.9% dust extracted is a lie. after sharing experiences with other rat owners, the general consensus is to steer clear of paper bedding. P.S. if you choose to use fleece liners, make sure they are thick and have an absorbent layer to soak up urine. fleece liners also need to be washed every 1-2 days to prevent ammonia build up. don't skimp on cleaning!

[@crazyratlady3438]

Yes I agree about the carefresh..STINKS! I use the Aspen and have done so for 20+years..well, I didn't have rats for almost 10years and recently adopted 4 boys. I tried carefresh initially and thought something might be wrong w the boys bc of the atrocious odor after not even 48hrs. Decided to get some Aspen asap and see if that made a difference before toting them into the vet and WOW..what a difference it makes lol.

[@laradavenport903]

Or you could used hemp bedding! I just learn this year for my girls rats. I have tried Carefresh before, it failed.😔 The bedding had roughly texture like dried toilet paper and made my past rat sneezed. It were very dusty as you said!

[@carlajohnson144]

Thank you so much for all of your informative videos. You are my go to for any advice I need for my 2 rattie boys. Because of your videos, I have learned soooooo much about my boys & you have equipped me to be a better rat mom to them. They thank you as well!! I'm still a fairly new rat mom, but I will continue learning from you & I see myself as a long term rat mom. They just add such a sunshine to my days!! Most pet stores I have encountered give little to absolutely no info on full term rat care & it is disturbing to me especially when they are the ones selling them. I walked out of a pet store with 2 baby male rats, a large hamster cage, paper bedding, & a bag of food with some pellets & sunflower seeds 😐. I obviously researched & I am continuing to learn more each day. These stores need to better educate. How can you sell an animal with minimal info to the customer & be confident that these creatures will live a healthy happy life???? Thank you again for educating!

[@exotic_rubberduckyy8664]

It always makes me so happy to see your videos

[@kaisiler105]

i’m getting two female rats this week, and your videos are so helpful. thank you!

[@Beakface]

Hey, great video, Just found your channel after buying some treats for my 2 girls. You mentioned that the 2 foods you showed are low quality but didn't give an examples of high quality. Alternatively it would be good to see how you make your own mix. I had a look through your videos and cannot see one. Apologies if i'm being blind!

[@Emiology]

I have a whole video talking about rat food and I mention why I won’t share making my own mix and link to a video showing you how 🙂

[@spider_noodles5850]

Good thing I watched this cause I just bought that exact scented bedding. I didn’t know about scented being bad but I did now about the dust and it said dust free on the bag but as I was filling my cage with bedding there was dust everywhere so I was already looking at other options for my rats. I just got my rats a week ago and there 2 months old. Still trying to get them to be used to me which is working a little bit but there still cautious. Your videos help a lot! I decided I wanted to have pet rats so before getting them I did weeks of research before getting them and I’m already so attached to them I love them so much!🥰 I’m gonna start saving to get them an even better cage then what they have and start making there own food and I’m gonna see which better bedding for them is at the store this week. I don’t play wen it comes to animals I make sure I get the best of everything for them because if I’m gonna have animals I wanna make sure it’s the best life they can have. Even if I go broke because of them.😂 I used my whole entire paycheck on them last week and I plan on doing it again with my next paycheck. I’m 17 I don’t pay rent so every penny can go to them😌

[@purpleunicorn9351]

Just watched the livestream! I don't think its just right to advertise products for rats when they just aren't safe, Ly

[@AlexanderJasperJay]

For anyone scrolling in the comments. A mix of coco coir and Aspen shavings works amazing as bedding. My girls never used to burro before I started using them together and now I can't get them to stop. My floor is a mess. I sweep seven times a day and keep a hand vac next to their cage. I have to build a base for my cage now 🙃

[@ainsleyboyce3401]

Thank you for your videos ! I love watching them so much .

[@gloomy9100]

Getting my first rats in a few weeks and i find your videos extremely helpful!

[@sparx9565]

I feel so awful because i never realised that the safebed paper bedding is actually paper wool. I havent used it in a long time but I feel absolutely awful for ever using it for my hamsters

[@forrest_fairy]

It's okay we all make mistake now you know💕

[@sparx9565]

unwanted_ mary problem is that its labled as ‘paper’ so i just assumed without thinking too much about it. No idea why they would even make it wool surely its much more expensive:( brands need to be a lot more clear with their labelling

[@jenm1]

What's the brand?

[@TheGhostlyCaptain]

Thank you for your information, this will hopefully save many rats from potential accidents or worse :) I wouldn’t consider myself an experienced rat owner but I’m on my 5th set of rats but this time we got a mischief :) 6 cute little nuggets :) they’re in a huge cage with plenty of space for ventilation but it’s also filled with toys, Sputniks, hammocks, etc so they always have a place to hide or sleep as an empty cage is also bad for rats as they need plenty of places to feel safe in :) bedding we just use unscented plain tissues which we spread all over the cage to encourage natural foraging behaviour, they love to run around grabbing up all the paper and taking it to their nests and very interesting to watch :) food wise we use science selective and give extra food depending :) we never use the honey coated items because the risk isn’t worth it :) the wheel we have is big enough for our girls and they get couch and bed playtime everyday too :)

[@Maxxx48281]

11:52 I’ve used that exact bedding before, I had no idea it was bad for them!! Thank you so much for informing me so I can not use it again.

[@ashleyjean8659]

Omg I am guilty of buying an exercise ball for my rats but I realized that they really don’t do anything when I put them in it and I was gonna turn it into a make shift house or a fake crystal ball 😂

[@aaronbishir9058]

I like the exercise ball idea! I used them for my mouse and now have a huge playpen for him instead. He seems to really like running in his ball so I figured it’s okay for him, but I don’t want him to get hurt or sick so I’ll quit using them. I think he and his asf friends will love using it as a bed instead!

[@Eternatease]

what is this "I'm first" fetish about? Like anyone cares...

[@Emiology]

Haha I don’t know where it comes from 😂

[@mrbigglesworth_Official]

Don't look into it everyone, it's just harmless fun, it has now just turned in to a pee take from way back when KZbin first started (showing my age)

[@ChChChelsky]

@Anna Stripinis Can't make sentences longer than 5 words without the internet claiming you are trying to be deep and intellectual.

[@casperdavis3916]

The first time I had rats I was 6, they were supposed to be my sisters who was 16 at the time. My sister didn't care for her rats so me and my mom did, the rats may as well have been mine. They were living in a tank with a small wire cage on top. I put them in a ball all the time. I will always feel terrible about how we cared for the rats but I will forever be thankful my mom decided she didn't want to deal with them anymore and gave them to someone who knew how to properly care for rats while they were still younger, probably 1 year old.

[@xxjustcallmejayxx]

Hi Emi I love you and your channel and your rats you have taught me so much!💞🐅

[@Slugqueennala]

This is SO helpful! Thank you! I have done it right (so far) but there are so many things in this vid I didn't know and could have easily done. My babies thank you!

[@randomshorts742]

Thank you SO MUCH for all this amazing, useful info. I wish it was possible to subscribe more than once! This will have helped so many rat owners out there, you should be the proudest person on Earth! You are choosing to do some great things with your life! I'm only a kid and (obviously) don't know too much about rats to start off with (or much about anything in general lol) so your videos are helping me so much! I am doing loads of research on rats and lizards! I am getting two little rats in about four weeks, my mum said I had to be super good and helpful for six weeks straight to get them! Today is actually the first day of week three on the rat counter 😊! I'm so excited!! I will also be getting a lizard (or two) a little while after that! We do have two cats, a dog, and are going to get another dog six weeks after it is born (it's not born yet 😊), but I have planned it all out, and, like I said before, I am doing SO MUCH research about rats and lizards so I can be the best owner I can 😊. Your channel is now my favourite, and the one I refer to most! Thank you so much!

[@randomshorts742]

[@RaccoonWithRabies]

Okay but may I just say, the rat being held into the frame at 2:45 was goddamn adorable. I don't come across mice in real life very often, so seeing just how *tiny* they are compared to already-small rats seems insane to me.

[@xxyy1318]

Dont curse. Kids watch this. Dont blaspheme. Just wrong

[@feefeejones4236]

50 minutes ago. . . There's already 60 comments- *Holy Hecc*

[@RavenIsAnArtist]

5:39 I have this cage! You can slide the wire out and the tray in, and when you need to clean the tray after a few bedding changes that's when you use the wire.

[@xxyy1318]

Disinfect and rinse and dry after bedding changes.

[@RavenIsAnArtist]

@@xxyy1318 Yes!

[@crissyharding-gac7523]

I buy a lot of bird toys from the pet store for my 15 rats and they love them!

[@Hana.Behl-Lecter]

Phew…Thank you for mentioning tanks were okay for mice! That’s what I keep my two little ones in and my heart dropped for a second there.

[@linneafrangipane5785]

i haven't owned rats yet but watching your videos for a while i already know all of this haha. still enjoyed it though

[@pikuproductions2790]

I'm saving up for pet rats, but I currently have hamsters who have quite a horrid scent to them. What i use is called an "odor genie" and it is in a grey container with holes. It quite literally soaks up all of the bad scents and doesn't harm your animal. I have it out side of my hamster's cage hung on the wall. If you sniff the "odor genie" on purpose, you can't even smell the scents that it's soaked up. It works like magic!

[@Nyxerodactyl]

Is there a store bought food you do recommend? I’ve always used oxbow, and added extra protein when needed

[@petsgalour]

Extremely informational! Thank you for posting! 😎👍🏻♥️🐁

[@bellaleakey4326]

I have two rats 🐀 and there really happy

[@elliealmondrider1810]

I used to use pet store nuggets and pet advice, and had to take my rats to the vet constantly but then i reached out to other owners and started on my own mix and we rarely go to the vet unless we need to do routine checkups which is such a relief because we were spending atleast $2000 in 4 months

[@ariellegreenstone6165]

thank you! very helpful. i’ll definitely avoid these

[@TalentedPotato]

Do you have a video on getting rid of smells that rats cause/have? New rat owner here and I’m grateful for all of these videos! They’re super helpful for newbies like me💕

[@Emiology]

Yep I do!

[@Ola-fl6ut]

Why do people still do wire wheels

[@Emiology]

It's beyond me, since joining Tik tok i've seen so many use them. I think until pet stores stop selling them, people who don't do prior research will unfortunately make the mistake of buying them :(

[@helloitsbella8161]

I personally use wire mesh wheels with my mice, because here in Australia, they’re just about the only wheels you can get that are 8 inches or bigger (my mice use an 8 inch wheel) and won’t break the bank. I do believe that wire mesh wheels - never wire barred wheels - are suitable for mice, but there are a few things you really need to make certain of for a wire mesh wheel to be as safe as possible (and that I see people doing wrong all the time), and these are: 1. That the holes in the mesh are the right size, so that your mice or rats can’t get their toes or feet stuck. For mice you want a wheel where the mesh is large enough that their toes easily pass through (so they don’t get trapped), and small enough that their legs can’t pass through. Most larger wire mesh wheels have mesh that’s far too big for mice. 2. That you hang the wheel from the side or roof of the cage so that the cross beam is not able to be climbed on (there’s a video of a hamster getting stuck between the cross beam and the wheel and being hit by the wheel when another hamster ran on it. It went viral a few months ago and it’s why this is really important). 3. That you clean it often. I see a lot people saying that wire mesh leads to bumblefoot, but as you mention, it happens when bacteria enters a creak in the skin on the feet. I do actually believe that wire mesh wheels lead to bumblefoot more often than solid wheels, because poop falls through and wee runs off, which makes them look far cleaner for far longer than a solid wheel, which gathers waste quite obviously. I think people clean their wire mesh wheels a lot less often and forget that just because the waste has fallen through the mesh, doesn’t mean that the bacteria is gone. 4. That they’re still the right size for mice. I see a lot of people using very small wire mesh wheels, because these wheels do run very tiny, and this is just not okay. 6.5in is generally touted as the absolute minimum for very small mice, but I use an 8in wheel and for my small/average sized mice, it’s perfect (and I have Manx mice, too). If you have English show or similarly HUGE mice, then I’d say go even bigger, 12in if you have to. The only limit to how big your wheel is is the mesh size and if your mice are strong and heavy enough to spin it. With all of this being said, I’m still not entirely sure if I think that wire mesh wheels are suitable for rats. I personally don’t like my rats to walk on mesh levels, but the mesh on a wheel IS much smaller and probably more comfortable to walk on. I still feel weird about it. Rats are so much heavier than rats and I think the kind of small mesh I’m talking about would still have to be very well coated to avoid cutting their feet with their weight and speed on the wheel. I also think that a lot of these wheels would probably be flimsy enough to be dangerous for rats, and because they need to be hung from the cage proper, they could also be too heavy for practical use, too. We know that wire bar wheels aren’t suitable, and here in Australia, it’s absolutely not possible to get a solid wheel big enough for rats that’s less than $100AUD, so for now, my rats are without a wheel, and they probably always will be. Any wheel for a rat needs to be just so huge that it’s largely inconvenient to have them in a cage and it encourages people to push just how small they can go. The very big silent spinner wheel pictured in this video, for example, had what looked to be an average sized female rat running on it, and that wheel was easily too small for her. They’re just not something most rat owners should bother with.

[@Ola-fl6ut]

@@helloitsbella8161 if i were in a country which plastic wheels were tiny and there was big wire wheels with spacing in between small enough to not catch full feet or tails I also would choose the wire wheel to be honest.I The barred ones with giant spacing are completely not suitable not the mesh

[@mochitheexplorer2498]

@@helloitsbella8161 what about homemade wheels? You can make a good size solid wheel at home! There's videos on youtube so if You would like to make one just check here

[@Tundrawr]

I'm getting 2 very young rats tomorrow and I was wondering if you have any tips on what to look for when choosing them, your videos are so helpful💕

[@littlestars7537]

Oh no I’m late! Came straight from the live! 🥰😘

[@annelieserood1146]

i had a Carolina storm wheel for my first hamster a few years ago and it was the perfect size and he loved it. i definitely recommend it for anyone looking for a wheel

[@jadyfrancis1439]

I had my rats in a tank for 2 weeks and we got them a hugeeeee cage they are good, that’s my mistake I made

[@LOVELYLITTLENOBODY]

I am a new rat owner, and I'm glad I watched this before I made any more mistakes. The exotic pet store I got my rats from had wood chip bedding and only guaranteed their health for a week. The food they had looked like it was just lettuce and maybe cabbage. I unintentionally bought a cage too small for them, and currently am trying to afford a bigger one. Luckily I picked unscented paper bedding at the store, and I did get some rat food, but I also blend it in with cabbage, carrots, and lettuce. I and hoping to let them try other foods such as bananas and apples. I did buy a huge exercise ball for them and did try to put them both inside. They were terrified and I feel so bad. I swore never to use it again. If anyone would like to give some tips and advice for me, that would be greatly appreciated! Thank you for reading.

[@Cookietheham]

I like the way she says resp ir itory instead of resp-it-Tory :) lol

[@lemonhammys5701]

hi I'm getting rats. I've been watching your videos, the have been really helping me know what to do. thank you so much!

[@alexisrice7688]

I used to use the kaytee lavender scented bedding but I switch to the kaytee non scented bedding is that okay??

[@Emiology]

Yes 🙂

[@crazycat1166]

I've only had rats a few weeks. I definitely agree it's a minefield.... even within rat care forums. I keep getting into "substrate wars" 🙄🤦. Everyone told me bedmax was the best beddings and that I needed to get them off the bedding I was using (natural carefresh) immediately. So I followed this advice and within days of using the bedmax one of my rats started sneezing constantly. I felt it was the bedmax because when I opened it I could tell straight away the pine smell was really strong. So I ordered Econest (shredded card substrate) online but due to having to wait over the bank holiday for delivery I made the decision to temporarily remove all the bedmax and put them back on the natural non scented carefresh. I was jumped on in the rat forum telling me carefresh is "way worse" than bedmax and I should have kept them on the bedmax until the shredded cardboard arrived. This made no sense to me since it was clearly bothering my rat. Eventually I had to decide to just go with my gut instincts and ignore the forum advice because to me carefresh is a better temporary option than one that was causing sneezing. 🤷‍♂️. I couldn't find shredded cardboard in any local pet shops so carefresh (no colour or scent) was all I could access immediately....🤦😖....so frustrating when everyone gives such strong different opinions Also thanks for the info about softbed paper wool! I bought some but luckily haven't put it in the cage yet (I won't now)!

[@kristiandevil]

When I first got rats I tried giving them a running wheel because I got it with my cage. They sniffed it once and never looked at it again

[@gusgrizzel8397]

I had a vet tell me to put pine or cedar shavings in my rats' cage. This is bad, as the oils from those woods get into the rats' lungs. The rats are just crawling on those, and they can't get away from the oils. Some people aren't knowledgeable, so videos like this are good. I wound up using paper towels, and changed them a lot, and the rats self litter trained in one corner. I kept the cage clean for them. The poor rat in that ball, and the guy goes and spins it. Just awful. Terrible people. It probably couldn't breathe in there either.

[@pandoraaworani5590]

this is very helpful thank you!