RatPalace.com - Pet Rat Care and Discussion

Thu Mar 25, 2004 7:32 am

I've read a lot of places that you can place a brick in your rat cage in a high-traffic area and it can help to wear down their claws a bit.

Recently, I was gifted with a few bricks by a friend of mine. The bricks have never been used for anything, they've just been laying around in a lawn for a few years. I'm already cleaning them up so there shouldn't be anything harmful on them.

My concern is this: the bricks I was given are the kind that have those little holes in them (I have no idea why they make bricks that way). I was wondering if that type of brick would be safe for rats to play on since I thought perhaps they could get a foot caught in one of the holes or something similar? Would it be better if I tried to find a completely solid brick, or will these bricks be safe and suitable for my rats?

Any information or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Edit: If this is in the wrong forum, then feel free to correct me. I just figured it would go in the cage area since the brick is an addition to their cage and toys.

So if I was wrong, I won't be upset if the post is moved to another area to correct my error.

~ Heather

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The boys: Victor, Marcello, Antonio, Samiel, Nagataka and Kiyoshi
The girls: Jade, Nevere, Saraid, Carrie, Kitra, Lydia, Ran, Juno and Kali
The less-than-celestial gerbils: God and Satan
...And all the rest...!

Thu Mar 25, 2004 9:56 am

If you're not comfy with the bricks, go to the shore and get them some large, smoothish, sea-washed rocks.

Still rough enough to help toenails, but no holes.

Edit: Um, sorry ... not everyone can just toodle off to the shore, right?

Maybe some reptile/aquarium rocks from a pet supply store?

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Kate & the M.O.U.S.
If you saw a man drowning and you could either save him or photograph the event ... what kind of film would you use?
~ Anonymous

Thu Mar 25, 2004 10:47 am

Hehe. Sadly, we don't have an ocean here for me to go to the shore, and unfortunately the only things I brought home with me last time I wandered a shoreline were sea shells. Confused

I had thought about trying some lava rock for fish aquariums, since I do keep fish as well and have thus seen those rocks often. I just wasn't sure if they were too rough or not since one of my girls is hairless.

Generally I'd be comfortable with the bricks if not for the holes. I just looked at those and thought, "Hrm, that looks kind of like a rat-foot trap to me," so I figured I would ask a few opinions.

I'm thinking, if my ratties won't dig it out themselves, I could stuff some bedding and/or newspaper down into the holes in the bricks to prevent rattie feet from fitting into it the holes, and just change the paper/bedding when I clean the cage. I'm not sure how it would hold up though, since I have no idea if my rats would dig at it or not.

I'm thinking I'll either experiment with stuffing something into the holes on the bricks, or, I'll go get regular solid bricks or some aquarium rocks. The only aquarium rocks I have right now are simple, smooth pieces of slate (doh! I have a ton of it and nothing to do with it, but I don't have ANY of the rock that I could use... figures. Rolling Eyes

)

_________________
The boys: Victor, Marcello, Antonio, Samiel, Nagataka and Kiyoshi
The girls: Jade, Nevere, Saraid, Carrie, Kitra, Lydia, Ran, Juno and Kali
The less-than-celestial gerbils: God and Satan
...And all the rest...!

Thu Mar 25, 2004 12:19 pm

Ooh, go to a quarry or -- better -- a whaddayacallit: rock and stone supplying place, where they sell patio stone, etc., and ask for spare bits.

_________________
Kate & the M.O.U.S.
If you saw a man drowning and you could either save him or photograph the event ... what kind of film would you use?
~ Anonymous

Thu Mar 25, 2004 11:06 pm

In my old rat play pen I built a big wooden house thingy, with lots of different levels. I put in a ramp and covered it with fine sandpaper, thinking that they would wear their claws out on that. Instead they just chered it all off! Then, when I gave them a brick hey just did the half-on half-off walk over it, peeing on it all the way Rolling Eyes

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Claire
Foggy, Beeker & Eski

Fri Mar 26, 2004 5:44 am

How about aquarium supply stores? They way the rocks are more certain to be non-toxic, as well.

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Arvay and the Squirmin' Vermin

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.'

--Erma Bombeck

Fri Mar 26, 2004 5:58 am

In my Degus cage I have a solid paving brick I picked up at Lowe's home improvement store for .97 cents. It seems to work well. There were different colors and shapes for less money, too.
I'm sure any of the gardening and home improvement stores would have a solid brick you could pick up way cheap.

In my girl's cage I have a 3 lb. hunk of lake worn white marble thats just gritty enough to work well on rattie nails. HUGE slabs of leftover marble were tossed into the lake after construction and eroded bits and pieces are always washing up on shore.

On the other hand, stuffing the brick you have with all kinds of different things will probably keep your ratties amused for hours Mr. Green

Fri Mar 26, 2004 5:59 am

I found this site when I was researching sugar gliders today. It attaches to the inside of the wheel and dulls claws as they run. If they run in a wodent wheel this might be worth a shot. I'm pondering trying one for my crew.

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Christy
RP Admin
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Frodo, Zorro, Erzulie, Maeve, Clara, Molly & Emily

Fri Mar 26, 2004 8:12 am

I'm going to try the brick, I think, or check some aquarium shops this weekend. I never thought about the holes in the brick providing rattie entertainment... ..but that's a pretty good idea.

Maybe I'll try that particular brick and see if they like it. Otherwise I'll go to home depot or lowes and just pick up a good old solid brick, or get some aquarium rocks at a local fish store.

I'd try that wheel-thing... if my rats actually used the wheel they have. Only one out of all my rats actually uses a wheel, so it'd be a bit of a waste. Sad

Most of my rats completely ignore the wheel for some reason. They're more interested in climbing on boxes and stuff. I bought them all comfort wheels (one for each cage), and only one of the baby girls uses it. Silly rats. *sigh*

_________________
The boys: Victor, Marcello, Antonio, Samiel, Nagataka and Kiyoshi
The girls: Jade, Nevere, Saraid, Carrie, Kitra, Lydia, Ran, Juno and Kali
The less-than-celestial gerbils: God and Satan
...And all the rest...!