Now that you have researched your rats, time to talk maintenance.

Of course, initial cost and preparation for your rats will be drastically different than rat maintenance.

Food and water

These are the two easiest things to keep up! Simply top up your rat's food dish when it is close to empty, and clean out and top up their water supply when it is running low. Be sure that your rats are not without food and water at any given time.

Feel free to feed them scraps of your meals or make them their own mini meals every day! Check out the list of safe vegetables, fruits and other food and keep them fed well on the daily. 

Keep cages and the rat room clean

Depending on the cage you have, bedding your using and number of rats that you are housing, cage cleaning frequency may vary but the need to clean will hover between every 3-5 days. Be prepared to clean your rat's cage around two times a week. Cleaning with hot water and vinegar is most effective, keeping your cage disinfected and less smelly than if you use any other cleaning brands. If you do regular scoops of the cage you will have less to clean at each cage cleaning! 

Be sure to keep your rat room dust and scent free.

Continuous costs and time spent

You will likely have to purchase 5lbs of rat food every couple of months if you own two rats. In addition to this, you will need to buy bedding monthly or every few months depending on which bedding you are purchasing. Overall, your monthly costs will come to around $20/month (my estimate) which greatly differs from their original cost which I estimate to be around $300-$400 if you purchase all materials necessary (cage, huts, wooden toys, water bottles, food dishes, beddings, rats).

It is best to invite your rats out for playtime daily!! Be prepared to spend a couple of hours with your rats every day whether it is just with you doing something else and them running around on the floor, or you cuddling with them or taking them on shoulder rides. They are social animals and love to spend time with you!