(Part 2) Best products from r/RATS

1- Always adopt more than one!

Rats are very social animals, and to prevent undue stress and sadness, they need to have rattie friends with which to spend their time. Also, try to adopt same-sex pairs/groups to avoid accidental litters; if you must adopt rats of different genders, make sure one of them are ‘fixed’ before housing them together. It’s also a good idea to get littermates, as they’ll already be familiar with each other, and they’ll be the same age, which becomes significant as they age and pass on.

Also, I HIGHLY recommend trying to find a reputable rat rescue near you before going to a pet store or breeder. There are SO MANY loveable, beautiful rats out there that were rescued from bad conditions and need loving homes. Breeders often supply reptile owners with feeders, and many don’t keep their rats in good conditions or socialize them properly. Same with pet stores. A lot of times, female pet store rats will even end up pregnant because someone didn’t keep them away from the males. There are several Facebook groups and websites with area-specific rescue groups that can point the way for you to find your babies.

2- Make sure your cage type is right!

Rats, like humans, need their personal space. If you cram too many in too small a space, you’ll get stress and fighting. Use a cage dimension calculator like this one to make sure the cage you’re looking at buying is big enough for the number of fur babies you’re going to get (2-3 is a good starting number.) also important is the distance between the cage bars, especially if you’re going to adopt young rats. Remember, anything they can fit their head through, they can fit the rest of their body through if they really want to. Try to get a cage with no more than 1/3-1/2inch of space between the bars.

Rats are also climbers- while a single-story unit would be fine for a rabbit or guinea pig, it’s important for rats to have multiple levels and platforms on which to live and play.

DO NOT use a glass tank. Rats are prone to upper respiratory infections, and they also pee quite a lot. This wouldn’t be an issue, except rat pee is high in ammonia, which is bad for them to breathe in. Tanks just can’t get the proper level of ventilation to be a good home for rats, even with daily cleanings; they might look cute, but for your babies’ sake, stick with a cage.

Make sure your cage has smooth floors. Rats, like most other pawed animals, have little pads on their feet. They’re also quite sensitive, and prone to getting their toes caught. Make sure that any mesh or wire platforms in your cage are covered with a hard, smooth surface so that your rats can walk/run/jump around comfortably.

3- Essentials

Rats are prey animals, so their instincts drive them to hide and nest; make sure you give them lots of places to hide away, like little houses, nests, baskets, and hammocks. Places up high are a favorite among my girls.

Make sure you have an constant, ample water supply. I recommend having a couple of water bottles, or a bottle and a dish- just in case they finish one off during the day, they’ll have plenty more to make it until you get home and notice that one’s empty. I personally keep a dish with dry rat food full in the cage as well, to make sure they’re never hungry.

Fleece liners or other bedding options are also important- rats aren’t very good at regulating their body temperatures, so giving them a means to keep warm is important. Fleece covers over the trays (I use blankets cut to shape and pinned with binder clips) or bedding spread liberally over the bottom of a deeper pan is important for this.

Exercise wheels are also a good idea; get the biggest one you can- it’s not good for them to have their backs/tails bent at too far an angle. A saucer wheel is perfect, but my girls wouldn’t run on the one I gave them, so I got them this one

Also, not quite essential, but- rats are über smart, and can be litterbox trained! Giving them a litter box and training them to use it will save a lot of time and effort when it comes to cleaning their cage every week.

4- Toys and decorations

Like I said before, rats are smart! They need mental stimulation. Puzzles, toy balls, and hanging bird toys are all great ideas. There are also a ton of diy toy ideas on the Internet in places like Pinterest. A lava rock ledge or a brick in the cage will help them keep their claws trim, and provide a convenient step-up into a hide. Try to stay away from soft woods, and keep with hardwood toys and shelters.
As for decor; they’ll probably regularly chew through the fleece you give them, so it’s easy to switch up the cage aesthetic whenever you want :) you can also cut up the old fleece into bits and give it to them as bedding to nest with, too.

This is my girls’ cage after it was mostly-clean yesterday (I did the top level later on.) I know the image is potato-quality, but you’ll probably be able to see the water bottles, hammocks, hides, and wheel :) their food dish is stashed behind the purple ramp next to the wheel haha

You might also notice the boxes in the top level; cardboard boxes are a great thing to put in their cages; it’s a chew toy and a hide all in one! You’ll need to replace them regularly, of course, but things like soda boxes and tissue boxes are great cage additions.

5- Cleanliness

It’s important to clean your rats’ cage weekly, at least, and twice weekly if they’re hairless (hairless are more prone to uri’s.) Personally, I wipe down the bars with baby wipes (or soap and water if they really need it) and clean the pans with soap and water. As for all of the hammocks and fleece, I toss it in the washing machine with my own clothes (no fabric softener or dryer sheets) and also make sure to beat them out (like a rug) so they’re as clean as possible before putting them in the laundry. I also wash all of their plastic toys, dishes, and wheels with soap and water, making sure to rinse them well so there’s no residue.

It’s rare, but sometimes your rats will need some help getting clean. When my girls were younger, there came a point where they smelled like pee and they had porphyrin all over their fur from their own cleanings; at that point, I prepared a thick towel and some warm water, and washed each of them with oatmeal baby soap, making sure to avoid their faces and ears (as you would with a dog or other pet) and immediately afterward cuddled them in the towel until they were dry enough that I felt like they wouldn’t be too cold in their cage. My SO was a big help with that stage.

6- Nutrition

Rats need a varied diet. Depending on where you look, you get different percentages, but personally what I do is leave a bowl full of dry food in their cage and top it off as needed, and every night (or, being real, every other night) when I get home and make my dinner, I make a plate for them and load it up with a bed of kale, sliced or canned vegetables, berries, a sprinkle of oats or nuts (I have some petite babies and I’m trying to help them gain weight) and some chicken or turkey baby food; sometimes I’ll even put some fruit baby food on there as well- they absolutely love it. For protein I’ll also sometimes do scrambled eggs or chicken that I’ve shredded up post-cooking, instead of poultry baby food (baby food is just the easiest thing for me to do) :) these guys give a comprehensive list of foods that are safe for rats, and when in doubt, google it before feeding it to them. Male rats generally have more dietary rules than females, so watch out for that with them.

7- Playtime!

Every single day, your rats will need at least an hour of playtime with you. Just like we were told as kids “get out and play an hour a day” this is really important for their mental and physical health. This could be anything from a free-roam in a rat-proof room, or just running around on the bed while you watch a movie. This is also a great time for you to teach them some tricks (there are plenty of tutorials on the web for how to train them 😊) or set up a little play area for them complete with toy houses and things to explore and treat-laden puzzles for them to solve. For treats, my girls love yogies, nuts, and dried fruit :)

I exceeded the character limit so here's the continuation haha.


Since Im in Europe, I use the european equivalent which is this cage. The only downside is that not all the bars are horizontal, but its enough for the ratties. I just struggle a teensy bit more hanging some decorations but its not a big deal since I at least have some horizontal bars! If youre in europe, this is a wonderful cage to have.


Here's some other cages if youre looking to keep 2-3 ratties:


3 rats max in my opinion, even though the calculator says up to 4 with 2.5 cubic feet per rat

This cage is good for around 3 ratties


3 ratties too


This is a giant cage and looks really awesome, I would get this one if only it had the fully opening double doors! This cage cant fit around 10-12 rats


2-3 ratties


2 ratties but the triple version can keep around 4


Those are just some examples and rough guides to go by. Another important thing is you want the floor of the cage to be solid, not wire. If your cage has a wire floor, cover it with tiles, linoleum or cardboard.


You want to include hammocks and hiding places in the cage - rats prefer to sleep and chill out in cozy dark hidey holes. Lots of people here love Savic Sputniks, and I have to agree that they are fantastic. All my ratties love them so much that I had to get one separate Savic for each or else they'd be fighting over them! You can buy them on amazon or here. If you cant find any good results on amazon, try searching for Space Pod instead. It's the same thing.


Ratties also need to chew, so try to get them some pet-safe, untreated wooden toys for them. These are also great, they're like perches made of pumice stone that the ratties can climb on and chew to file down their nails and teeth (this is important as rat teeth continue to grow constantly, so the ratties NEED to chew on stuff to file them down). Because rats chew so much, they will chew through plastic and wood on cages. This is why you ideally want to pick out an all metal cage, although this is a bit hard since most cages are plastic with metal bars. I dont have this issue as my rats dont chew anything in their cage besides their chew toys. People usually buy metal trays to fit into their cages instead of the plastic platforms provided. You can look into this, but I'd say just observe your ratties and if they're not chewing too much on the plastic shelves, I wouldnt worry about it until you have to replace the shelves (if it even comes to that). That's why you wanna provide them with plenty of chewing toys, so they dont feel the need to chew on anything else but at the end of the day, ratties are ratties lol


If you search for "boredom breakers" on amazon or any online pet shop, you'll get a good selection of toys and things to hang around the cage to keep the ratties occupied. DONT get your rats wheels though, as wheels tend to be bad for rats' backs since they're designed for smaller animals like hamsters, mice etc. If you find a huge wheel designed for degus, you can get that for your rats. Just make sure it's solid, not wire and big enough that the rat can run in it without bending its back.


As for bedding, here's a good site explaining different types of bedding, what is and isn't safe etc. If you buy a cage with deep pans, you can choose a loose bedding, like shredded paper or hemp. Most people dont though since the loose bedding tends to fly out and your floor gets very messy. This is why a lot of people opt to use fleece. You can buy cheap fleece and cut it to size to line your cage platforms and floor. You want to put an absorbent material under the fleece though, as the fleece lets any liquids though and the cage will get smelly very quickly. If you put something absorbent underneath, the smell wont build up so much. I use puppy pads and layer paper towels on top, then line with fleece. I dont notice any smells for around 5-7 days. You wanna clean the cage around once or twice a week, it depends on your ratties. Just change all the bedding out, put any hammocks and fabrics in the wash, wipe the shelves and platforms down etc. I use vinegar mixed with water to clean everything out since it gets rid of the smell of urine really well. Then I wipe it down with some water, dry everything and line with puppy pads, paper towels and fleece. I use binder clips to hold the fleece in place. You wanna give the cage a big wash around once a month (spray it down with water, do 10 parts water to 1 part bleach and soak platforms and any solid components for a few minutes in hot water etc.) Spot cleaning should be done every day - this means picking up any loose poops or pieces of food and throwing that out. Just small cleaning like that, it takes like 1 minute.


Paper towels, cardboard, shredded paper etc. is also great to put in their cage in general since they love to tear it and carry it to their favorite sleeping spot to make it all cozy! It's really cute and fun to watch.


Lastly, vet funds. Make sure you have an exotic vet, or at least one familiar with rats. Always keep a vet fund since illnesses in rats can just flare up out of nowhere sometimes.


Rats are born with these bacteria called mycoplasma pulmonis. Some rats can live their whole lives with zero flare ups, but most get sick at least once or twice in their lifetime. You know that theyre sick if they start sneezing a lot more than normal, their breathing is audible or even loud, they get porphyrin discharge around their eyes and nose (this is red colored so dont worry, its not blood if you ever see it. Porphyrin discharge is normal first thing after a rat wakes up though, so dont worry if you see it. Its only if its there a lot more, or in bigger amounts than normal that you should be concerned). Some rats are sick with it all their lives and are constantly on and off antibiotics. That's the case with one of my boys. He's got it so bad that unfortunately we can only keep it in control and prevent it from getting worse, but he's sick all the time. Poor baby is only 4 months old.


Ratties generally have very delicate respiratory systems, so its important not to have them around any harsh smells, dusty bedding/places, wind droughts etc.


Rats also can get mites easily, so make sure whenever you buy any pet safe untreated wood, that you still put it in your freezer for 24-48 hours just to be safe and kill off anything that could be there. Same goes for any fleece bedding or other fabrics, especially if they weren't packaged in airtight plastic packaging.



I know this is A LOT of info but Im still sure I missed something! Others on here will definitely fill in any blanks that I missed though lol


Enjoy your babies, cherish every moment with them, love them and spoil them! They'll bring you so much joy and happiness. Theyre wonderful pets and I hope you have an amazing time and many wonderful experiences with them. Good luck and update us when you get them! This sub is generally very supportive and positive, so if you have any other questions then always feel free to come here and ask! Have fun :)

I get all my fleece from JoAnn stores. They often have fleece at 50% off per yard, so you can buy it in bulk and use it as needed. Any large fabric store will have lots of fleece in stock (I just prefer JoAnn because that's the best one I have in the area I live in). I'm sure you know this already, but just in case, please don't use cedar or pine chips as bedding for your rats; it's harmful to them. You can use fleece or aspen chip bedding (but freeze the aspen for 48 hours prior to use to make sure it's free of parasites).

I buy many rat toys on Amazon, and make some myself. If you're buying any kind of wooden rat toy, do be aware that many of them are made from soft woods like pine and cedar, which are super bad for rat respiratory systems. Hardwood toys are usually safe—just make sure it's not a combination wood that also has pine or cedar in it along with the hardwood. I personally do not buy wood toys on amazon, because the products often don't list what kind of wood they're made of. The only wood product I buy on Amazon is bags of untreated apple branch chewing sticks. I'll link you to some rat-safe toys and accessories I buy on amazon below! :)

Kaytee Lava Ledge
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00176F466/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s03?ie=UTF8&psc=1

15" Chin Spin - Small Animal Exercise Wheel - Handmade in USA (Expensive, but it's the very best and safest wheel for rats.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GJ6SDBQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Bright Starts Lots of Links Accessory Toy (Great for hanging things up in the cage.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001ABZGU2/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&th=1

Small Animal Activity Toy Cotton Rope Net For Rat and Ferret Pet Bed for Parrot and Hamster Parrot
https://www.amazon.com/Animal-Activity-Cotton-Ferret-Hamster/dp/B0777NWKT9/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1519011945&sr=1-2&keywords=rat+rope+net

Kaytee Igloo Hideout, Large
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00068K132/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

ACCO Binder Clips, Medium, 2 Boxes, 12/Box (A7072050) (If using fleece as the bedding/liner in your cage, this helps to secure fleece to the Critter Nation pans.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TQ8FDB8/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Dr. Bronner's Pure-Castile Liquid Soap - Baby Unscented, 32oz. (I don't use any scented products with my rats since rat respiratory systems are so fragile, so this is the non-scented liquid soap I use to wash my hands and their non-fabric toys.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DAI76TC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Pawliss Teeth Grinding Lava Block for Hamster Chinchilla Rabbit
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01HGHA6VW/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Aspen/Booda Corporation BBX56134 Byrdy Cable Cross Bird Toy, Medium
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003WRHTG6/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

200g(7oz) Apple Sticks Pet Snacks Chew Toys for Guinea Pigs Chinchilla Squirrel Rabbits Hamster(About 50-70 Sticks) by MAIYUAN (The only wood product I buy on Amazon.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06WLL641Y/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Ware Manufacturing Fun Tunnels Play Tube for Small Pets (Medium.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001LUMU9M/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Ware Manufacturing Plastic Scatterless Lock-N-Litter Small Pet Pan- Colors May Vary (Regular size, not jumbo.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003SLICDA/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

JW Comfy Perch for Birds (Large, 36".)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002AR754/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Lixit Critter Space Pod 2 Large (You can hand these on the ceiling of the Critter Nation. My boys LOVE these!)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002X2NBNQ/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Lixit Lbg-16 Glass Small Animal Bottle 16 Oz (16oz is always best for rats because of the bigger water spout. I've found that smaller bottles are a struggle for my boys to get water out of, so I only use the small ones for rat carriers/transporter cages. Tip: filtered water is best for rats, so if you can, get a Britta water filter.)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002WYCFK0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Yummy Time Tiny Small Stoneware Pet/Dog Bowl
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01NAUMYDC/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I buy Harlan Teklad (Envigo) food blocks for my rats, which is one of the top two for rats (the other is Oxbow Regal Rat). Harland Teklad is hard to find though, so I buy mine through this animal rescue:
http://weecompanions.org/healthy-food

If you get these blocks, freeze them to extend their shelf life, and take them out from the freezer as needed to fill your ratties' bowls. Harlan Teklad is great because they have several formulas for rats based on their age, which is super helpful for their health. Young rats up to 8 months usually eat Harlan Teklad 2016 (16% protein), and after 8 months they eat Harlan Teklad 2014 (14% protein).

Also, I don't have a link for this, but the best laundry detergents to use to wash your rats' cloth toys or bedding with is one that's non-scented and is sensitive on skins.

Um, if I think of anything else, I'll add it. But for now, it's already a ton. :P Enjoy!

(And feel free to message me if you have any questions!)

Carefresh should be fine! :) And hopefully the grate keeps the majority of the mess in, but it's so floofy and fun to play with. Again, it should be fine, just a little more to pick off before throwing it in the wash.

Scraps and lots of toys to chew and tear up are lots of fun! It can also be cheap. Dig boxes and wood chews and cardboard mailing tubes are all fun toys for rats. Here's a great site for ideas: http://www.dapper.com.au/toys.htm

Yay learning on a sewing machine! :D That's awesome that you're willing to learn on it. And the silent spinner is a bit pricey, yes... my Run-Around wheel was around $16, but my girls learned to run on the Comfort Wheel and are used to having a closed-in space, so they prefer the Comfort Wheel more. You can always pick one up at a physical pet store, as well, and clean it and return it if they don't like it (I know.. I'd feel guilty about it, but if it's in new condition, I don't think it's a bad thing to do). Ask at the rescue (if they ever call you, dang it!) if the rats are used to wheels already. Even if they're not it's worth a shot, because it's a lot of fun!

Yeah, vinegar is good for cleaning out flat surfaces, and you can always scrub with a rag for stubborn stains. But you'll be using fleece, which absorbs most of the mess! If your husband is allergic to bleach and you use vinegar already, you're good! :D

Oof, I would give them a call. Rescues are probably inundated with stuff to do, so they may have been to busy to reply. How many rats are you planning to take in? Will they be older, or babies? Male or female? (Sorry for being nosy; I'm excited for you!) Good on you for adopting from a rescue, BTW!! You're a hero! Don't be discouraged if your rats are a little flighty at first, or if they don't explore their new digs right away, especially if they were rescued from a not-so-great situation and are older. They'll open up with all the love and care you're already giving them!

Howdy! First off, let me thank you for doing research before you pick up your rodent friend.

First off let me get the disclaimers out of the way: If you were looking for a cheap pet, you have chosen the wrong animal. Rats have a fairly high upfront cost that begins to taper down after the first 3 months or so once the major growth period is over with. Almost any attempt to cut costs on things I'll bring up as essentials is most likely going to end up as a bad move in terms of your pet's health. There are lots of places to save some money, but what I'll lay out here is not the place. Rats are also a very short lived pet. They will live for a reasonable maximum of 3 years, so there will be heartbreak down the road.

Still interested? Good. Let's get a list going then:

1. Rats must be kept in a group. A pair is the minimum, three or more is better. Rats are VERY social animals, and need near constant interaction for other rats to stay healthy. This isn't just about mental health either; a lone rat is more prone to infections, tumors, and mental disabilities including aggression. Keeping multiple rats is no more expensive than keeping a single rat.
   
   
2. When looking for a cage, aim for 2 sq. feet per rat. Use this cage calculator to see if your cage is big enough. Watch your bar spacing! Rats are master escape artists, so make sure that the bars won't bend, and that you have 1/2" inch bar spacing or less. Popular starter cages include the Critter Nation Single or the Prevue Hendryx Rat/Chinchilla Cage. The Critter Nation is the most popular rat cage by far, but I can vouch for the Prevue Hendryx as easy to clean and set up.
   
   
3. Food can get pretty complicated for a first time owner, so I'll just offer easy suggestions. Feed Mazuri , Native Earth , or Oxbow. Oxbow is the most popular and most balanced, but tends to be the most expensive in smaller bags. In bulk, (20+ pound bags) the price is all about the same. I buy large bags because it's cheaper per pound and I never worry about running out. Then again I have 5 rats, so my situation is different than yours!
   
   
4. Lots of toys and hiding places! This is where you can save money by getting creative. Store bought rat toys can get expensive, but cardboard tubes and boxes are often free! Have one hiding place per rat plus one, preferably on different levels of the cage. Hammocks are a favorite hide for rats, as are boxes, bags, and tubes. If you want to get some store bought stuff, see if you have a bird shop in your area. Almost every toy in there that is safe for birds is going to be a blast for your rats.
   
   
5. Find a vet that is comfortable with rats. Rats don't need shots or regular flea treatments, so finding a vet can seem odd. But eventually, something will go wrong, or one of your babies will fall ill. Having a vet who's experienced with rats or at the very least willing to learn is a godsend. I'm very lucky to have a vet that is familiar with and loves rats. Because of their size and common problems, rat visits are usually very cheap when compared to a dog or a cat. I spend no more than $45 when Juniper or Sugar have a myco flareup.
   
   
6. Don't stop researching. Subscribe to this sub. Check the side bar. Ask questions. (Feel free to PM me, I'll help you as much as I can..) Watch videos on YouTube, like The Rat Guru. Rats are a very "addictive" pet, and it's easy to fall into an obsession with the cute little boogers.
   
   
7. Post pictures when you get them.

Re: houses and toys.

If you have a Joann's craft store in your area, just wait till they have a sale on anti-pill fleece (they have them like 75% of the year) and buy some cute colors you like. You can also buy the fleece online on the Joann's website. You can use fleece to line the bottom of the cage and you can also make it into hammocks and other fun items. Fleece is great because it's cheap and doesn't need to be sewn at all (it won't come apart in the wash either). I have a couple "real" beds that I bought, then I supplement the cage with pouches or random fabric scraps or other fun things made out of fleece. For example, if the ladies are small you can fill a tissue box with fleece scraps (or newspaper scraps). Other good things to buy are clips, ribbon, and paracord.

As for houses that fit lots of rats, I've had great luck with this pirate ship meant for ferrets. Ferret stuff in general is pretty big so the beds make a good "home base" for a big rat family. Just be sure to wash houses like that pretty regularly because the funny shape makes them hard to clean if they get really icky.

You can also buy PVC pipes from a hardware store to use as tubing for them to play and hide in.

There are also reasonably priced hammock/house sets on Etsy that I recommend if you can't sew yourself. One set seems expensive but you get so many pieces out of it and you're supporting everyday crafty people! That link is just one example of many vendors that specialize in that kind of thing.

For potty training, your best option is to put makeshift litter boxes in all 4 corners of the cage. I used shallow cheap tupperware containers, cut slits in them with scissors, and zip tied them to the walls of the cage so they couldn't be spilled (total cost <$10). Move poops into those containers until the rats are in the habit of always using a corner of the cage. Then get rid of the 2 or 3 least popular ones and upgrade the most popular one to a big litterbox. (This worked great for my first boys, but unfortunately my new babies are trouble makers and really love to just throw the litter all over the place so I have to pray that they figure out the one corner box eventually.)

Sorry if this is rude, but I have a few concerns from this picture.

1. He needs a much larger cage, and a friend if he doesn't have one.
   
   
2. If that's pine or cedar bedding, you need to switch to either aspen, carefresh natural, or you can use old clothing over newspaper.
   
   
3. The wheel is entirely too small. If you want him to have one, among the best options is a 12" Wodent Wheel.
   
   
4. As for his diet, I highly recommend ordering Native Earth 4018 lab blocks. It's $40 for 40 lbs., and it's great for his health.
   
   With all that out of the way, I wish you the best with your new rat.

Most of the Ferplast cages are a good option [just look on Amazon.uk]. This cage is about as small as you want to go. Bigger is always better. The Ferplast Furet Tower is very awesome, though it is a bit large for just 2 females. Also look on Ebay, sometimes they've got good deals on brand cages. Look for cages around 30" x 24", but remember they need vertical space just as much as they need horizontal space. Levels are good but you don't want a grid in the base. It doesn't help anything and gets really gross. Make sure the wire is powder coated. Most cages are, but plain silver wire is not, and galvanized metal just absorbs urine and there is no getting that smell out. You need the bar spacing to be around 1/2", females can get out of 1" bar spacing. They will grow out of that hamster cage within two weeks, tops, so go ahead and order your new cage now.

The main differences are what you've already stated. Rats are also much cleaner, in my opinion. They're a lot sweeter than hamsters, and they'll learn fast. They also need a better, more balanced diet with a premium rat food and fresh veg/fruit. Seed mixes are not good. This is a good list of what you can and can't feed a rat.

They just need to time to adjust. Keep giving them healthy treats so they associate you with the good stuff. Talk to them often, softly like you would talk to a kid or scared puppy. How long it takes varies from rat to rat and situation to situation. Most of my rats start to come out of their shells within a couple of weeks, but I deal with rescues who have been neglected or abused. It can take a pet store rats months to become trusting, while others only take a few days. Read their cues and follow their lead. Don't force them into anything if you don't have to. If you have an old tote/bag that you can pop them in, it makes moving them around much easier and they won't get as frightened at being handled.

They do like to spend as much time as possible out their cage, but you can also provide toys and enrichment in their cage to keep them stimulated. Your idea of bowls with bedding is a good one - most rats love to dig. They enjoy actual soil even more. You can fill planters with sterile soil and bury treats or seeds or cat grass (not catnip!). You can fill containers with shredded paper or pom poms and bury treats in that too. Simple dog or rabbit toys are good for rats, and you can keep them entertained with treats wrapped up in paper or inside toilet roll tubes. These can all be used in a play pen or in their cage.

For the actual play pen, you could try this one. It folds up for storage or travel and I've found it very compact and user-friendly when I travel with my rats. The bathroom or bathtub is also a good idea, but remember to put down towels/blankets and things for them to hide under - otherwise you're going to have them pooping and peeing from fright.

Cages can be expensive, but try to get a good quality cage that's going to last! It'll be a bit more expensive, but remember that a good cage could last you 3-5 generations of ratties with proper upkeep!

This is the cage I bought: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01K9TUCZY/ref=od_aui_detailpages00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I currently have four rats myself and this cage has been perfect, plenty of room, good balance of price to quality. I didn't have use for the included bottle or feeder pan, but you might. The only thing you might want to consider is the gap between the bars is a bit too big for really young rats; it was fine for my first two, which were both six months, but my next two were about 2-3 months and the smaller of the two had some escaping problems until he grew up.

Good luck!

I would line the floor pans with more fleece. One layer will be fine if they aren't heavy chewers. This gives them extra cushion on their feet and makes the whole cage a cozy place to nap.

If you do this, I'd also suggest a slab of some sort. I use countertop samples, but slabs of granite etc. are easy to purchase at a Home Depot or other DIY type store. This will provide a solid, cool surface to lounge on as well as keep the fleece anchored in that corner.

Tunnels! My ratties love their plastic, pvc, and cardboard tunnels. An alternative would be to use an empty tube of Quaker oats and punch out the bottom. Just throw them away after a few days to avoid grossness.

Scrap the wheel. If you can, try to get a solid plastic wheel without any wire. The wire wheels can catch their toes, tails, etc. They're also harsh on the bottoms of their feet.

Hammocks and hanging fleece tubes of all kinds are highly recommended. To name a few:

Pirate Hammock - $14.32

Pyramid Hammock - $10.21

Simple Hanging Tunnel - $7.00

Parrot toys and ladders also work well, just be sure they aren't made of pine. Pine is toxic to rats. Other types of "Soft Wood" are also harmful (softwood trees are cedar, Douglas fir, juniper, pine, redwood, spruce, and yew). Products and tree branches made of these are not safe to use in the cage.

Especially for young rats, it's important to let them climb. A thick rope, such as this parrot perch are excellent climbing toys. The clips attach firmly to any wall of the cage.

You can get as creative or as simple as you like!

See also: "The Grotto"

The number one rule is ALWAYS buy in atleast pairs, Same sex unless you want a bunch of babies, As keeping a lone rat is extremely cruel and they can starve themselves if they don't have a rat friend, Keeping one rat, as some people think will make them bond with you more which is complete bullshit, Rats bond better with people if they have friends and are much more adventurous, even if you have the rat out ALL day, You still won't be able to groom it the way another rat would, play with it the way another rat would, Your not another rat, So ALWAYS buy pairs or trios

Secondly, Don't keep them in a tank, Tanks provide terrible air circulation and rats have very sensitive respiratory systems, The ammonia smell from their urine will build up quickly and can cause respiratory infections, Which would need to be treated by a vet. They should have large wire cages with multiple levels similar to these:

http://www.amazon.com/Prevue-Hendryx-485-Products-Hammertone/dp/B000QFMYWQ/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1352939539&sr=8-11&keywords=Critter+Nation

http://www.ferret.com/item/critter-nation-small-animal-cage-double-unit/650232/

http://www.ferret.com/item/critter-nation-small-animal-cage-single-unit/650231/

http://www.ferret.com/item/prevue-small-animal-cage-495/650270/

http://www.amazon.com/Ferret-Kit-Cage-Size-Large/dp/B00BAKAYBO/ref=sr_1_2?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1370492550&sr=1-2&keywords=A%26E+Cage+Co.+Ferret+Kit+Cage

Also don't feed them a commercial mix like Fiesta or ANYTHING Kaytee, They are loaded with sunflower seeds which are very high in fat, And usually contain dried corn which contains cancer-causing fungus, Fresh cooked sweet corn is fine for rats, Mine LOVE corn on the cob, Its just the dried that you need to stay away from, I suggest feeding a good quality lab block like Harlan Teklad (2014 for boys, 2016 for girls) or Oxbow Regal Rat, As making your own home-made mix can be very difficult and pricey, I bought 10 lbs of Harlan teklad for about 30$ and it lasted me a good 6 months with 2 rats, I now have 5 so it was unconventional for me, So I'm using the Shunamite rat mix diet. As for monthly expense I'd say about 50$ a month? Depending on how much you want to spoil them (With treats, toys, and bedding) DON'T Use pine or cedar bedding, the phenols in them which make them smell good cause alot of health-issues for rats, Aspen bedding is fine and is what I use in their litter boxes, A lot of people like carefresh but I don't, because some people have had bugs in it and it should be frozen 42 hours before using to kill any bugs/mites that were in it, Yesterdays news cat litter is great as bedding. Don't use anything that has a strong smell near them (Unless its food) As their respiratory systems are very sensitive, No candles, perfume, body sprays, Air fresheners anything near their cage or in the same room as the cage, As it can cause respiratory infections.

You will need to bring them to the vet ATLEAST once in their life, rats are very prone to respiratory infections, And tumors especially in female rats.

Here's a list of good and bad foods to feed your rats (: I hope you enjoy them

http://www.ratforum.com/showthread.php?39486-Good-and-Bad-Food-for-Rats-amp-Ratty-Recipes

I don’t know about bird toys but this puzzle feeder is supposed to be quite challenging for rats (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Living-World-Teach-n-Treat-Interactive-Toy/dp/B004HYW9B8?ref_=bl_dp_s_mw_1667779031). If your rat’s super smart tho, I’m not sure how long it’ll keep her interested XD

I agree, if they're well socialized and you start them young, it shouldn't be an issue and could be quite easy. None of mine ever had a freak out from travelling. We were set to go on vacation, and had a bad upper resp. flare up with three of our four ratties. We loaded them up in a smaller cage that fit in our car and they went with us from Texas to Virginia to Tennessee and back to Texas so we could monitor them and make sure they were properly medicated. I didn't have anybody else I could trust to handle them properly. That being said, 15 minutes should be a breeze. I recommend getting a really good carrier. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B006JVPL8A?cache=ea43584bbb2f620d1f825971a1ad0132&pi=SY200_QL40&qid=1414116143&sr=8-1#ref=mp_s_a_1_1
I have two of these and three regular sized rats fit comfortably in each. Plus, they're easy to clean and my rats can't get a good grip on any part of it to chew a hole in.

One of my favorite thing to put out in the rat room has been this toy: https://www.amazon.com/Living-World-Teach-Treat-Toy/dp/B004HYW9B8. It's a learning toy with three different levels of difficulty for them to master finding treats in! Some rats will get all 3 levels right away, while others will struggle at even the basic level. It's both fun for them to improve their problem solving skills and fun for you to watch!

I also create nesting spots and hang hammocks around the room, so they can go lounge wherever. If you plan to give them long periods of time in the room with the cage open, it might also be a good idea to get a litter box for a corner or two.

They also make rat-sized ball pits. Some rats seem to love playing in them, while others are indifferent or afraid, so YMMV. Worst case scenario, the plastic balls can make for a good game of fetch. For a more DIY-approach, you can buy PVC tubing from a hardware store to create mazes and tunnels around for them to run through and hide in.

Yeah mine take quite a while to accept something new then they like it. A fabric tunnel with a hole in the middle or hammocks mostly rats like them.

Mine also like sputniks.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Savic-Sputnik-Hanging-House-26X19cm/dp/B0037XQ8X0

It's funny though, it depends where they are in the cage.

My hammocks I sew a square of fleece on teh top to make a roof. They like that. I think for a quick cheap thing though cardboard boxes are fun for rats.

I'm so sorry for your losses. These little guys work their way into our hearts much quicker than you'd think. As the others have said, they could have been sicker than the original owner knew or admitted to. You did the best you could for them trying to keep them cool and even taking them to the vet for a checkup. If they were from the same litter, it could have even been some kind of genetic defect in both of them that caused them to go so close together.

Just curious, how hot was it and do you have an AC? For future purposes, if it's really hot in your area, you can also put ice in their water bottle (or just ice cold water, and change it when it warms up) or get something like a Chin Chiller to help keep them cool. Also, frozen veggies or cool treats might help, too. One thing my boys all absolutely loved was apple juice ice cubes. We went through a hot spell for a while and 3 weeks without AC. My boys got very lethargic but the cool treats and water seemed to help some at least, but it was concerning.

Sometimes their personalities just stay that way, but you may be able to get her to warm up to you a little by handling her and interacting with her a lot.

As far as treats, veggies and fruit are great. Yogurt, bananas, apples, spinach, etc. As an occasional treat, I give my rats Gerber's Graduate Puffs and they love them in all flavors.

I got it on Amazon! I love it because you can shape it to fit in the cage :)

Ware Manufacturing Fun Tunnels Play Tube for Small Pets, 30 X 4 Inches - Medium https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001LUMU9M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_9grEybB9FBKF2

Hi! I make my own hammocks and my girls used to chew through them so fast I couldn't keep up with making new ones. So, I made a couple of adjustments that seem to help.

1. I sew a big X through the flat sections of hammocks. This keeps them from chewing holes and burrowing in between layers of the hammocks. They used to burrow even in pocket hammocks, but now they reach that seem and stop chewing. Since they've learned that trick I've been able to keep a hammock stockpile and actually wash and reuse them.
   
2. I use plastic baby rings to hang my hammocks. They're an add on item on Amazon and easy to use and replace. I probably have at least 100 of them in rotation. They're cute and colorful and my rats lost interest in chewing them after a couple weeks. I've been using them for a year now with no problems.
   
   Bright Starts Lots of Links Accessory Toy: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001ABZGU2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_qjjMzbVKPZGAQ
   
   You can see in this picture how I just punch a hole in the hammock itself to attach the ring. I used to make loops for hanging the rings but my girls loved chewing through them: https://imgur.com/gallery/ms9rd

I found these freeze fried fruit snacks on clearance at my local grocery store and my guys are going absolutely BONKERS over them. Like, I need to go back and buy every bag that is left, because my rats are going to lose their minds if I run out. I think I might be able to train them to go get the mail for me, they love these things so much.

Right now I have a few bags of the banana and blueberry ones, the blueberries are whole berries and the bananas are cut into perfect rat-paw sized squares.

Another, more readily-available, less expensive option would be the Gerber baby puffs My boys really, really like these and they've loved every flavor I've bought.

It's a sputnik, they love it. It hangs from the top of the cage and is very easy to clean!

spiral bird rope

bendy bird rope

wooden bridge

Sputnik/space pod

foraging toy

wooden climbing platforms

2-pack lava ledges

foraging wheel

Also a good idea might be to look up some rat safe treat recipes and make a little ratty goodie bag for them (banana chips, oats, dried pasta, certain seeds, etc.)

It's from Living World! Pretty nice carrier on the cheap side.

And thanks!

We made an enclosure out of foamcore boards and duct tape...they get chewed eventually, sure...but it worked better than this:

http://www.amazon.com/Marshall-Small-Pet-Deluxe-Play/dp/B0013TT2SS/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1322368051&sr=1-1

Also, I got wire covers for everything like this:
http://www.amazon.com/American-Terminal-SL500-100-2-Inch-Tubing/dp/B0017686ZC/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1322368115&sr=8-6

For EVERYTHING...keeps the chewing down and keeps them from getting peed on. Also, every rat loves a buddy....

Well I think you're definitely gonna want a litter box if you want them to not poop everywhere else. They make several different kinds that attach to the cage- I like this one which pretty much costs the same as a regular litterbox. You can also try using zipties as suggested, but you are definitely going to need a box of some kind. Any kind. That is why they are pooping everywhere.

Also why can't you just vacuum the rat poops daily? I mean you should be doing daily spot cleaning and poop removal anyway.

I got this beast http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00007E7RY?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00

It's my best purchase. No rat smell and keeps all the dust to an incredible minimum so my rats don't get sneezy either do I. It also blows enough cool air that on the highest setting acts like a mini fan/air conditioner. 100% worth the price

Thanks. It says that it would be fine for 3 rats IF it were about 2 inches wider :/ Though I am guessing that by "depth" they mean width? I am not good with measurements.

I have two girls who are pretty small and are temporarily living in this cage:
http://www.amazon.com/Ware-Manufacturing-Proof-4-Story-Hamster/dp/B003SZSZM4/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1332317228&sr=1-1-catcorr

The first home I had for them broke and I was able to get this for $11. I'm saving up for a new cage but not sure what would be good to set as my goal for them. Someone in my area is selling the cage I linked to & I would be able to buy it now and I do live in the dorms so I cannot have a huge cage (I have to sneak them in and out every couple of weekends and have a small room). They get a lot of free time too but I don't want to invest in a bigger cage if it isn't worth it for them.

My grown girls loved it and as the younger rats aged up, they loved it too.

​

I just lost my final rat last week and the day before she died I saw her taking a leisure stroll on it. She loved the wheel.

I would give you the old wheel if I could, I think I bought this one? https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002AS956/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

But get a bigger one if you can swing it. Especially if you have boys. (I always had girls and they were usually on the smaller side.)

We use this honeywell purifier, with the charcoal pre-filter as well, but it worked fine before that too. It also does a really good job getting rid of odors

These are technically ferret toys, but these pirate ships work pretty well as an enclosed hammock with a little bit of extra style.

I bought this one: Ware Manufacturing Plastic Lock-N-Litter Pan for Small Pets, Colors May Vary https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000HG96EI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_M3WzDb0CN4M61 but I might get a smaller one since it takes up soo much space. I take off the entire wired cage part and put the litter box in on the bottom (the metal part) after cleaning then put the wire cage back on top if that makes sense? I just use the top shelf for their food and water since like you said it is too tiny for anything else.

Do you think my cage is big enough? This is the cage we ordered but i feel like it wont be big enough for two rats, maybe now because they're small but idk if we'd have to get another to facilitate two rats, im on board for getting another but my gf isnt too keen, im sure i could convince her

I do like your setup. I would suggest getting baby teething rings to hang across the cage and possible a bird rope that they can walk on. Though I have to warn you about that edible hut. If it's one of those snack shack things. They have alfalfa in it, which some people say rats cannot digest. Usually the rats won't actually eat it, but the honey in it can encourage them to ingest it and cannot digest the alfalfa. Plus, depending on what one you got, it might have pine shavings as an ingredient. This is all things that I have heard or read and have never experienced myself because I erred on the side of caution. You make your own decision based on your little ones, I just wanted to give you the information.

Hey guys. Thought I'd do an update. :) http://www.amazon.com/Kaytee-First-Home-Habitat-12-Inch/dp/B00CETSQ74 Got this home for now (from petco) as they are still little babies. It was the only home designed for rats available in my area. I plan on using this as a travel cage in the future. Anyways, I will order a nice cage for them shortly such as these ones for when they are adults.

http://www.amazon.com/Ware-Manufacturing-Proof-4-Story-Hamster/dp/B003SZSZM4/ref=sr_1_1?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1411787997&sr=1-1&keywords=rat+cage

http://www.petco.com/product/106171/Petco-Rat-Manor-Habitat.aspx?cm_mmc=bazaarvoice-_-RLP-_-106171-_-productname_link

http://www.amazon.com/Kaytee-Habitat-Multi-Level-Exotics-18-Inch/dp/B00CETSHN2/ref=sr_1_4?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1411787997&sr=1-4&keywords=rat+cage

It's called a Fun Tunnel. :) I got one at PetSmart a while ago and they also sell them on Amazon

Thank you guys!! I'll definitely be posting them here when they're finally home.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0037XQ8X0/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1450184336&sr=8-2&pi=SX200_QL40&keywords=Sputnik+small+animal&dpPl=1&dpID=31QK51Hw0lL&ref=plSrch

Is this what you're referring too?

https://www.amazon.com/Living-World-Pet-Carrier-Grey/dp/B006JVPL8A

I use this when I only need to transport 1-2 ratties for a short distance. Mine are also big chewers, so this cage is especially great because there aren't really any surfaces inside the cage that they can actually chew. It's rounded inside and everything is flush.

the pet store i work at sells cooling stones for chinchillas so maybe look into getting one of those? i honestly think it could work super well and it’s relatively cheap if it doesn’t work out but i’ll link it: cooling stone

https://www.amazon.com/JW-Comfy-Perch-Flexible-Multi-color/dp/B0002AR754

Rope bird perch things are fun. Rope wrapped wire so can make all sort of shelves and bridges.

I use the Flying Saucer wheel. Only one of my girls use it - and I laugh when she does - I have sitting on the floor of the cage in between 2 levels, so she jumps on the wheel to try and get to the next level and ends up running on it for about 5 minutes before she gives up and goes another way. She ends up doing this many times a day.

I like this type of wheel because I don't have to be concerned about spinal damage or tails or toes getting caught on something.

Well I would say this is a good starter cage for up to 4 rats https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ferplast-Jenny-Cage-79-5-Grey/dp/B001MZYINC

I went with girls first but they tend to get mamory tumors when older. But the same can be said for boys of testicals. So it's not much in it.

As for where to get them, in the UK at least pet stores are terrible for rats, they're always cramped into tiny glass boxes with like 4 other rats and seem to always have bad temperaments, so I always go to breeders. Most breeders aren't in it for money here and do it for the love of rats and for show rats. So they tends to not be too much more then store bought rats (store rats £7, breeder I got my 4 girls and 3 boys were £9 each roughly. Some different breeds/coats/colours were a few extra quid more)

With regards to vets I would say the average trip to actually get a procedure done was about £60-120 including meds and a check up after. But saying that I literally just had my 3, 4month boys neutered yesterday and that cost £120. So £40 each isn't bad.

Anything else gimme a shout

it's called a Sputnik =] http://www.amazon.com/Savic-Sputnik-Assorted-Colours-29x26x19cm/dp/B0037XQ8X0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1397859344&sr=8-3&keywords=sputnik+pet

I have both of these carriers

1. Good as a sick bay cage for surgery recovery or longer trips as You can attach a small water bottle https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002ASBUO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
   
   
2. Good for short trips that don't need a water bottle (vet,etc) Also more inclosed so better for the cold, but cage 1 can just be covered with a towel. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006JVPL8A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I’m not too savvy with reddit but

here’s the amazon link to the cage

We transport our rats in this Living World small animal carrier, less than $11 on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006JVPL8A/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_xJHzDbCH830DB

Must-have

MidWest Critter Nation Single Level, two level optional depending on budget.

• http://smile.amazon.com/MidWest-Critter-Nation-Animal-Habitat/dp/B001NJ0DAY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1462676314&sr=8-1&keywords=midwest+critter+nation
  
  Space Pod
  
  
• http://smile.amazon.com/Lixit-Critter-Space-Pod-Large/dp/B002X2NBNQ/ref=pd_sim_199_2?ie=UTF8&dpID=514yBZHbQ1L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=09NQ6RB0F97DR3FYWSP7
  
  Oxbow Regal Rat food
  
  
• http://smile.amazon.com/Oxbow-Regal-Rat-Food-3-Pound/dp/B000GABM1K/ref=pd_sim_199_5?ie=UTF8&dpID=51DFDAhgD3L&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR113%2C160_&refRID=09NQ6RB0F97DR3FYWSP7
  
  Water bottles
  
  
• http://smile.amazon.com/LIXIT-Proof-Glass-Water-Bottle/dp/B0002QI5WM/ref=pd_sim_199_7?ie=UTF8&dpID=41Wb3MLRcfL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR135%2C160_&refRID=09NQ6RB0F97DR3FYWSP7
  
  
  Litter box
  
  
• http://smile.amazon.com/Ware-Plastic-Lock-N-Litter-Small-Colors/dp/B000HG96EI/ref=pd_sim_199_21?ie=UTF8&dpID=517FLhZC5FL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=09NQ6RB0F97DR3FYWSP7
  
  Hammock
  
  
• http://smile.amazon.com/ProSelectA-Polka-Dot-Cage-Hammocks/dp/B005N11YLK/ref=pd_sim_199_16?ie=UTF8&dpID=51lb4SYKutL&dpSrc=sims&preST=_AC_UL160_SR160%2C160_&refRID=09NQ6RB0F97DR3FYWSP7
  
  Food bowl
  
  
• http://smile.amazon.com/Kaytee-Stoneware-Hamster-Bowl-Inch/dp/B0040B9NOY/ref=sr_1_11?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1462676611&sr=1-11&keywords=food+dish

I use one that's similar to this. My rats tended to poop in a corner anyway so I initially put the litterbox there. As for pee they generally just go anywhere and everywhere - hence the fleece.

I have this and it works well for my smallest and largest ratties. I'd just go with the 12", it will put less curve and pressure on their backs. I just put a little olive oil on the axis and it's silent.

Many big name pet stores (Petco, Petsmart) sell this thing called a Chin-chiller. It's essentially a small piece of granite that by its nature stays cooler than room temperature. You can put it in their cage and they can lay on it to cool down.
https://www.amazon.com/Kaytee-Chinchilla-Chiller-Granite-Stone/dp/B000A7707O

Seconding the frozen water bottle with a hand towel.

You could get one of these small desk fans for like $8 and point it directly in their cage: http://www.walmart.com/ip/34136721?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227023662628&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=53878145312&wl4=pla-101483560584&wl5=9008450&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=8175035&wl11=online&wl12=34136721&wl13=&veh=sem.

I don't recommend letting them splash around in the sink just because most rats really hate water and it will likely just stress them out like crazy.