How should male and female rats be kept? - briefly
Male and female rats require separate cages of at least 0.5 sq ft per animal, equipped with bedding, chewable enrichment, a balanced diet, fresh water, and a 12‑hour light cycle; temperature should be kept between 20 °C and 24 °C and cages cleaned weekly.
How should male and female rats be kept? - in detail
Housing male and female rats requires attention to space, enrichment, diet, health monitoring, and breeding considerations.
Each animal should have a minimum floor area of 0.5 m², with a height of at least 0.3 m to allow vertical climbing. Cages must be constructed of solid, non‑porous material; wire floors are prohibited because they cause foot injuries. Provide a solid base covered with absorbent bedding such as aspen shavings or paper products, replaced weekly to maintain dryness and odor control.
Enrichment items are essential for mental and physical health. Include chewable objects (untreated wooden blocks, cardboard tubes), nesting material (soft paper, shredded tissue), and climbing structures (plastic tunnels, sturdy branches). Rotate items regularly to prevent habituation.
Nutrition should consist of a balanced laboratory rodent diet formulated for the specific life stage, supplemented with fresh vegetables (carrots, broccoli) and occasional fruit (apple slices) in limited quantities. Water must be available ad libitum through a stainless‑steel bottle with a sipper tube; bottles should be inspected daily for leaks and cleaned weekly.
Health management includes weekly visual inspections for signs of respiratory distress, dermatitis, or abnormal behavior. Maintain a quarantine period of at least two weeks for new arrivals before introduction to the main colony. Vaccination and parasite control protocols follow institutional veterinary guidelines.
Sex‑specific considerations:
- Males: keep singly or in small groups of familiar individuals to reduce aggression. Provide additional hiding places and visual barriers to minimize territorial disputes.
- Females: can be housed in groups of up to four, but monitor for dominant individuals that may exclude subordinates. During estrus, females may display increased activity; ensure sufficient enrichment to accommodate heightened energy levels.
Breeding management demands separation of pregnant females from males at gestation day 14 to avoid stress. Provide a nesting box with soft material for parturition. After weaning (post‑day 21), separate offspring by sex to prevent early breeding and reduce overcrowding.
Environmental parameters: temperature 20–24 °C, relative humidity 40–60 %, a 12‑hour light/dark cycle with dim lighting during the dark phase to respect nocturnal activity patterns.
Record keeping must document cage identification, sex, age, health status, and any interventions. Regular audits of cage conditions, enrichment rotation, and diet logs ensure compliance with welfare standards.