To The Ark Rattery

05/02/2025

It is getting harder and harder to justify homing out to private buyers because of issues like these.

This is a *constant* issue in the rat breeding community and is definitely one of the reasons why I am so picky with adoptions. It really seems like you cannot trust anyone these days.

If you would like to breed, approach FROM THE JUMP of wanting to breed. Many breeders are more than happy to work with people wanting to get into ethical rat breeding (that is my primary focus as a genetics repository!!!), but that chance is ruined through deceptive moves like this.

12/25/2024

Mr. Tohya says "MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYRAT!"

Merry Christmas from all of us at To The Ark Rattery :)

12/19/2024

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone! I bet we are all feeling a little bit like Cheese3 here these past few weeks getting ready for all the holiday fun 😅🤣

Apologies for the long silence, but it has been for good reason. We have been very busy this year working lines with two new 🍜🐺 EXCITING🐺🍜 genetic additions to our rattery. While the new ratties will take quite a bit of generational work to get up to my standards for public release, we could not be happier to have been allowed to work with this type! More details on them to come in the Summer :)

Very pleased to also announce we plan to reopen to new adopters in Spring of 2025! If you have not already submitted and gotten an adoption application approved, please reach out in DM so that you can be ready for reopening in April!

We may have availability for previous adopters prior to that (approx. mid January), so those of you with current ARK Ratties please reach out in the To The Ark Rattery Friends and Family group if you are looking for new additions! If you are a previous adopter and need an invitation to the group, please reach out and we will get you added. Thanks again!

Be sure to follow and check out my Pawtners:

Mongo's Mischief Rattery
Regal Squeaks Rattery

10/22/2024

So happy to have these bubbas in a great program! Cannot wait to see what Ratsalotta Rats produces with these lovelies. Give them a like and a follow 🥰

09/09/2024

If anyone has ever wanted solid evidence for why we recommend Kiln Dried Pine and prohibit CareFresh (and other paper based substrates), here is an excellent write up. It really is no contest which one is most effective. If you are allergic to KDP, Aspen and H**p are great alternatives!

✨️ Educational Post ✨️

𝙋𝙖𝙥𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜

A variety of environmental factors can effect the outcome of health in mice. One of these factors is bedding. In some cases psychological changes may occur due to the exposure of certain bedding types.

Characteristics of bedding should be amonia absorbant, moisture absorbent, inedible, non-toxic, readily available, non-deleterious to housing, free of dust and splinters. During a study on bedding types carefresh was thrown out on week 2 before the study had ended due to its inability to absorb ammonia effectively.

This study looks at the effects of multiple types of bedding on the growth, food intake, oxygen consumption, IgE antibody concentrations, and general appearance and behavior in male CD-1 mice. The least squares means ammonia concentrations in cages with CareFRESH Ultra bedding (44.7 ± 1.2 ppm) were lower than those in the prior experiment but significantly higher than in cages with pine bedding (11.2 ± 1.2 ppm).

https://www.ingentaconnect.com/contentone/aalas/jaalas/2004/00000043/00000004/art00002?crawler=true #:~:text=The%202%2Dweek%20experiment%20with%20male%20NOD%2FLtJ%20mice.,-To%20confirm%20the&text=The%20least%20squares%20means%20ammonia,(11.2%20%C2%B1%201.2%20ppm).

𝙍𝙚𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙮𝙥𝙚𝙨 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙞𝙘𝙚

Safe and effective bedding types for mice include:
● kiln dried pine
● Aspen
● Lab grade Harwood chip (sanichip)
● H**p

Paper bedding may be used as a nesting material or to add a small pop of color to your enclosure but is not recommended to be the only bedding in your enclosure. Poor amonia absorbsion can lead to heath risks involving the respatory system.

04/06/2024

12/18/2023

This was well said! We are closed for adoptions from Thanksgiving till Epiphany for this reason :). Applications can be submitted, but babies and adults will not be adopted out during this period. Thanks as always for your patience and understanding :D

Every year I get an influx of messages from parents wanting to “surprise” their kids with living, breathing, sentient animals. My response is always no. Animals are not surprises nor Christmas presents. They are unique individuals with needs and requirements for them to thrive. Rats are not disposable, rats are 1-3 year commitments. Don’t take this as an opportunity to have your kids miss out on getting a pet for Christmas. Instead, take it as a teaching moment- why it’s important to wait for responsibly bred animals, and why animals aren’t impulse purchases. Of course, there is exceptions to this, you know who you are

Happy holidays to all!💚

12/11/2023

Happy Monday, y'all!

11/22/2023

Check out this great deal! 87.01 with F R E E SHIPPING for a great rat cage! These are what we use :)

CRITTER NATION CAGES ON SALE!

SINGLE CN ON CHEWY FOR LESS THAN $82 DELIVERED (30% more off at checkout!)

NOTE: Also Doubie CN on sale at Amazon for $209.99 (link in comments)

If you are looking for a fantastic rat cage, the single Critter Nation is on sale at Chewy! On sale for $116.99 plus another 30 percent off at checkput, so less than $82 and delivery is free.