Welcome to our basic rat care guide. We are not nutritionists but we strive to keep our guide up to date with the recommended CANADIAN standards.

HOUSING

Adequate for a pair of rats.

        A hamster cage use to be acceptable for rats as well. Today, single level cages are NOT recommended for rats main enclosure. However, if one of our rats is expecting a litter, has a litter, is injured or sick. A TEMPORARY one level cage is the only time it is acceptable. 

          Providing an adequate cage for a pet rat is one of the most important responsibilities of any pet parent. Cages must be spacious enough to promote climbing, enrichment, and regular exercise. A cramped or poorly designed setup can quickly lead to stress, obesity, respiratory issues, and unwanted behaviours.

At Moon Seoul Rattery, all of our rats are housed in minimum two-level cages, ensuring they always have vertical space to explore and fulfill their natural instincts. We believe this setup best supports their physical and mental well-being. Wire cages with multiple levels are preferred over aquariums or small plastic enclosures, as they offer superior ventilation and enrichment opportunities. The generally accepted Canadian standard is at least 2 cubic feet of space per rat, with more always encouraged — a benchmark we consistently meet or exceed in our rattery.

DIET

90% pellets, topped with a bit of: peanuts, dried veggies/fruit, yogurt drops and dried mealworms.

Beautiful salad made with baby spinach, red bell pepper stick, diced cucumber, diced tomatoes, topped with parsley served on a lick mat.

Well balanced meal. Young mouse and rat pellets which consists of 90% of their daily diet. Plus a side salad with several healthy options. 

MODERATION, ALTERNATING, VARIATION AND HEALTHY OPTIONS ARE KEY

BEDDING

        At Moon Seoul Rattery, we strongly discourage the use of pine or cedar wood shavings for rat bedding. These softwoods contain aromatic oils (phenols) that can irritate a rat’s delicate respiratory system and contribute to chronic lung issues. Because respiratory health is a top priority for us, we follow Canadian animal guidelines that emphasize the importance of safe, low-dust, and non-toxic bedding options. Protecting our rats from preventable illness begins with proper habitat choices — and that means keeping pine and cedar out of every one of our enclosures.

    We use only aspen shavings for our rats’ bedding. Aspen is a hardwood that contains no harmful phenols, making it completely safe for sensitive respiratory systems. It’s highly absorbent, low in dust, and provides a natural texture perfect for burrowing and nesting—behaviours that align with the Canadian Animal Care’s standards for species-appropriate housing. While paper-based options can also be safe, we trust aspen for its reliability, affordability, and comfort. By choosing aspen exclusively, Moon Seoul Rattery upholds Canadian animal welfare principles and ensures every rat enjoys a clean, healthy, and enriching environment.

TREATS/LIVE INSECTS

Live Discoid cockroach. 

Live superworms.

Dried mealworms.

Nuts and dehydrated veggies.

Dried fruit.

Snacks for toddlers.

Freeze dried beef liver.

Hoshi, enjoying his very first live treat at 6.5weeks old. A small superworm. 

Kion eating a live horned worm.

Fresh vegetables and fruit is ALWAYS better than dehydrated. 

           Rats are omnivores, just like humans, they can eat pretty much EVERYTHING. As long as PELLETS is the main staple food.

There is ONE exception: NO SPICY FOODS. 

      Otherwise, ANYTHING goes. Our team has treated our older rats (6 months+) with: French Fries (3-6), chicken nuggets (1/2), rice and beans (1/3c) and so much more. 

   Rats make amazing pets, so intelligent, playful and sometimes mischievous but we enjoy every moment of their short lives. It's OK TO SPOIL THEM WITH HUMAN FOOD BUT THE PELLETS REMAIN THE TOP STAPLE FOOD.

Bunga, investigating Jamaican rice and beans WITHOUT red peppers.

Dino, laying on a lick mat and enjoying a piece of cucumber.

Vitamins are OPTIONAL, not required.

      At Moon Seoul Rattery, we believe that a high-quality pellet diet should always form the foundation of every rat’s nutrition. However, we also recognize the importance of enrichment and variety for both physical and mental well-being. Providing live feeders in moderation allows our rats to express natural foraging and hunting behaviours, supporting their overall welfare and helping prevent boredom. Every dietary choice is made with the health, happiness, and enrichment of our rats in mind.

         We’ve carefully introduced a wide variety of feeder insects as occasional treats to support our rats’ overall health and enrichment. We’ve used dubia cockroaches, black soldier fly larvae, superworms, mealworms, silkworms, butterworms, hornworms, crickets, red wrigglers, and nightcrawlers, each offering unique nutritional benefits. These insects provide excellent sources of protein and healthy fats, helping maintain muscle tone and a shiny, healthy coat. Some, like black soldier fly larvae, are naturally rich in calcium, supporting strong bones and growth. Because rats are omnivores, they thrive on small amounts of animal protein, and at Moon Seoul Rattery, we ensure these nutritious treats are offered in moderation as part of a balanced, species-appropriate diet.

That said, moderation and quality are key. 

*NEVER FEED WILD INSECTS OR WORMS* The wild insects could themselves carry: parasites, disease or worse. Pesticides. 

WHEELS

        We are 100% against the use of exercise wheels for our rats. Unlike smaller rodents such as hamsters or mice, rats have longer spines and heavier bodies, making wheel use risky and potentially harmful. Even in larger wheels, rats must arch their backs unnaturally while running, which can cause spinal strain, chronic discomfort, and long-term musculoskeletal issues. In keeping with Animal Care guidelines, we prioritize preventing unnecessary pain or injury—one of the core principles of responsible, humane care.

Beyond the physical dangers, we also believe wheels offer little real enrichment for rats. These intelligent, social animals benefit far more from climbing structures, ropes, tunnels, hammocks, and interactive play than from repetitive wheel running. We focus on safe, species-appropriate enrichment that encourages exploration, exercise, and bonding. By rejecting wheels entirely, we ensure our rats live happy, healthy, and naturally active lives.

TOYS/HAMMOCKS

Winter hammock, warm and cozy.

Kion and Askari resting on a summer hammock, breathable and lightweight.

Kion the alpha male, figuring out a foraging puzzle.

      We consider toys and hammocks essential for maintaining the mental and physical well-being of our rats. Following the enrichment principles, we ensure every rat in our care has opportunities to express natural behaviours and stay mentally stimulated. Our rats are highly intelligent, social, and curious, so we provide a variety of enrichment items—ropes, tunnels, chew blocks, foraging puzzles, hammocks, and climbing structures—to encourage exploration, chewing, digging, and play. These activities not only support dental and physical health but also prevent boredom and stress-related behaviours such as bar chewing or lethargy. Enrichment isn’t an extra—it’s a key part of ensuring every rat lives a happy, healthy, and fulfilling life.

           Hammocks are a staple in every enclosure and one of the most practical, beneficial forms of enrichment we provide for our rats. They give rats a comfortable, elevated place to rest—something they instinctively love—while also maximizing vertical cage space in line with Canadian small animal housing standards. Our rats enjoy a variety of hammocks year-round: cooling hammocks in the summer to help regulate body temperature and warm, cozy hammocks in the winter to provide comfort and warmth. Hammocks encourage climbing, nesting, and social sleeping, all natural behaviours that support emotional well-being. By rotating different styles of washable hammocks and toys throughout the year, we ensures every rat lives in an environment that is enriching, comfortable, and seasonally appropriate.

LITTER TRAINING

Excuse me, a little privacy. Please.

       We’ve found that some of our rats naturally take to litter training, while others prefer not to—and that’s perfectly fine. While litter training can make cage maintenance easier and help keep bedding cleaner for longer, we don’t place a strong emphasis on it. Many of our rats instinctively choose one or two bathroom spots, so placing a small litter box with paper-based or aspen pellets in those areas can encourage consistent use. For those that do take to it, litter training helps reduce odours and extend bedding life, supporting easier cleaning. In line with Canadian guidelines, our priority remains providing clean, sanitary, and comfortable housing for all our rats, whether they’re litter trained or not.

SOCIALIZATION 

3 week old pups.

Human bonding is very important to us.