u/bugg_rannger_

So unfortunately, my sweet girl honey passed away not quite a week ago. I still have one girl squid left, who what's pretty close to honey. Me and my roommate, have talked about it and have decided to look into getting her new friends, but unfortunately, there are no breeders in my area.The closest reliable one that I have found there are 3 to 4 hours away.

I am debating going to some of our local pet stores and or exotic pet stores and seeing what they have. the local pet stores is where I got honey, she was a feeder rat who i fell in love with and started my journey in owning rats. I'm not sure if this time around I want to get another feeder as they come with their own host of problems, and i'm not sure if my heart can handle that right now. But in the same right pet store rats in general aren't necessarily the best in breed standards.

Would it be best just to wait and contact the breeders and wait for a new litter? if I did get one from the pet store, what should I be looking out for?

I love my girls very much but they are mischievous little creatures who love to escape their cage. They seem to be able to fit through the bars, even though the cage.I had bought was marketed as a ratcage. unfortunately, as much as I have tried to make my room rat proof I am unable to make it completely ratproof because of other animals that live in my house,and because of the furniture I have. The cage they currently have how's 2 parts. The bottom part is what they are currently in, it has plexiglass all around it still, while the top part is currently in my garage. I want to add the top particin because they are not as small as it used to be and I want them, give them more room to run around and play. I'm a little worried, though.With the being completely covered in plexiglass, there won't be as much circulation, and it would get too hot for them as I live in the deep south and it is hard to keep the house cool at all times. Should I just buy a new cage? Or are there other ways to reenforce it.

I'm trying to think up some more stuff to add to my rat's diet as they don't seem as excited about feeding time as they used to be. Right now, I have them on a pellet, split peas, wheat noodles and seed mix, they have 2 bawl that have food all the time, and then usually I'll sprinkle some into their hiding holes as a little bit of enrichment. They also get freeze dried apples and dried cherries every once in a while as treats on their outside days when I put them in their playpen. Should I be having food available at all times in the food bowls?Or should I do it more on a schedule? They don't seem to be underweight nor overweight I feel like their a good healthy medium.