About Bruxlings

Bruxlings is a home for people who love small pets: rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, rabbits, chinchillas, degus and ferrets. Come for one answer, stay for the rest.

What you will find here

• Care guides for nine animals. Homes and cages, food, health, behaviour, handling and what it all costs. Every guide starts with the answer, then gives the detail. Start at rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, rabbits, mice, gerbils, chinchillas, degus or ferrets.
• Food answers. One page for each food and each animal: yes, sometimes or no, how much and how often. The food checker finds the right one in a second.
• The rat shop. Hides, houses, shelves, ledges, foraging toys and themed cage sets for rats, designed by us in the Lake District. Our own rats use them every day. Browse everything for the cage.

Why "Bruxlings"

Bruxing is the soft tooth-grinding a relaxed rat does, often while being stroked, and sometimes with eyes that boggle along in time. It is one of the best sounds a rat owner gets to hear. A bruxling is a small pet who is that content. That is who this site is for.

How we write our guides

We keep pet rats ourselves, so we know which questions come up at midnight. For every page we read what welfare charities, vets and specialist societies say, and we name our sources at the bottom so you can check them. Where good sources disagree, we say so and go with the more careful advice. Measurements are in metric and US units, and we give both the UK and US name where they differ.

We are owners, not vets. If your pet seems unwell, your vet is the person to ask, and in an emergency ring them straight away.

Who we are

Bruxlings is part of Ripleys Nest, a small studio in the Lake District, Cumbria, UK. Our rat pieces are designed and made here. Little luxuries for your mischief.

Spotted something wrong, or a question we have not answered? Tell us and we will put it right.