Thinking about getting a rat...

I think the main issue with aquariums is that they have very poor ventilation. I personally do not find aquariums large enough for rats or a suitable living environment. Perhaps for a small hamster who spends most of their time digging or a mouse(I find they can escape even the smallest bars), but I do not think they are appropriate for larger rodents.

I agree.

Something that may not have been said is. Some types of horse shavings used for bedding work very very well for a rats cage. As long as it is shaved wood, that ISN'T Cedar or Pine. If it has a smell to it, it's bad for (any) rodents respiratory systems and heightens their chance of getting pneumonia. It's also much more cost effective than going out and buying a small bag of natural bedding for 5$ from a local store. And it's not as messy either. It stays in the cage, our rats love it!

See, I have it for gerbils, and that's all they seem to do is tunnel their way through their straw and hay...lol! Seems like they have a new tunnel system each day! Hahaha! They love to dig, and in a normal cage, you can't normally put enough bedding in to give them enough 'space' for digging. It works for us, and they are changed every other day, so they never get dirty or smelly.

Hey, i've owned 7 female rats and 2 male rats and the females are definitely less smelly, though neutering a male really helps. My first rat lived in an aquarium tank and was constantly having respiratory problems. Now my rats are in a indoor aviary with plenty of climbing room, i've personally never had any problems with bedding being flung around. Cleaning really does have difference in smell though, my girls' litter tray is given a quick scoop every second day and their hammocks are cleaned every three days aswell as a quick wipe on the levels.
I currently have 4 rats in my bedroom and I don't notice any smell