Please please tell me something useful about rats ( pet )?

Hi there,

Well firstly, as far as where to get a rat from - a breeder is better than a pet shop for a number of reasons. Firstly, breeders know their animals and their history, they'll be able to give you detailed information about their parentage and any health problems (very important as some problems can be inherited), it will be much harder in a pet shop to find out this kind of information. Also you'll find a breeder is a great source of information and can be there for you every step of the way and as a bit of a reference guide when you need them!

If you do go to a pet shop before you start to handle the rats just have a quick look at their general behavior. If you see a rat which seems lethargic, "fluffed up", is limping, or has it's head tilted to one side this indicates health problems so tell the shop owners and avoid buying them.

When you get the rats out to play with them they should be reasonably relaxed, and not biting or squealing (this indicates extreme fear). Check for any lumps or bumps, bald/flakey patches of skin, porpyhrin staining around the eyes and nose (this looks like reddish-brown fluid), any unusual staining around the rear and privates, and have a quick listen to them breathing - if they sound like they're rattling this again indicates health problems in the form of respiratory disease, excessive sneezing also indicates this.

The main cost for keeping rats is in the initial set up and buying a big enough cage for them. Male rats are fair sized creatures and they need a big at least two floored cage to roam about in. The shelves and flooring should be solid and not just wire as they can hurt their little feet on this. As a weekly cost to keep two of them with food, bedding, and cleaning you'd be looking at around £6 (or roughly $12) if that, depending on how good the prices are at your local store! A full set up cost would be at least £80 ($160) again depending on what you got.

On a daily basis you should be doing the following:

Playing with your rats for at least a couple of hours and checking them over for any unusual developments on the outside (scratches, staining etc) and any unusual behaviour such as lethargy, not willing to feed etc.

Changing the food once a day, a treat of some nice greens or bit of fruit is much appreciated.

Changing the water twice a day

Spot cleaning any dirty areas and just ensuring the litter is nice and fresh.

Food should be available at all times, usually a medium sized bowl which is filled every day is fine for them and as long as they've always got it available they don't need a set feeding time.

Hope this helps.

My male's cage cost $35. My females' 3 story cage cost $50. Glass water bottle cost $5 (because the females kept chewing holes in the plastic ones). Food bowl: $2. Bedding (my choice is corn cob): $16 for a bag that lasts 2-3 months. House/log: $10. Food: $6. Actual rats: $8 each for the girls. Male was free.

Check your local shelters & rescues, as they occasional get a few rats (unexpected litters of people's pet rats, etc.). I got mine from the pet store (small feed store type). Just check for the main signs of illness, and avoid: red 'tears', red discharge from the nose, rapid breathing, inactiveness, bullying others or being bullied, etc.

Vet check them, either way. Better safe than sorry! I thought I had a healthy one, and she ended up having severe respiratory infection (medicine didn't help).

If you get two males, try to get them young, and at the same time. Watch them before you buy, to see how they interact. Males sometimes need bathes (maybe once every 1-2 months). When they're adults, they get oil build-up, which can cause their skin to get orange, and contain odors.

Make sure you're able to handle them before agreeing to buy them. You want to make sure you don't get a biter, or a timid one (unless you're ok with that).

Feed them once a day, fill the bowl halfway. Provide water at all times (bottle, not bowl.) Seed treats are wonderful, so are edible toys for birds.

Rats are great pets! We had four while growing up, the smell isn't that bad if you clean out the cage often enough it's alot better then hamster smell! You can buy rat food at about any pet store. Having food and water at all times is good. We never had hamster wheels, but they are really curious so maybe something in there to play with. Two females should get along especially if they grow up together, I don't ever remember having problems.

You should look for a breeder, and if you can't find any then look into local stores. Search for store reviews online, and check out the general appearance of the store in person.

My two story rat cage cost 60 dollars, water bottles cost 2-8 dollars, bedding cost 8-12 dollars a bag, food cost 6-14 dollars a bag.

I feed my rats when their bowls empty. I find I have to change their cage once a week, and sometimes twice.

You'd do better with two female rats from the same litter. Males are going to fight a lot more, and there would be a higher chance of them severely hurting one another.

To start with, get them from a pet store. Try to get ones as young as possible or ones that are already socialized. If you get them from a pet store, they can tell you about what to feed them and how much. Rats can be free-fed - you don't have to measure out their food like a dog's. Get a good sized cage and one that's as airy as possible and easy to clean. Toys are good, because they are very inquisitive, curious critters. They're a lot of fun, very affectionate and pretty darn smart! Personally I would suggest females, but that's up to you.

You need to check their food daily; give them fresh water daily and clean their cage frequently or the odor will drive you out. You don't need to trim their nails or give them baths, either. Have fun!

(Sorry it's so long)

Rats make GREAT PETS!!!! Good Choice...

Where to buy a rat...Most pet shops carry them, but if you don't mind paying more, you can get purbreds from breeders, which are usually more healthy than the ones at the pet stores...

Money matters...You need a good size cage, which can cost a good bit of money, I got my cage from petsmart...it has a red bottom and white wires, 3 levels about 3 feet wide, 3 feet tall and 1 1/2 feet deep...for about $100, but it's well worth it...

Their food can cost about $7 a bag( I get the big bags...9 rats) and my bag lasts about 2 1/2 to 3 weeks...

Their toys, aren't that expensive, exspecially when you get creative...

http://www.dapper.com.au/toys.htm

Treats are also not expensive, you can use fruits and veggies and store bought treats...

Everyday, you need to handle them, take them out and give them love!!!! Give them fresh water and make sure they have food...and if you want to potty train...

Put a litter pan in a corner and pick up thier droppings and put them in the box everyday(several times a day) and after a few days or so, they'll understand and start using it...which helps keep the cage clean..

As for how much to feed them, I just make sure they have plenty of food in their bowl, you don't have to worry about actualy rations unless your rats get overweight, which doen't happen that often, so just make sure they have a good amount in their bowl...and give treats in moderation, store bought treats should be no more than one a day, and that can even be a bit much...

2 males....yoy may want to reconsider...males are apt to fight when they get older...you can get them fixed to help reduce the risk, but sometimes they fight no matter what and you have to separate them, I suggest starting with 2 females instead...they tend to be much more active than males but both make GREAT pets...

If you have any more questions...Feel free to email me...

Hope this helps...GOOD LUCK!!!

why do you want a pet rat

welll, people have pet mice

so do a search on pet mice and see if theres more info since theyre similar, mice & rats