Do fancy rats need cage mates?

yes they do.

NO reputable source on information about rat care will tell you otherwise.

rats are highly social animals that develop health, behavioural, social and psychological problems when you keep them alone.

they have a weakened immune system, meaning they will get sick more easily and recover from illnesses more slowly, if at all. they may overeat to the point of obesity (not helped by having no one to play with) undereat literally to the point of starvation, they may overgroom themselves, leaving bald or sore bits, they may become fearful and anxious with no other rat to reassure them. this may lead to agression or biting. they can become lethargic and disinterested in anything, and just mope. they will find it harder to form social bonds with you, as they have poorly developed social skills, they may develop damaging repetitive behaviours, or even self mutilate. seriously. it's more common than you'd think for a solo rat to chew off their own hands and feet.

would you really risk that?

some rats COPE on their own. but when you have a pet you want them to have more from life than just COPING. you want them to be happy and healthy, not just making the best of a bad situation that you inflicted on them, right?

some rats do NOT cope.

some rats literally pine away. they stop eating and give up on life.

some sources say they "do better" in pairs or groups. this is not the case. they don't just "do better" they NEED other rats.

there is NO amount of human interaction that can replace the socialisation they need with their own species.

they don't even keep them on their own in labs anymore, unless they're studying the detrimental effects of social deprivation on them, of which there are many.

getting only one rat, to live on its own, is incredibly selfish. if you do it it means that you are putting your WANTS before an animals NEEDS.

Rats living alone can cause diseases, stress, anti-social behavior, biting, and even death. Any website that says it isn't necessary to own multiple rats is wrong and should not be trusted for any other information on rats. To be honest, caring for two rats is no more difficult then caring for one, in fact it's probably easier. You still have to socialize your rats with people as much as possible, but when they are alone and you can't play, they always have a friend. It is an absolute MUST to get two or more rats, and be sure that they are the same gender, unless neutered or spayed. Here is a great video to watch... it's wicked cute and you'll see exactly why you need more than one rat:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDy3bMRuobE

It's a great video....... You have to get two, three, four, five..... as many as you want (but again make sure they are all the same gender, or you'll end up with tons of baby rats!)

Consider this, in the wild, rats live in massive colonies. You will never encounter a solitary rat. A pair of rats do everything together, sleep, play, groom, eat, etc. And they provide companionship 24 hours of every single day. This will never match to the attention a human can provide. So yes, it's fair to say that a companion is a must.

They are happiest with a same-sexed sibling that they have already been living with from birth. If you'd like more info, here's a very short article covering the basics: http://www.ratz.co.uk/petrat.html#How many rats

Well, rats are social creatures and should have a cagemate.

Some people argue "well ive had a rat all by itself and it didn't die so it is fine"

But think of it this way, if you were in solitary confinement, you might be in fine health, but would you really be happy?

It would be best to have two rats. Two really isn't any more hard to care for than one, they will bond with you just as well or better than a single rat, and more rats = more fun!

Yes, it's necessary. No, your rat will not die from being kept alone. Some people say their rat 'got along just fine' being solo. However, rats tend to be depressed, lonely, and more prone to illnesses when kept by themselves. They also tend to adjust to their new environment quicker when they have a buddy.

Two rats aren't much more expensive than one. All you'll need, of course, is a cage big enough for two, and you're all set.

Keeping rats alone literally causes their immune system to shut down and shortens their life. It also causes depression, anxiety and loneliness. Rats are HIGHLY social, communal animals who naturally live in large colonies of over a a hundred rats. They are only truly happy when kept with other rats and alot of people prefer a group of three as that way no one will get left alone if someone passes away.

It's either 2+ rats or no rats alright.

First, are you going to tame and play with your rat? If so, it won't need a cage mate. If you just want one as a pet (not a companion) it will need a cage mate. It's all to do with how much time you are going to spend with it, make sure you know that before you buy it/them :)