Advice for keeping rats

Dinomania

Dinomania

Dinomania

Soldato
Joined
21 Apr 2003
Posts
4,328
Before we begin, I don't want anyone telling me they're freaked out by rats' tails, or telling me to 'get a hamster' or anything like that - I like rats, they're intelligent, inquisitive, and cute.

Right!

But what I do want is experiences and advice.

In a couple of months I'd like to obtain a 'Critter 3' cage, and 2 or 3 male rats (as they're a little more docile). I am going to try and find a breeder rather than going to a shop. Is there anything I really ought to know?

cages_moore.jpg
 
DONT get them from a shop, i've had in total 15 rats now, I bred most of them.
I got two rats in decemeber and a couple of days later "rofl" (the rat) died.

Males are usually more friendly etc, Females are more active (no idea why)
They are really easy took look after. They will proabably fight for a couple of days then get used to each other..

but yeah, great pets :)
 
AMAGAWD RATS!!! Get a hamster tbh :p

Nah only joking. Rats are pretty cute. I found this website with some nice info on rats for people who are buying for the first time. There's some helpful stuff there about handling and toys, as well as cages etc.

Hope it helps.

http://www.quite.co.uk/rats/

meggy-vengeance said:
DONT get them from a shop, i've had in total 15 rats now, I bred most of them.
Click to expand...
Yep, the site also mentions that getting rats from a pet shop is a gamble.
 
That's a great cage for them; with my first rat I was young and inexperienced and kept him in an old aquarium, the ventilation was rubbish which sadly meant he eventually died from exessive bleeding from an abscess caused by damp conditions. I miss Bobble :(

Give them some fresh fruit every couple of days, Bobble LOVED instant noodles and dog biscuits as treats too. They're very clever and love to be played with, let them run about on a flat surface such as a table or soft such as a bed (after they've settled into their territory, they won't go to the toilet outside of their cage). They'll recognise you and also their own names, and very quickly show individual personality. Very rewarding pets to have.
 
I had 2 female rats, I remember when they worked out how to open the cage :eek: suprisingly they didn't go to far just liked to climb to the highest point in the room possible

The more room in the cage the better tbh. I also found that my rats liked eating through the plastic base of the cage keep that in mind when picking one.
 
believe me the novelty will wear of after a few weeks..

they smell bad( ive had mice which are a milder version and that was bad!), need their cage cleaning out regulary knawing on the bars at night time
 
Advice ;

Buy Two

Yes they smell a bit , but so do we.

You picked a good cage.

Handle them Daily , and they we be the best pet you will have.

My dearly departed Boris ( and Jethro , not in photo ) will agree.



Cheers,

Mark
 
dmpoole said:
Will I be able to take them to quiz nights?
Click to expand...

Yes, but I don't think they'd be very useful. They'd just be annoying to hold if you have a pint.

sam83uk said:
believe me the novelty will wear of after a few weeks..

they smell bad( ive had mice which are a milder version and that was bad!), need their cage cleaning out regulary knawing on the bars at night time
Click to expand...

I disagree about the novelty wearing off. My rats were great fun. They do smell - it's not neccesarily a bad smell, just one that needs getting used to. They need cleaning out about once a week.
 
i've had a total of 5 rats, got 3 atm :)

just be aware that they are very social and curious animals and love to be around and about (for example, I just walked down the corner shop with one on my shoulder)

DON'T keep rats on pine sawdust stuff, its very bad for them. use paper based cat litter or shredded cardboard.

Which brings me onto this - rats have naturally weak respitory systems, which means sneezes are bad. if your rat sneezes and doesn't clear up in a day or so - take them to the vet.

Sneezing wears out their lungs and various passages and will very easily develop into something nasty like pneumonia.

Mycoplasma infections (resp illnesses) are so so common in rats you can assume any rat you buy will have one, its also one of the most "popular" things they can die from. if your rat sneezes even once - get it to the vet and get some baytril!

www.fancy-rats.co.uk/community is a fantastic forum :)
 
Thanks all :D

Everyone I know who has had rats, has adored them. They're different to hamsters, gerbils (have had them), guinea pigs, rabbits, mice... Rats actually learn to love you, it seems. The aforementioned rodents seem indifferent to you - if not scared witless most of the time.

And I hear that mice smell more than rats! Interesting. I'm thinking two male rats, in that cage, with lots of toys I will find or make them. The base is metal, which means they can't gnaw through it :D

Roffle and Dave. Yeah.

Will be a month or two before I can get around to them though :(
 
and some pics ;)

152730952_770da2bdae.jpg

151294198_94105280ab.jpg

109697371_ed878d5da3.jpg


oh another thing with males, is that they are the most likely to bite being territorial, female rats will only bite to defend a litter generally
 
Hate said:
and some pics ;)
oh another thing with males, is that they are the most likely to bite being territorial, female rats will only bite to defend a litter generally
Click to expand...
I was never bitten by either of my male rats ... licked a lot, but never bitten.
 
I have a bit of advice for you Sara :)

If you plan on wearing a halter neck or strappy / strapless top on a night out, don't let the rat on your shoulders for 24 hours beforehand! :p My mate used to have a pet rat and she loved being on my shoulder but always left little scratch marks - not good when going out :D
 
Remove the wire grid thing from the bottom of the cage, and cover the other shelves in something like lino. walking around on the wire can damage their feet. I think it's called bumblefoot.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom