Anyone got a pet rat?

DomBruv · 23 Nov 2017 at 09:49

Just got a pet baby rat of a breeder, he is 6 weeks old and currently on his own (not for long).

He seems really shy and timid, I know all the tricks with getting them to become more friendly but can anyone kind of shed a light on how long/old till they become more aware and friendly after food training and becoming used to your smell? another question is what is the best bedding that is cheaper than back2nature if there is any?

Some general tips be great

Thanks guys!

Thekwango · 23 Nov 2017 at 10:30

a pet rat? have you got a pet ferret too? are you really Compo from Last of the Summer Wine?

koolpc · 23 Nov 2017 at 10:36

Is his name Roland?

robfosters · 23 Nov 2017 at 10:47

DomBruv said:
he is 6 weeks old and currently on his own (not for long).

Good idea, they get lonely. Get him a snake as a pal, they’ll get along lovely. So well that after a while you won’t even know the rats there.

Ayahuasca · 23 Nov 2017 at 10:48

Working class midlife crisis?

Diddums · 23 Nov 2017 at 10:49

Mine keeps telling the cops what I've been up to

Avenged7Fold · 23 Nov 2017 at 10:52

Ayahuasca said:
Working class midlife crisis?

Must be hitting that midlife crisis pretty early, he started a thread about his gf blocking him on facebook not long ago!

As for working class, he will assure you that he has plenty of money. At least, he would have if insurers fulfill his claim for emotional damage after his Audi got totaled

Roar87 · 23 Nov 2017 at 10:53

No but I'd definitely have one, they're friendly and intelligent. Unlike most of the posters above.

meths · 23 Nov 2017 at 10:54

I've got one in my kitchen but am unsure what to do with it.

Jony27 · 23 Nov 2017 at 10:57

My flatmate had two she adopted. They freak me out but they seem ok, one was very timid while the other one would be friendlier towards my flatmate.
I prefer her gerbils though lol

robfosters · 23 Nov 2017 at 11:00

Roar87 said:
No but I'd definitely have one, they're friendly and intelligent. Unlike most of the posters above.

DomBruv · 23 Nov 2017 at 11:03

Jony27 said:
My flatmate had two she adopted. They freak me out but they seem ok, one was very timid while the other one would be friendlier towards my flatmate.
I prefer her gerbils though lol

Why do you prefer them?

DomBruv · 23 Nov 2017 at 11:04

Thekwango said:
a pet rat? have you got a pet ferret too? are you really Compo from Last of the Summer Wine?

I don't watch shows like that, I'm guessing your a female?

DomBruv · 23 Nov 2017 at 11:04

koolpc said:
Is his name Roland?

No I called him Diablo

3

DomBruv · 23 Nov 2017 at 11:05

robfosters said:
Good idea, they get lonely. Get him a snake as a pal, they’ll get along lovely. So well that after a while you won’t even know the rats there.

Rats eat snakes though don't they?

DomBruv · 23 Nov 2017 at 11:05

Meths said:
I've got one in my kitchen but am unsure what to do with it.

Well first things first, he/she needs a name!

Beasty · 23 Nov 2017 at 11:12

Mine were pretty tame when I got them from the breeder.

And yes people they make lovely pets.

Rannoch · 23 Nov 2017 at 11:13

A few stalkers on this thread lol

Chris Wilson · 23 Nov 2017 at 11:23

Reminds me to go check the rat traps later... I had a tenant with pet rats and a pet rabbit in the house, the place needed fumigating due to fleas when she left. At least the constant stream of men coming and going at all hours the neighbours complained to me about probably left with more than came through the door with.

I did have a pet albino rat when I was a kid, I took it into Marks and Spencer in Stockport on my shoulder and was very disappointed no one noticed. But that only lasted ten minutes until some old biddy spotted it and hysteria reigned. As a child I found that hilarious, as you do...

I think it legally best not to tell the details of the story of the hundreds of rats in the lift sump by the meat department of a major Manchester store where I was a department manager for a while. Shine a torch down and all you saw were hundreds of red spots.... Not to mention the maggots in the waste trays of the slicing machines. It made me very fussy about where I bought food after that.

Now in the sticks my goal is ridding the place of rodents, and it's an ongoing task as having birds means grain around. Great survivors, rats, quite remarkable creatures that can gnaw through a concrete floor raft to get to a food source.

DomBruv · 23 Nov 2017 at 11:31

Vargas said:
A few stalkers on this thread lol

I'm famous on here for all the wrong reasons.

But I'm still famous