Rat buying question.?

Posted by on . 11 comments.


I think I am definatley getting a rat. Are there any semi-odd things about rats I need to know before I buy? We will g to a breeder if we can find one, and if not, go to a shelter, and the last possible place we will go is a petstore. I like these few cages here. I would get a pair of rats if I got rats. So, for rats, which is better, M or F?



Cage 1
http://www.petco.com/product/13727/Marchioro-Luna-Spa-Small-Animal-Cage.aspx
Cage 2
http://www.petco.com/product/106066/PETCO-Multi-Level-Small-Animal-Habitats.aspx
And some accessories:
Accessory no. 1
http://www.petco.com/product/12203/Marshall-Pet-Ferret-Cozy-Igloo.aspx
Can rats wear harnesses?
http://www.petco.com/product/100509/Small-Animal-Kingdom-Ferret-Harness-and-Lead.aspx

Comments

  1. Woodenshovel says:
    June 13, 2009 at 5:20 am

    Nice to see a responsible first time rat owner-it’s a really good idea to buy from a breeder. Just make sure you ask about things like temperament of the parents, and history of illness in the family. Though if you have to go to pet shop don’t worry to much-sometimes you get really nice, really intelligent rats that have been well looked after and cared for. It’s just about knowing what to look out for (which has already been mentioned).

    Right firstly you asked about any semi-odd rats do-well the only thing I can think of is bruxing-which is extreme tooth grinding which causes the rats eyes to pulsate in and out-can be really freaky when you first see it. It’s normal stuff though and nothing to worry about. They tend to do this when very content, or as a way to comfort themselves when sick or stressed. Oh and baby rats play fight a lot, which can look kind of serious-it’s not, one rat will just pin the other then groom him-it’s very cute.

    As for the cages-go for the second one-it seems pretty small in the picture but the dimensions seem pretty good. The accessory you picked out is great-mine have a ton of toys and beds and the igloo is definitely their favourite. I wouldn't recommend the harness though-it’ll be a b*tch to put on and will probs just stress you them out.

    About getting male or female-I can’t really say as I’ve only ever owned males-however I do think they are the best of both worlds-playful when young, cuddly and friendly when old. Also female rats are prone to mammary tumours-which are something you really don't want to have to deal with-especially as a person new to the rat world. (Not that male rats don't get sick). Don’t believe the rumours about male rats being aggressive-its VERY rare for that to happen. But really if you go for male or female it depends on what you want-would you prefer and active pet that will be very entertaining to watch, but would probably prefer to play with you or explore than sit and be stroked. Or would you prefer a more pettable pet that likes nothing more than to sit on your knee and fall asleep?

  2. D D says:
    June 13, 2009 at 5:20 am

    male

  3. Charl J says:
    June 13, 2009 at 5:20 am

    My M8 Haz Got About 16 She Has Got Female And Male , But The Males Seem More Friendly Because Females Tend 2 Bite More (Ouch) Lol
    So Yh If So Get A Male Rat
    Hope I Helped

  4. WarDruid says:
    June 13, 2009 at 5:20 am

    enclosure 2 is fine. There is NOTHING wrong with getting a rat from petco. If you get a reallly young rat, it will bond to you like a dog.
    Examine all the enclosures in the store, check thier clenliness. They ought not have an overpowering odor at all, the glass ought be free of debris and smears.
    Examine the rats closely. They should be bright eyed and alert if they are not sleeping. NO injuries of any kind. Sluggish movement, bloody noses and a depressed look on the face indicate illness, likely an upper resp. infection. if ONE rat in a tank looks ill, do not buy any of the rats in that enclosure, they couuld allll be sick. Choose a healthy, young rat…..females bond better and faster than males. The smaller the rat, the younger it is and with proper care, the longer it will live.
    Rats with thier ears placed further back on thier heads are called Dumbo rats. Rats with VERY dark fur that has light specks, slightly coarse feel are rare in pet stores…it means they have more Wild rat stock to them…and are likely hardier health wise than the other rats
    Get CARE FRESH bedding, It is completly non-llergenic and goes a long way. You will want to put about 2 inches of bedding in the bottom of the enclosure. Avoid the ferret house….it's stuffing is synthetic and will bind up the rats gut if it eats it. baaaad . Stick with the plastic igloos (nylon is inert) or use a small shoe box. Keep some sticks of wood (shop bought…sterile) in there for the rat to keep it's teeth trim with. Get a few books about rats BEFORE you buy and READ all of them…be informed BEFORE you buy your animal and you will know more about what you really want. keep the enclosure out of direct sunlight or reflected sun, it could get too hot. Change the water once a day, feed with a goooood variety mix of seed and grains. the food ought cost about eight dollars for a five pound bag. Avoid lab block, it's the EQ of Protien waffles and Soylent Green.

  5. abipabi says:
    June 13, 2009 at 5:20 am

    1 tip. don't buy an ugly rat.

  6. Sarah;; says:
    June 13, 2009 at 5:20 am

    male, and cage 2 =]

  7. Kammi says:
    June 13, 2009 at 5:20 am

    hey, im getting rats soon :)
    teh 2nd cage looks awesome!
    u just may have to watch out for the bar spacing incase its quite wide?
    yeh they can wear hanesses, but alot will just sit on your shoulder/follow you around so thats not needed :)
    omg that bed is so cute!
    the only thing id watch is that they will prolly get peed on/chewed up fast! so dont go spending ALOT, unless you need to :)

    cheap over gloves/flannels make good hammocks/beds!
    theres alot of cheap stuff that you can use than can just get replaced when chewed to bits!

    hav fun :)

    EDIT: males are more layed back, girls are more active, both just as afectionate, you decide! :)

  8. grannysstar says:
    June 13, 2009 at 5:20 am

    http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk has all the info you need if wanting to get or already have rats.
    Welcome to rat-ownership, you will love it! :o )

  9. Cubs_Fan! says:
    June 13, 2009 at 5:20 am

    Well, here are the pros and cons of getting male and Female rats. I have always had and prefer males.

    Male or Female
    The differences between Male and Female rats is not drastic, but there are some pros and cons about both.

    Males Pros:

    Males are often more relaxed and more willing to be handled and pet.
    Most of the time, males outlive females.
    Males are bigger, and not as delicate as females.
    Males can't have unexpected/unwanted babies.

    Males Cons:

    Males tend to be more territorial and they have a certain smell to them that they can leave behind to mark their territory.
    Males tend to be more agressive towards other rats though it is very rare for two rats to fight.
    Males don't have as much energy as females and they are often more relaxed than crazy.

    Female Pros:

    The can be neater and not as smelly as males.
    Females can be more fun to watch as they are very energized.

    Female Cons:

    They are more prone to getting tumors.
    They are generally more social with rats than humans.
    They can become unexpectantly pregnant.
    They are very curious and jumpy.
    As I said before, there are both good and bad sides to both but either way, I am sure you will be pleased with your rat. One way to do it is just going in to a pet store and playing with both males and females to see if they like each other. DON'T EVER PUT MALES AND FEMALES IN THe SAME CAGE IF YOU ARE NOT TRYING TO BREED. THEY WILL ALMOST ALWAYS MATE AND HAVE BABIES.

    *there aren't really any odd rat behaviors, they make really great pets and are most often more active at night.

    As for the cages, you can always see if they are big enough at http://www.rattycorner.com/odds/calc.shtml.

    The first cages is big but you may want to customize it with toys.

    The rest seem pretty good as well.

    If you need more info, visit my site http://www.freewebs.com/raerats

  10. Lilly says:
    June 13, 2009 at 5:20 am

    Pet Store vs. Breeder
    Pet store chains, such as Petco and Petsmart, don't always keep their animals' health in mind. The rats there are good enough but probably don't have the potential to be healthy for a long time. For example, their diet is prepackaged rat food, which is not a wise choice for rats. They need a varied diet. Also, pet store cages are cleaned maybe once every two weeks which is not enough especially due to the fact that 10 adult rats are often kept in a cage at one time. Another things is that the rats at these commercial stores are not handled often and may take a little while to get used to being held. Breeders can be hard to find, especially if you live in a big city.

    Male or Female
    The differences between Male and Female rats is not drastic, but there are some pros and cons about both.

    Males Pros:

    Males are often more relaxed and more willing to be handled and pet.
    Most of the time, males outlive females.
    Males are bigger, and not as delicate as females.
    Males can't have unexpected/unwanted babies.
    Males Cons:

    Males tend to be more territorial and they have a certain smell to them that they can leave behind to mark their territory.
    Males tend to be more agressive towards other rats though it is very rare for two rats to fight.
    Males don't have as much energy as females and they are often more relaxed than crazy.
    Female Pros:

    The can be neater and not as smelly as males.
    Females can be more fun to watch as they are very energized.
    Female Cons:

    They are more prone to getting tumors.
    They are generally more social with rats than humans.
    They can become unexpectantly pregnant.
    They are very curious and jumpy.
    As I said before, there are both good and bad sides to both but either way, I am sure you will be pleased with your rat. One way to do it is just going in to a pet store and playing with both males and females to see if they like each other. DON'T EVER PUT MALES AND FEMALES IN THe SAME CAGE IF YOU ARE NOT TRYING TO BREED. THEY WILL ALMOST ALWAYS MATE AND HAVE BABIES.

    Picking Out Your Rat
    It is very important that you pick out a rat that you like and one that likes you. There are a few things to consider when you are choosing your rat. Ofcourse the rats in the store will not be used to you and may be a little squirmy but it is very important that they are healthy. Follow the guidelines below when choosing your rat from the pet store:

    Unfortunately, whether they are sleeping or active doesn't make much of a difference. Rats are naturally nocturnal but that can change with their owners shedule.
    When you are picking out who to play with, you can pick the cutest first but make sure to play with alot of them.
    Look for any signs of medical conditions. If there is hairloss or scratches that can be seen on the rat, they probably have mites or another problem.
    Make sure that they have shiny smooth fur, clear eyes and a clean nose. Clean rats generally mean healthy rats.
    It is better to get rats when the are young. If you get an old rat, it probably will have been neglected for quite some time and probably is not that healthy. But once again, it is your choice. It is much harder to train and get familiar with an old rat.
    Before you buy one, make sure you can play with it. You never know how the rat might act.
    Make sure the eyes and nostrils are free of a dark discharge. This is called poryphrin which can be signs of infections, stress or even a bad diet.
    If you already have a rat, and need a companion for it, follow the guidelines above. However, before putting them together, you need to keep the new rat in a seperate cage for two weeks to make sure he is not sick. Then slowly introduce them.
    The reason that these guidelines are so important is that this rat will be your companion for up to four years. You are not going to want to regret this decision.

    I like males alot better, and I'm happy that you are ready and that you are really into it and care

    Definetally buy cage one and ats can wear harnesses/ you should buy the hut too, You will have to wash it though!!

    Hope that helped=)

  11. beetroot says:
    June 13, 2009 at 5:20 am

    No responsible breeder would sell their rats through a pet shop. How are they to know if they are breeding hereditary illnesses?
    Female rats do not tend to bite more than males. If anything, hormonal males can be more nippy.
    Research more here http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk/home/ and enjoy your rats.
    It is wrong and cruel to keep a rat on it's own.

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