rats as pets..

[i_got_a_mohawk]

Used to have a male one, they are pretty awesome pets.

It did have a bit of a smell, but it wasn't tooo bad. Just keep the cage tidy and make sure they have plenty of things to keep them occupied.


One thing to be careful about, avoid getting them moving toys with large gaps (the metal grill type wheels for instance, they can get their tails caught in things like that.

 

[MatticusMania]

Thank you all for your advice. I am still wanting males. I think they are cuter than females.
I would never breed my rats to sell as feeders. Thats not right!

Reptiles gotta eat too, yo.

 

[capnjim]

My kids have rats..they are really nice. very social. When you walk by their cage, they come running to come out and play. The best thing, is that long before you get tired of them they die.

 

[MadMan118]

I have always wanted a pet rat and im going to be purchasing two male dumbo rats. Does anyone else have them and can you tell me more about keeping them as pets and any recommedations on food or supplies.

I have a few male rats. Males are in general a bit more chill than females. I keep them in a cage that is taller than it is wide, they love climbing and sitting on shelves and perches. I feed them food blocks with oats and fruit/veggies as a supplement. Usually 6 good size blocks and a half cup of oats keeps them fed for about a day. They'll eat damm near anything but never feed them chocolate, sweet potatoes, or carbonated drinks(they cant burp). I avoid citrus also, they synthesize their own vitamin C anyway. The key to their diet is low fat, high fiber.

They will chew on anything, one of mine is a prolific chewer the other barely chews his own food. I keep wood blocks and sticks(unpainted) for them to gnaw on. They also love things they can roll around I get them small rubber balls for dogs and stuff peanut butter in them and they go berserk for hours. Avoid ceder or wood shavings in general the oils can upset their respiratory systems.

Depending on where you get them their temperament can vary. Pet store rats tend to need some work to get them socialized. Ones from breeders usually love people unanimously. I've had one since he was itty bitty and he follows me around the house. and always likes to hangout on my shoulder. The other was a soon to be meal for a monitor, and he likes people too but isn't a friendly. There's a bunch more I could tell you but this post is too long already. PM me if you need to know anything else.

This is one of mine hanging out in his favorite spot, my chest.

 

[Phalex]

Lemmiwinks??


Deja Vu much?????

 

[ShredderMaximus]

Thank you all for your advice. I am still wanting males. I think they are cuter than females.
I would never breed my rats to sell as feeders. Thats not right!

Lol, reminds me of when I had my boa and tried going to the local pet store to get a feeder rat.

Me: I need a feeder rat.
Clerk: We don't carry feeder rats.
Me: Ok, I'll take one of them please.
Clerk: Those are pet rats.
Me: I know, I want a pet rat.
Clerk: As a pet?
Me: Yes.
Clerk: I'm sorry, but I think your going to feed it to your pet, so I'm not going to sell it to you.
Me:
My snake that night:

 

[EagleMoon]

Try buying feeder rabbits at a pet store, that's even worse.

 

[FreeBassJunky]

I had a pair of females once. And funny enough, they were from a psycology department too! They'll eat just about anything. Dog food works. The dry kind. But whatever you do, don't feed them meat. They really can get a bloodlust. My worst fear when I had my rats was that somebody, unbeknowst to me, would feed them their leftover chicken wing or something and that they would turn into little flesh hungry monsters.