My daughter asked some questions about owning a rat. Her dad has 99% agreed to let her have one. Thank you to all who answered seriously!...Hubby and son are deathly allergic to cats, so no we can't get a cat!
Now I have a question....the cage we have almost desided on is a 10 gal aqu. with a same size cage top. I know that aqu. don't breath well, so that is why we are getting the cage top also (our house is kept at 68 deg. so heat is not a concern.
My question is: is this cage big enough for 2 female rats? Most of my daughter's research says 2 are better (also I have a son, so the second rat would be his). Do we need a bigger cage?
We will be getting the rats in about two weeks, so I need info fast.
Thanks to all who answer with serious answers.
2006-09-09 04:59:41 · 6 answers · asked by Suzie Q 4 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
as I said, we keep our house cold, we also have ceiling fans running constantly. Air circulation will not a problem.
2006-09-09 07:01:45 · update #1
I had rats. AT one time I had 4 boys and 2 girls (kept in separate cages!! Actually an aquarium is not a good enclosure for them. You would be better off to go to a pet store and get a wire cage. Rats are very prone to respiratory infections and therefore their environment should have good air flow. Also, a cage with a BIG wheel is a good idea. My rats are spoiled and had a four foot high 3 level coated wire cage. IF YOU BUY A WIRE CAGE MAKE SURE THAT THE WIRES ARE CLOSE. LARGER SPACES CAN GET LITTLE RAT FEET AND LEGS STUCK!!!
I congratulate you on choosing to get a rat. They are GREAT pets. They are so trainable, they can be taught to come when called. My rats had free reign of the house and got along fabulously with my cats! They never went potty outside of their cage either! In my opinion they are the best rodent pet for a child. Mice bite and go potty on you, hamsters bite and are somewhat dumb, guinea pigs are MESSY and sometimes loud, I could go on and on.
Please do some research on them before you choose your pet. Also, rats are very social creatures and I would definitely recommend getting at least 2. If you are going to buy your rats from a pet store I recommend Petsmart. They only sell female rats. If you buy from Petco only buy males. They DO NOT separate their rats and you could very well buy a pregnant female!!!
If you really want a good quality rat I would research breeders. There are some really cool rat breeds and colors out there.
Here is a link that you can learn a lot from:
http://www.afrma.org/
There are also many books on the subject.
Have fun! We need more rat lovers out there!
2006-09-09 05:19:05 · answer #1 · answered by msnite1969 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How do you know that you are only allergic to the others and not Minnie too. If they all live together and you play with all of them, it seems like it would be impossible to tell which specific rats were giving you allergies and which ones weren't. If there is no way you can keep all three, you should find a new home for all of them. To the same home. Since they have been together so long, it would be hard on them to split up, and they could get depressed or sick because of it. Definitely don't keep just one, whatever you do. Rats need to be with other rats, and when they are alone, they would need at least 6 hours out of the cage every day. She could still die from depression, and if she didn't, she would still be lonely. If you can find a good loving home for all three of them, that would be the best thing.
2016-03-27 04:04:22 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi. Please don't get an aquarium. they get too hot. and they don't get enough air. don't put it in front of a window! Many pet stores have other homes for Rats. Male rats are nicer then female rats too. Rats get large so for 2 rats you would need a bigger cage then the 10 gal. but its really up to you. start With that if you really are set on it and move up to something else later. Oh, and rats don't require a wheel. Most won't use it. they like to have a home to sleep under and things to chew on. Good food and water all the time. Cuddle with your rat and they get quite the personality. Have fun.
2006-09-09 05:08:54 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They could live in it but they'd be very unhappy and crowded and the cage would wind up getting stinky fast. I'd get at least a 20 gal. long tank or bigger. Rats are wonderful pets and very smart. They can be trained to do simple tricks on command for a small treat. They love snacks of your pizza crust, sandwich, breakfast cereal and just about anything people like but there are some foods that really have to be limited like chocolate which can be dangerous if it is more than just a taste. Be careful of picking the rats up after you eat unless you wash your hands. They have an excellent sense of smell and can mistake your fingers for food. Since in the wild rats of most species live in fairly large colonies with lots of competition they can grab at "food" very fast and it is best to avoid an accidental bite. They have a lot of curiosity and enjoy being out of their cages, casually carried about by someone they trust, so they can look at everything going on in the house. I raised them for a few years and they had a wonderful time just sitting on my shoulder while I'd do laundry or dishes or go out to get the mail. They do not live very long like other pets - only about 3 years. They are friendly and gentle if treated well. They don't like loud noises or fast movements. A couple of mine really hit it off with the dogs and would get regular playtime. They'd make a game of sneaking up on a sleeping dog, pouncing on it, and running away under the sofa. The dog would look around, go back to sleep, and the rat would do it again. The dogs learned to be very gentle with the rats during playtime and would actually allow the rats to snuggle up on top of their paws/under their chins for a nap with them. One thing you need to be very careful of is never to use any kind of cedar or pine shavings as bedding. The aromatic oils that cause people to want to use them to keep down smells are very harmful to small mammals and cause serious respiratory problems. Since you have allergies you can imagine what that will do to a rat. I always used aspen wood shavings but there are lots of other products that are not harmful and are cheaper like shredded newspaper (black and white only).
2006-09-09 05:23:23 · answer #4 · answered by twistedmouse 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here's a rat forum i used a lot when i had pet rats
www.fancy-rats.co.uk
Everything you need to know and ask is on here. Good luck!
2006-09-09 06:49:06 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It will do, but a littel more room for the toys, watr and food dish, would probably be appericated by them. Rats make wonderful pets, they are clean, and love to be handled. (unless pregant)
2006-09-09 05:04:17 · answer #6 · answered by spiritwalker 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋