Any pet rat owners out there?

Question

I'm considering rats as pets for my two teenage boys. They are very keen on the idea (the boys are, that is). Should I get males or females? The boys want pets that will hang out with them, not scurry away all the time. Any advice?

Answer 1

i have a male rat, and i prefer males.
its easier to tell if they are dehydrated when they are male, as their testicles become red and bigger.
Best advice to give you on rats, is always give them fresh water and even some ice on hot days to keep them cool, or else they die.
Good luck, rats make very great pets!
Also, never out 2 of the same sex males) together, they attack.
And if you get a male and a female they will have LOTS of babies and the male might eat them

Answer 2

As a previous rat owner I have found the males to be most friendly unless you get a feamale right after they are weaned from momma rat. If the rats are handled (and this goes for any sex) in a nice manner and are played with often and taken care of well then your boys should have no problem with them wanting to hang around. Rats love very much to ride around on shoulders. Rats are very social and do, do better in pairs. I wish you luck on finding the right pair for your boys!

Answer 3

Rats are AMAZING! They are super sweet, friendly, and total love bugs. You can train to sit on your should, or give you kisses like dogs do. You have to remember they need atleast an hour of attention each day though. Make sure your sons play with them carefully because they can get hurt very easily. And as of gender it all depends on your personallity. Females are smaller, more active, and are more clownish then males. They usually smell pretty good and there fur is like silk. (if you give them the appropriate diet) Males are large. They can get up to 4 pounds in some cases. They are really squishy, more tempted to sit on your lap and get scritched or take a nice long nap in your arms. There fur is corse. The down fall with males though is they mark there territory with urine often, and have a cedar like smell. Personally I think the males smell good. haha.
Once again though it all depends on your personallity!Good luck!! and most deff. get two!! They like the company!

If you do get them don't feed them that seed crap, give them Lab Blocks as there morning and night meal. (A couple each) and don't forget the fresh veggies and fruits atleast 3 times a week! If you follow that you'll have beautiful, soft, healthy rats!

Answer 4

males definately, females tend to bite. i support the idea 100% as rats make great cheap pets (the most expensive part is buying the cage) my rat morgan cost me $8 to buy and about $2 a month to feed and he is the most loving pet ever he loves to go everywhere on my shoulder. and they only live for about 3 years so it doesn't matter that much if your boys become less comitted after the novelty wears off as it's not a 10-15 year thing like dogs or cats.

Answer 5

First of all, are your boys very responsible? Rats, like any mammals, require attention, love and care. Their care regimine may not be as time consuming or intensive as that of a dog, but they are not disposable pets as many seem to believe. Rats are very loving, very social, and very smart!

As for healthcare, you will also need to take this into consideration. Although rats are usually very healthy for the first year of their lives, they tend to suffer from respiratory problems and that will require the attention of a vet and medications. Medications need to be given on time and for the length of days the vet prescribes. It is also common for rats to develop tumors (the females, particularly), kidney problems, or heart problems.

I would recommend males to a first time rat owner. I would also recommend you not buy one rat. Rats are very social animals and become very lonely by themselves. Since people are not able to give rats all the warmth and attention they need, another rat will always be there to keep the other rat company.

All rats are hyper when they are young, and though it's largely dependant on individual personality, the males tend to mellow more when they are older. When you first get the rats, unless they have had frequent handling by people, they will be scared and they will likely try to scurry away. In a new environment, rats will feel very tense and anxious. However, after several weeks of attention and care, rats will usually become very close to their people.

Females tend to be very hyper and more territorial towards people than males, at least in my experience. Although they are just as loving. :)

I would recommend two young males that are from the same litter. This way they will have been raised together and will get along. Introducing male stranger rats to each other is a careful road to tread as it can be difficult and frustrating introducing them.

You will need a good sized wire cage, safe bedding (no pine or cedar - they are VERY toxic to rats), dry food that does not contain any seeds/nuts, or corn as the first ingredient (Oxbow is a good brand to consider). Seeds and nuts can be given to rats but they are special treats to be given in moderation because of their high fat content. Rats will also need a clean water bottle that must be changed every day and daily fresh fruits and veggies. They will also need a wheel, although it can be difficult to get older rats to use a wheel, most of the very young ones will catch on. Wire wheels can be dangerous for rats as a foot or tail can become lodged and the rat can become injured. "Wodent Wheels" is a good, safe brand for rats.

Info on Wodent Wheels:
http://www.rmca.org/Articles/wodent.htm

It's also advisable that rats get some free roam time at least a few times a week. This will give them some time to get out of the cage and get some much needed exercise. The environment the rats free roam in needs to be safe, as they are very chewie creatures and will chew or eat things that interest them including dangerous things like utility wires! You and your boys could set up a play area on a table, desk, bed or room. Freeroam time is important for rats as getting out and exercise helps to keep them fit, curious and healthy.

Here is a very good website for information on rats:
http://www.rmca.org/

Answer 6

My advice would be to get a pair of females and a cage big enough for the both of them. Rats make wonderful pets, and can be trained to ride on shoulders, do tricks, they can learn their names, etc.

One thing you may need to drill into them - DO NOT suspend the rats by their tail, and DO NOT pick them up by the end of the tail. If you need to pick them up by the tail, do so by the base of the tail (closest to the body) and get something underneath them to support their weight as quickly as possible. The tail is a balancing mechanism, not a handle. =)

Answer 7

I have a male rat. I hear they are more cuddly then the females.