Pet Rat Question? Experienced owners only please.?

Question

Is it okay to keep a feeder rat/mouse as a pet? the rats and mice that i have seen there, which will grow up to be snake food, are actually treated strangely well. they have hides, tubes and wheel. i doubt that they are socialized but im pretty sure they would be tamable. so, is it okay to keep a feeder rat as a pet?

also, what gallon measure aquarium would be appropriate for two rats?

Answer 1

There is absolutely no difference between so-called "feeder" rodents and fancier ones except the price tag. With fancy rats you get the color patterns and with "feeder" rats, albino is the predominant color, but the albino mice I had (that would have been snake food if my brother hadn't bought them for me) were as sweet and enjoyable as any rodent could be.

The key is socializing them and getting them used to being handled. Feeder animals are usually not handled much at the pet shops, so it will take a little time and patience to get them used to you. Give them time, forgive the frightened nips and you will get a great pet in the end.

Answer 2

I've owned multiple mice over the years, and they make the best pets ever. My first mouse was in fact one in a feeder tank. If they are kept in good conditions, then the mouse/rat should be fine. If they are overcrowded they make be wary of humans, but will grow out of it. Be sure to handle the animal to make sure it has a reasonable behavior. Always grasp the tail when holding an animal such as a mouse or rat that isnt used to you, its for the animals protection. An aquarium is great because it keeps food, bedding, and the rat/mouse inside the tank. I've had nothing but problems with wire cages. Food and bedding get knocked out and mice can escape through any space that is big enough for your finger. So glass is the way to go. For mice, you can house up to 4 females that are young or grew up together in a 10gallon. For rats, which get considerably bigger and often more aggressive, I would only house two females together. In rats and mice the males have a distinctive and strong odor to their urine that they use to mark their territory. They do that quite a lot, especially if there is another male around. So I think that two female rats could be housed together reasonably in a 29 G, though a 20 might work, it would be a little cramped.

First time owners are encouraged to get a pair of females. Rats are social and should not be kept alone. But only you know what you can handle, so good luck!


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Answer 3

Sometimes feeder rats are fine. The mice typically aren't. The difference between feeder and pet rats/mice is more in amount of handling than anything else. The pet rats are handled more as they are developing to get them better associated with humans. But if the rat is young enough then you may be okay. And I recommend a rat over mice any day.

Do not use an aquarium, period.

Auariums hold in moisture and reduce air flow, causing health issues. The best is an rabbit or rodent cage. Make sure the bars are closely spaced. The size of the cage is dependent on how you are going to treat them. If they are going to be in there most of the time, get a larger one. If you are going to train them for shoulders or pockets or being out, then a smaller one is fine. Rats are very trainable and intelligent creatures.

Rats can also be trained to use a litter box and would suggest doing so.

Care should also be taken as to having two of them. They are not quite as bad as hamsters, but fighting can get pretty bad and one could potentially kill the other. Just watch them.

Answer 4

A feeder rat makes a perfectly good pet. There aren't many petstores out of Hawaii *where all snakes are BANNED* that sell most rodents as pets. By most I mean rats, mice, and rabbits *yes, big snakes need bigger food, and bunnies are cheap to produce* Gerbils and hamsters are the only common rodents sold as pets most places, aside from the more exotic rodents like chinchillas and squirels. Pet quality animals will invariably cost more than mass-produced animals meant for food.
Handle the animals before you buy to chack their tempermant, but most rats and mice, due to their linneage going back to lab rats and mice won't live all that long. You may be better off if you want a pet that'll live longer in catching and taming a young rat from the wild *not a great idea, really*.
As for caging, I WOULD NOT even consider keeping even one in a tank. if you've had them, you know the smell, if not, you will regret the lack of ventilation. Get a midsized bircage, but one with removeable wire in the bottom cuz walking on wire isn't good for little rat feet. Another problem with aquariums is anything the rats can climb on must be provided by you, in the birdcage the cage itself can be considered a toy, and nothing's more adorable that a rat hanging off the side or top looking at you at eye level.
But yeah, best of luck.

Answer 5

I bought two feeder mice when I was, like 11years old. They were ABSOLUTELY LOVELY. I took them out almost every day and played with them and they soon learned to come to the cage door when I called.
Feeder rats are pretty much the same way, except that they are more people pets. They really like people, people food, people clothes, people homes, PEOPLE anything. I have three rats and they're more fun than mice. So, in answer to your question, yes, feeder mice and rats both make good pets.
If you want and aquarium for two rats, get, like, a 40 or 50 gallon aquarium and no smaller. I think wire cages have better ventilation, tho.
Good luck!

Answer 6

It's always ok to keep feeder rats and mice as pets. The only difference between feeders and fancy are that the fancy's are bred for their colour. The rats and mice you see that are for sale as pets usually have more patches of colour. The feeders are usually white, though some can be brown. If you wish to tame them, it is always easier to start when they're young.

If you plan on allowing your rats out to play relatively often(at least once or twice a day), then a 20 gallon tank should be fine. If you wish to make their home a nice playhouse, then the tank can never be too big. Also, just adding in tubes, wheels, ramps and blocks increase the surface area in which the rats can run around. Don't forget that tanks have more height to them, which allows for different height levels of toys and ramps.

If you are keeping 2 rats, make sure they are two females. Unless you want to breed them. two males are harder to keep together and you will always have the possibility of a fight breaking out between the males, as they want to claim their own territory.

Answer 7

Yes, it is okay to keep a feeder as a pet. They may not be as healthy later on, but it will be no harm to you. I'd actually recommend not to get an aquarium because it doesn't give the animal much room and also can cause lung problems later on. Get a cage with bars to help with breathing. For two rats, you'd have to get a pretty large cage, but you could always try to build one yourself. For two mice, it'd be a lot easier because the cage could be a lot smaller. Rats are more socialiable, especially if you handle them a lot.

Answer 8

Rats make great pets. You should keep them in pairs because they are social animals and don't do well alone--think solitary confinement.

I had a rabbit sized cage custom made for my pet rats with 1/2 inch mesh. Many pet stores can order these from their cage supplier and they generally cost little if anything more than a regular rabbit cage. Ferret cages work well for 2 adult rats, especially the multi-story ones.

Feeder rats don't get shots and neither do the ones sold as pets. They are the same thing except for coat and color and occasionally ears and tails--some pets are bred for bigger lower ears, AKA "Dumbo" rats. And there are tailless strains and even hairless and curly coated strains. But these don't affect a rat's temperment.

Keep a pair of males or a pair of females if you want them for pets and get them very young. Or keep a male/female pair if you must, but be prepared to be overrun with rats--they are prolific!

Answer 9

I had pet rats growing up. Feeder rats make great pets if you get them while they're young and are able to tame them and keep them friendly. The only problem I noticed with them is that sometimes they will get wierd diseases. Two of mine got huge tumors and eventually died. I always assumed this is because they are probably inbred with one another because they are bred for food. But don't let me discourage you! I had probably 10 others that were fine. For 2 rats, probably a 25 gallon long or larger tank would be sufficient.

Answer 10

Rats make GREAT pets!!!!!!! i have had quite a few over the years!
in stead of aquariums i used wire cages that were like two by one by one, like a Guinea Pig cage except with smaller gaps in the wires. when i had two rats at a time i had two wire cages stacked with a large PVC tube with holes in it connecting them. it is better to use wire instead of an aquarium because then you can put the water bottle on the outside. Rats like to chew things, so be careful of what you put intheir reach, if you have problems with them chewing the bottle, there are special metal things that go around it to protect it.
other that the chewing thing, rats are eccelent pets, they don't bite, stink, and they are actually friendly if held alot. i knew someone who let their rats out in the house and them would tap on the floor and the rats would come to get treat, they are amazingly smart creatures and can become so sweet!!!!
they LOVE treats like cheese, carrot/celery tops, and any thing else you can think of.
so have fun and good luck!!!!!!!!