usually live?
2006-12-31 20:01:38 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
DEPENDING ON THE CARE PROVIDED FOR THEM BUT IN GENERAL AROUND 6-7 YRS
2007-01-04 14:01:48 · answer #1 · answered by Maley 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I have about 5 pet rats at the moment (3 of which are fosters). Depending upon where you acquire a pet rat from, they can live anywhere from 1-2 years or 3-5 years.
Generally, if you acquire a rat from a pet store or some other place, you'll get a rat that hasn't been bred for longetivity or health...hence the shorter lifespan.
If you acquire a rat from a breeder, chances are that breeder keeps pedigrees, ect. and their rats are bred to be long-lived and healthy--meaning a longer lifespan.
Hope that helps!
2006-12-31 22:04:44 · answer #2 · answered by strayd0g 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I work at a humane society. Rats live to be about 2 or 3. Some can live to be 4. They usually live longer if they have a rat-companion.
2007-01-01 14:26:02 · answer #3 · answered by Danielle 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
3-4 years
2006-12-31 20:07:32 · answer #4 · answered by Saramine 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My rat lived to be about 2.5-3 before I had to put him to sleep (yes, I paid a vet to euthanize my pet rat :-). Anyway, the vet said that it was about the oldest rat they'd ever seen.
Rats can be very nice pets for children, since they are larger than mice, and can be very sociable. Also, since they don't live too long, its not a huge commitment (in case your daughter decides that having pets is not as much fun as she thought). They like to come out of their cage and play, too. Wash hands first, to minimize the possibility of biting. Also, they pee and poop whenever/wherever they want, so if you have a rat on your lap, you might want to put a towel down, just in case.
2007-01-01 05:23:36 · answer #5 · answered by ez_cheez 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lifespan: The average lifespan for rats is 2 to 3 years. However, several rats live to be around 5 years old with good care.
http://www.geocities.com/poetic_pets/rat.html
for the care sheet
2007-01-01 00:49:26 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've had 6 pet rats in the last 15 years. They make great pets for children. I have a 10 year old and he just loves his "Happy Rat" (happy because she is not snake food)! He carries her everywhere. Rats live about 1000 days. It is important to give them something very hard to chew on. Like a steak bone, because their teeth always grow and if they are not allowed something hard to chew their teeth will grow so long they cannot eat.
2007-01-01 01:22:40 · answer #7 · answered by pisces 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A friend of mine has had several pet rats and hers usually live for about a year!
2006-12-31 20:04:40 · answer #8 · answered by courtsnort51 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Strayd0g has it completley right,
all of my rats are from pet shops as there are no local breeders here, and the oldest boy I've had was 2yr 3 months.
If you can get to a reputable breeder you'll, in general, have much healthier longer living ratties.
2006-12-31 22:27:30 · answer #9 · answered by ratsinspace 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes I have nine. And they make wonderful pets. They usually live to be 3-4, but I have had some live up to be 5.
2006-12-31 20:05:03 · answer #10 · answered by Em 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My seven year old says: I don't have a pet rat. My hamster is sorta a rat. They live about 2 years
2006-12-31 20:05:18 · answer #11 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋