I got a pet rat today, I have never had a rat pet before even thought I've had all kinds of pets. Are rats like mice or are they more "trainable"? And how can I make my pet rat not poop or pee whenever it is outside its cage. How big do rats get? My rat its an albino and its 8 week old or so and its about 6 inches long (no tail included) Do they learn their names when called? My pet rat is very shy and calm, is this normal? He does seems healthy and eats just fine. Any ideas of what I could name him? Thanks
2007-02-17 16:31:55 · 6 answers · asked by Cameron C 1 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
May I suggest that you join my rat-only group, Holistarat, to learn all you can about your new little friend.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/holistarat
No rats are not like mice. Rats are more personable and dog-like, and yes this makes them more trainable. They do learn to come to their names.
Your new little rat is very nervous right now and that's why he is peeing and pooping outside the cage. This will dimish as he gets use to you and his surroundings. This is also why he is "shy and calm". In a few days he will come out of his shell and reveal his true ratty personality.
Bonding with your rats:
http://members.aol.com/juliesrats/behavior.html
More on this subject:
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=Bonding+with+your+rats&ei=UTF-8&fr=ks-ans&ico-yahoo-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAscYqL80.x8jy71l3_Mj6BgazKIX%2FSIG%3D111gjvvgj%2F*-http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch&ico-wikipedia-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAsuRZXHyX3jz_HHQlFel4xgazKIX%2FSIG%3D11ia1qo58%2F**http%253a%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSpecial%253aSearch&p=Bonding+with+your+rats
Understanding your rat:
http://www.ratbehavior.org/
More on this subject:
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=Rat+Behavior&ei=UTF-8&fr=ks-ans&ico-yahoo-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAscYqL80.x8jy71l3_Mj6BgazKIX%2FSIG%3D111gjvvgj%2F*-http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch&ico-wikipedia-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAsuRZXHyX3jz_HHQlFel4xgazKIX%2FSIG%3D11ia1qo58%2F**http%253a%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSpecial%253aSearch&p=Rat+Behavior
The average size of a male rat is a pound, with females being smaller then the males.
In the pet rat fancy we call your rat a Pink-eyed White because only genetic testing will tell if he is a true albino. Sprague-Dewley lab rats are true albinos.
Eight weeks is a good age to bring home a new ratty. You might want to consider going back to the store and being home a same-sex friend for the new kid, as rats do best in pairs. Having a friend will aso help him settle in better.
He sounds healthy since he is eating right away.
Names for a white male rat:
Jack Frost
Artic
Tundra
Ivory
Keo (white in Hawiian) M or F
Snowball
Havarti (a white cheese)
Harv
Names for rats:
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=Names+for+rats&ei=UTF-8&fr=ks-ans&ico-yahoo-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAscYqL80.x8jy71l3_Mj6BgazKIX%2FSIG%3D111gjvvgj%2F*-http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch&ico-wikipedia-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAsuRZXHyX3jz_HHQlFel4xgazKIX%2FSIG%3D11ia1qo58%2F**http%253a%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSpecial%253aSearch&p=Names+for+rats
White names for dogs:
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=White+names+for+dogs&ei=UTF-8&fr=ks-ans&ico-yahoo-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAscYqL80.x8jy71l3_Mj6BgazKIX%2FSIG%3D111gjvvgj%2F*-http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch&ico-wikipedia-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAsuRZXHyX3jz_HHQlFel4xgazKIX%2FSIG%3D11ia1qo58%2F**http%253a%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSpecial%253aSearch&p=White+names+for+dogs
Names that mean white:
http://search.yahoo.com/search?search=Names+that+mean+white&ei=UTF-8&fr=ks-ans&ico-yahoo-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAscYqL80.x8jy71l3_Mj6BgazKIX%2FSIG%3D111gjvvgj%2F*-http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch&ico-wikipedia-search-value=http%3A%2F%2Frds.yahoo.com%2F_ylt%3DAsuRZXHyX3jz_HHQlFel4xgazKIX%2FSIG%3D11ia1qo58%2F**http%253a%2F%2Fen.wikipedia.org%2Fwiki%2FSpecial%253aSearch&p=Names+that+mean+white
Names of my rats, maybe something will inspire you?
http://spazrats.tripod.com/mischief.html
Sandra Beasley and the Spaz Rats
(Rattery, Rescue, and Rat-care Expert)
http://spazrats.tripod.com
"My life has gone to the rats"
2007-02-18 13:48:35 · answer #1 · answered by spazrats 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Pet rats are very trainable; I'm not sure about how they compare with mice (I've never had a mouse.), but they're much more trainable than most other rodents. As your rat matures, he'll probably stop going to the bathroom outside of the cage. I know my rat was pretty big as an adult, and he was at least a foot long including his tail. They can learn their names and come when called. My rat learned his name and usually came when I called for him or when I wiggled my fingers and offered a piece of food to him. My rat was also really shy and calm; they all have different personalities, and that's the best thing about animals. It's great that he's healthy and eating well--I hope he lives that way his entire life.
I always say that, in order to name an animal, you have to meet them. Look into his eyes, concentrate on him, and think about how much you love him. Watch him playing and living. Play with him on your lap. It'll come to you.
2007-02-18 01:49:28 · answer #2 · answered by The Logophile 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rats make wonderful pets. I know they sometimes look like large mice but they are as different as night and day. Rats are actually quite intellegent, curious and clean animals. They are trainable and will learn their name. They can actually be trained to use a litter pan( pet stores have them, it goes in a corner of their cage), right now he's just very young and nervous, give both of you time.
They are naturally social animals so if you only have the one ( the "experts" recommend having two because they are social) then you will be , his? her? company. Try to handle and talk to him for at least 2 hours each day. the more you handle him the tamer and less shy he will be. the following is a good website for basic info: http://www.afrma.org/rminfo1.htm.
it is the site for the American Fancy Rat & Mice Association.
did you know that rats have shows, like dogs?
there are books to help also.
As for a name, well that is a personal thing. The way I would do it is to spend time with him and watch, a name will come to you as you bond with him. But once you do name him Always use that name when talking to him( people have a habit of naming an animal but then calling it nicknames all the time).
2007-02-18 03:31:12 · answer #3 · answered by rockittie 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
rats a great pets , they can be trainable just depending how you train them. they cant understand you so you have to do it in a way they do understand. they can learn there name.
when rats gain trust and love you then they wont poo or pee on you. but it might take a while depedning on the rats life before hanf. is most prb very quiet and shy because its in a new enviroment. just give it time and it will be running round like a crazy woman. (not in a bad way)
what do you feed him? make sure he is getting the right diet.fruits veggies pellets even seeds.
not sure what you can name him. im not so good with names of animals that i dont know what they look like what colour is he?
hope i helped
catch
lady :)
2007-02-17 23:46:23 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
my 1st was named george and he knew his name..i love rats i hope you enjoy him.
2007-02-17 21:14:11 · answer #5 · answered by krispyfry023 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
you should have done this research before getting it. you are an irresponsible pet owner.
2007-02-18 07:32:24 · answer #6 · answered by ferrets4ever 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋