Rat help?!?!?!?

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Member since: February 08, 2007
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Rat care info???

Im getting a rat from my brother this weekend all the way in Battle Creek. The only rodent ive had is the teddy bear hamster i currently am taking care of. I was wondering if anyone out there could give me some advice in care, feeding, and treats and just overrall informationa about rats like whether or not they will have to run the house in a ball or not or how big of a cage they will need or if they will break out like hamters do. And i need to know like handling tips. If someone could answer my questions and more i would greatly appreciate it. thanks. (and i dont want any rude comments please. thanks.)

Answer 1

you'll have to get two since they are social animals and don't do very well when kept on their own. unless you want babies make sure that they are the same sex. they like to have human contact so they will be happy just to be out playing with you. my 5 month old has a ball but my 5 week old is to small to use it. if you do get a ball make sure that it will fit a fully grown rat. males will want to cuddle more and females will want to play more. look on the net for a list of forbidden foods for them. the general rule for a rat is two square feet of floor space per rat. a larger cage would be better. lab blocks work very well for food. a diet that has mostly seeds in it tends not to have the nutrient content that they need and it's high in fat. you'll probably have to handle them atleast an hour a day but more is better. NEVER use pine or cedar bedding it releases phenols that are toxic to rodents. NEVER use a wire wheel or cage with a wire bedding. it causes bumblefoot which is sores on the feet that most likely will require antibiotics and maybe even surgery. tails and feet can also get caught in them and broke. never grab your rat by the tail as it can actually cause the tail to be degloved (flesh removed). rats are prone to respiratory infections so keep them away from windows and any drafts in the house. keep them in a room that they can frequently see people. any other questions you can e-mail me.

Answer 2

Rats are more fun than you'd think. Rats like to hang out on your shoulders and hide in hair or hoods or hoodie pockets. As far a care--Cedar and Pine that has not been through a kiln process cause respitory problems and skin irritations. My recommendations is aspen. Aspen pellet bedding is the best! It controls the odor naturally and the critter can chew on it too. If you can't find pellet then go shavings. Still pretty good. There are rat mixes available at pet stores. My favorite is Sun Seed--lots of goodies in there for the rat. Treats--if it's been cooked in some manner and you can eat it your rat probably can too. Male rats cannot have oranges--the white pithy stuff on the outside is what hurts them--can cause kidney failure &/or kidney cancer. Also keep the vitamin C to a minimum. Male rats can produce their own--it's very interesting. If it's a girl you don't have to worry about it. Play time around the house can be in a larger ball. The hamster size is really too small. Cage size--the plastic hamster cages will not do at all--too small. a 10 gal aquarium with a small animal lid will work nicely or you can get a cage at the pet store specifically for a rat--the cost should be between $75 and $100 depending on your location and availability. Also don't forget chew sticks and the like--rodents do like to chew! I hope I didn't overload. check out ratfanclub.org ---- you'll find an abundance of information

Answer 3

You can feed them general rodent food you get for your hamster. Their cage should be big, and if it has levels with ladders, that's great, too. They love to climb. Some rats will run around in a plastic ball, and others won't. They all have distinctive personalities and can make great pets. Just make sure it gets plenty of water and rest the first few days he's with you. he needs his time to adjust. i hope this helps!

Answer 4

Congrats!! Rats are WONDERFUL pets!!!
They will need a very big cage - a 10 gallon aquarium is the bare minimum that you can keep him in & bigger is better!!! Rat block is the best way to feed them with fresh fruit of veggie treats!! I wouldn't recommend a ball because they will chew thru that....Get him out as much as you can because they love being with you!! They WILL break out of their cage so you will need to be careful about that....Be patient with taming & you will have such a sweetie people will love him!!!
GOOD LUCK!!!

Answer 5

When I learned that rats piss everywhere they go, I thought they make HORRIBLE pets. Who wants an animal that cant' control it's blatter. When you put a violet light on in a dark room you can see the streaks of piss everywhere. It's disgusting. I highly suggest a better animal for a pet.

I don't know if this is true of all rodents but if not get a mouse they're cutier at least.

Answer 6

i would help if i had a pet rat so i am sorry . but once i ha a hamster and guine pig.

Answer 7

ignore her ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

there are some graet sites on the web. also look at my questions.