How Do I Help My New Rats?

Question

I just recently got new rats and I'm not sure how to make sure they're healthy and happy or how to help train them into better habbits.

Answer 1

Alright, the first thing you did right was to get more than one. Rats are social animals and need the company of their own species. You should definitely try to give them the biggest cage you can afford. Rats are highly intelligent and enjoy having space to roam about. Wired cages are best because they allow aeration of ammonia caused by their urine and they can climb on the wire which gives them some extra exercise.

Try to avoid pine and cedar bedding and get bedding made from recycled paper. The pine and cedar bedding has phenols and acids that are known to be toxic and can damage a rats respiratory tract. This has significant implications for rats since the most common diseases in pet rats are respiratory infections.

Change your bedding around once a week, if they are still small rats you can get away with longer but as they mature you will definitely need to keep up with your litter changes. The ammonia from their urine and feces will build up if the bedding is not changed often enough and can cause respiratory problems, if bad enough it can trigger mycoplasmosis which is a very serious respiratory condition that is not easily treated or cured.

As far as feeding them most stores sell both a nutrionally balanced block food and a 'mix' bag which contains seeds, occasionally dog food, corn and other tidbits. The first is usually the best because rats will pick and choose their food usually choosing only the most fattening morsels such as the corn or sunflowers seeds leaving a lot of waste in the cage. If fed blocks they won't be able to pick and choose what nutrients they're going to eat they'll get all of them. Feeding them too many fattening foods may cause them to become obese and this can lead to cancer, diabetes or tumors much like humans. Though blocks may sound boring for your rats you can feed them food from your kitchen as well to mix things up. Things like carrots, yogurt (lower sugar and fat), peas, green beans, and garlic are actually good for them. You can also occasionally feed them fruits like apples. I would not suggest very much processed sugars or starches and also try to avoid feeding them too much corn (corn is fattening and does not have a lot of nutritional value). Change their water everyday to avoid bacterial buildup. You won't need a salt block for rats and it would be best to provide something in the cage that the rat can chew on to prevent the teeth and claws from becoming too long since they are constanly growing.

Every rat has a different personality. They'll like some foods and not others, some will want to be held right away others may want a slower approach and need you to show them you aren't a threat. Getting new rats is always a new experience. Try to get to know their personalities and spend time with them handling them and letting them out of their cage like you would a dog or cat. Some people even rat-proof their homes and let their rats wander about in a designated room occasionally.

As far as training... it's not easy. They can be trained to answer to their name and not to bite by handling them and working with them. For example, if you have a wire cage don't feed them though the bars all the time or when you're finger is up close trying to pet them they'll assume it's food. If they try to nibble don't smack them just pull away quickly, let them know you're not available to snack on.

Here are some web sites that may help any more curiosity:
http://www.petratscanada.com/ratcare.htm#gencare
http://ratguide.com/care/
http://www.ratsauce.com/
http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/careofrats/a/ratscare.htm

Good luck with your new pets!

Answer 2

Rats are the friendliest, funniest and most sociable little creatures you can ever have. You are going to have a blast with your new pets.

Taking care of them is pretty easy, play with them, pick them up, pet their heads and rub their bellies and listen for the bruxing (rat purring, sounds like their teeth gnawing on something). It doesn't take young rats very long before they want your attention once they get used to you.

There are many good websites out there but the one I've found with the most information is http://www.dapper.com.au/
Lots of play time ideas to keep them happy and healthy. My guys just love their digging box even if they do get messy. http://www.dapper.com.au/toys.htm#diggingbox

Answer 3

I also have pet rats they are great. I'm not sure about training them I've never tried it but mine always just ride around on my shoulder. But be careful I got a new rat once and it killed one of my other rats. It's always nice to hear that other people have pet rats. Not everybody just feeds them to snakes!

Answer 4

if you're in search of a puppy rat, visit a breeder. you receives a extra socialized rattie, and it may in all likelihood be extra healthful. they don't seem too intense priced, and also you may get some solid recommendations from the breeder on what you'll opt for on your new puppy. if you're searching to feed - get frozen, those are available at maximum puppy shops. A stay rat to feed can harm your snake, grants the snake parasites, and that i imagine that is only cruel. For pets - see hyperlinks below. solid success!

Answer 5

Ignore the person who said to feed them to a snake! I used to own rats as well and they are wonderful pets when you treat them right. (Just like any other animal)
Just make sure they have plenty of room to move in their cage and get them out regularly to play and run around. It's also a good idea to try to make sure they can climb in the cage. I made 2 levels and connected them with a ladder. The rats loved it.

Answer 6

Just make sure they've got plenty of fresh water and food. And a wood block to keep the fromt teeth down so they don't grow so big they can't eat.Keep them with public company. They are social.

Answer 7

we had pet rats.. (they arent ugly like people think, right?) and so we just gave them a large cage space, food, water, and played with them and cleaned their cage. bring them to the vet to get them checkes out.

PS: we had them because we let someone watch them over the weekend and their rats had an infectious disease and our rats died soon after.. :-(

Answer 8

You have pet rats? How big are they?

Answer 9

Oh, well if you don't know bring them to the vet! :o)
Rats are NOT my thing, I'm just trying to get points. :D

♥melissa♥

Answer 10

feed them to a snake.