Getting a rat from petco?

Question

Would getting a rat from petco or other pet store be okay? I can't find any adoption place (don't know the exact phrase) or rat breeders anywhere close to where I live, otherwise that's where I'd be getting a rat. From your experience are petco rats okay? Also, what should I look for in a rat?

Answer 1

Here's a copy paste from a similar thread, change PetSmart to PetCo.

"Check out the living conditions first. Our PetSmarts here are ok, but I'm sure every location is different.

Look to make sure that males aren't mixed with females. This is neglectful on the store's part. If you're picking a female, I'm sure you'll be content with ONE rat instead of possibly TEN.

Pick an animal that comes to check you out. Squeak through your lips/teeth and see if any come to you, or put your hand in to see if they'll come investigate. That'll the the most sociable rat.

Next, look your rat over. The fur should be soft, the skin should be free of scabs or rough spots. Check the eyes and nose for anything that looks like blood. Rats secrete a red mucous from their eyes and/or nose when they're ill or stressed. Listen to the rat's breathing and make sure they're not wheezy or sneezing.

Another alternative is to look up the local rat rescues/clubs in your area. There's almost always some up for adoption and they may have different/more breeds than what PetSmart can offer."

Additionally, one of my current ratties was a PetCo freebie. I pointed out the horrible kink in her tail and the manager gave her to me. One more saved from the snake's mouth WOOT!

Answer 2

If you can't find a rescue or breeder in your area, a small pet shop is usally a better place to adopt as they often have fewer rats @ one time & give them more attention.
One of our current rats is from Petsmart & she is a little love. She is every bit as sweet & friendly as our rescue boys & our hairless girl (who was from a breeder). We adopted 2 girls from Petco about 2.5 years ago, 1 surprised us with 5 pups a couple weeks later & the other one *still* bites whenever she has the chance. The Petco girls were from a feeder bin & weren't socialized @ all (though mama rat eventually became quite sweet).
You've already got some good advice about what to look for when you select your new friends (please get 2), but I'd like to emphasize that you handle the rats before bringing them home so you know how social they are.

Answer 3

Well, when I was getting a rat, I looked at petco, but it seemed like they were all scratching and was afraid they may have had pleas or something so i didn't get one from there. If there are any local pet stores, those rats may be healthier, but as long as the ones at petco look alright than go ahead and get one from there. Also, aren't most of the petco rats all white with red eyes? A local shelter would probably have rats in different colors than that.

Answer 4

I own a rat purchased from Jacks. She has been amazing. It all depends on the stores and the breeders who supply the store. Look at multiple places before you make your purchase and look to see the conditions that the rats are kept and the condition that the rats seem to be in, health wise. Even someone with little experience will be able to tell if something is not right. Good luck.

Answer 5

i have never bought rats from petco, although i can tell you after one visit to a petco i will never go in again. the store stank to the high heavens of dirty cages and even the fish tanks smelled.
when you buy a pet store rat, you want to look at their eyes, nose and make sure theres not excessive red staining. this is not blood its their tears and snot and too much can indicate an infection. also look for labored breathing as this is also a sign of a sick rat.
ideally you want a rat that has clear eyes, nothing coming out of its nose and healthy looking body, no scabs, good weight and no missing fur (unless hairless!!).
all my girls (assuming) are from pet stores. i have adopted many of my rats from owners that were either moving, or just didn't want them. and then of course all the girls that i have bought are from pet stores. out of the 9 girls that i have, only 2 of them have had health issues (knock on wood) over the last 17 months i have spent about 400$ in vet bills for 2 of my girls, other wise all my girls are very healthy.
when you buy your rats you want to get them as young as possible for good bonding purposes.
hope this was helpful and if you have any more questions you can always email me at [e-mail]
good luck!

Answer 6

It doesn't matter where you get a rat from every rat has a different personality and different traits. So what if the cages are dirty you would feel even better giving it a nice home. My new rat is a rescue girl and i don't know anything about her but that she came from townsville and was the product of a poor pet stores performance. She is affection and a beautiful wee thing. I would always say rescue before breeders.

Answer 7

Of course it's okay to get a rat from Petco. You should look for a healthy rat and a happy and sociable and loves to be held.

Answer 8

I breed rats, hand raised fancy rats, the biggest problem with getting a rat from a large scale pet store is that usually they are feeder rats for large snakes, they don't get much attention or handling time, so they can be very nippy until they are comfy with you, the rats i have are all hand raised from birth, very gentle and affectionate, some even know a few tricks. best bet is a small local family owned kind of pet store, and ask to handle the rat before you buy it.

Answer 9

Be careful. Watch them for a while before you buy one. We got two from Petco that had respiratory infections and needed antibiotics for most of their lives to keep it from getting out of control. Petco was supposed to clean up their act recently so maybe it's ok now. Look for bright eyes and alertness. Watch for red around the nose or eyes...that means stress. If they are sneezing, forget it. If they rub their noses a lot with their hands, it's a runny nose. Watch for loose stools by looking for staining behind the tail. A good smooth coat and not ruffly. Rats are great pets!!!

Answer 10

i wouldent suggest petco!! often they are feeder rats and are very interbred.. most carry both male and females which can lead to you bringing home a pregnant rat without you knowing it. i would suggest petsmart! they only carry females so you are garunteed to get a non-pregnant rat and they take care of their rats as pets (they make sure they are socialized before they are sold) and petsmart just seems so much cleaner and the people working there know what they are talking about!

and PLEASE PLEASE wherever you decide to get your rats from get two or more!! rats are so social and its cruel to make them live alone!

good luck finding healthy rats!!!