anyone here with a pet rat?
Discussion
thinking of getting one but not 100%, the last small mammal experience [degu's] not going exceptionally well due to the noise they made and the fact they were exceptionally boring.
so, how entertaining is a rat and what do i need to know? i am expecting to be able to let it out and have the run of the place whilst i'm in the same room and would want to be able to walk about with it perched on my shoulder like some kind of downmarket pirate.
is one ok to keep on its own? any issues with keeping a pair? i was after a fancy rat after seeing a russian blue but reckon i'll end up wit ha pet shop rat as i wasn't successful with a search in the yelow pages for rat breeder's.
so, how entertaining is a rat and what do i need to know? i am expecting to be able to let it out and have the run of the place whilst i'm in the same room and would want to be able to walk about with it perched on my shoulder like some kind of downmarket pirate.
is one ok to keep on its own? any issues with keeping a pair? i was after a fancy rat after seeing a russian blue but reckon i'll end up wit ha pet shop rat as i wasn't successful with a search in the yelow pages for rat breeder's.
Rats are great small pets, not usually too smelly, one is fine if spending a lot of time with it but if not get 2 (males usually good together) as very social and need company. One will bond better with you. (i.e. will answer to it's name etc)
They are not long lived, prone to cancer and chest problems.
Go to rescue centre they usually have loads of rats looking for homes.
ii used to keep rats and enjoyed having them. Rarely bite if handled well and can be taught tricks.
Hope that helps a bit, run out of break time so back to work now
They are not long lived, prone to cancer and chest problems.
Go to rescue centre they usually have loads of rats looking for homes.
ii used to keep rats and enjoyed having them. Rarely bite if handled well and can be taught tricks.
Hope that helps a bit, run out of break time so back to work now
I have two female rats
Very cool animals, very inquisitive and don't smell if cleaned out every few days.
Get two, they love each others company and get bored and withdrawn otherwise.
PM me if you have any more specific quesstions about them
By the way, males are more dosile but smell more, females are more active and smell less as a rule.
Very cool animals, very inquisitive and don't smell if cleaned out every few days.
Get two, they love each others company and get bored and withdrawn otherwise.
PM me if you have any more specific quesstions about them
By the way, males are more dosile but smell more, females are more active and smell less as a rule.
Many moons ago I had a pet rat 'Houdini' - one of the standard black and white petstore rats.
They are very sweet and intelligent creatures and you can indeed wander round with the little fella on your shoulder or up your sleeve etc.
As for what you should know - They need a nice big cage or tank, plenty of sawdust to dig and burrow in, will need cleaning out on a relatively regular basis or you room will stink of rats pee, they are easy to keep, dont grab them by the tail as it may come off (defence mechanism), they can usually be kept in pairs no problem - but take advice on this particularly as you may wind up with many baby rats!
They are very sweet and intelligent creatures and you can indeed wander round with the little fella on your shoulder or up your sleeve etc.
As for what you should know - They need a nice big cage or tank, plenty of sawdust to dig and burrow in, will need cleaning out on a relatively regular basis or you room will stink of rats pee, they are easy to keep, dont grab them by the tail as it may come off (defence mechanism), they can usually be kept in pairs no problem - but take advice on this particularly as you may wind up with many baby rats!
forgot about the housing, how big are we talking? i have a 4ftx2ftx18in aquarium and was going t ocreate a wire mesh extension for it so it'd be about 4ft tall with a few levels on it.
re: males & females - what sort of difference in activity are we talking? i don't want speedy gonzalez but also not keen on one that acts like a stoner all the time.
re: males & females - what sort of difference in activity are we talking? i don't want speedy gonzalez but also not keen on one that acts like a stoner all the time.
shirt said:
ascayman said:
get one of those siberian hamster's
hamsters are crap. had a pair of russians due to them lasting longer than the OH who's idea it was to have them. they bored me and too small to let them run free.shirt said:
ascayman said:
get one of those siberian hamster's
hamsters are crap. had a pair of russians due to them lasting longer than the OH who's idea it was to have them. they bored me and too small to let them run free.carpet - do the females sit still enough to become my cheap parrot?
If you stop or bend down for too long, they will run down your back / arm though
shirt said:
... would want to be able to walk about with it perched on my shoulder like some kind of downmarket pirate.
Totally off topic - sorry.But this did remind me of my ex. Her Black cat used to perch on her shoulder when she was walking round the house...
..however looking back I do actually believe she was a witch.
Steamer said:
But this did remind me of my ex. Her Black cat used to perch on her shoulder when she was walking round the house...
..however looking back I do actually believe she was a witch.
all single women with cats are stark raving mental and many of them are murderers too, you are lucky you are still alive to tell the tale. ..however looking back I do actually believe she was a witch.
Steamer said:
shirt said:
... would want to be able to walk about with it perched on my shoulder like some kind of downmarket pirate.
Totally off topic - sorry.But this did remind me of my ex. Her Black cat used to perch on her shoulder when she was walking round the house...
..however looking back I do actually believe she was a witch.
more o/t but i think a rat would be de-rigeur for the discerning english pirate.
shirt said:
forgot about the housing, how big are we talking? i have a 4ftx2ftx18in aquarium and was going t ocreate a wire mesh extension for it so it'd be about 4ft tall with a few levels on it.
Don't use an aquarium, their piss is full of amonia and the cage should be very well ventilated.Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff