I need starting rat help?

Question

i want to get a rat. what do i need to know about their cage, diet, sociability, etc.

Answer 1

Hi, Their cage should be tall rather than wide ways rats love to climb bars and climb ropes. Diet, they eat meat so you need to just give them rat food they can eat veg also as a treat. Sociably they are better in pairs they are very intelligent proberbly the most intelligent out of the rodents, they get stressed and depressed when they are alone.

Answer 2

First, you should know that you can't get a single rat. Well, you can, but it'd be very unfair to the rat. Rats are highly social animals that should always be kept in same s*x pairs or groups.

Avoid pet stores and their mill bred animals at all costs. I'd advise finding a reputable breeder or rescue.

http://www.petinfopackets.com/rats/ratin...

http://www.petinfopackets.com/rats/ratin...

The best you can do is research their care before getting them. Additional rat research material:

http://www.petinfopackets.com/rats/ratin... (My website)

http://www.rmca.org/

ftp://members.aol.com/juliesrats/e4ninde...

http://ratguide.com/

http://www.goosemoose.com/rfc/index.php

Answer 3

Great choice!!I have a rat and i love her. She is very energetic and funny to watch. Some things you need to know about rats.

1. Never give them milk or cheese or anyother dairy product(it causes them to have tumors)

2 . Please if you want a no mess cage get glass and a screen top that locks so they cant escape..mine does all the time!!

3. Feed them fresh fruits and vegies

4. Get a girl rat if you want one that behaves well

5. talk to your local pet store about what nots

6. get some literature on rats and learn more

7. rats are nocturnal but they go both ways

8. they are very small so be careful wen u handle them

9.You can train them to do stuff (i trained mine to walk up and down the stairs and i trained her to come to my bedroom if she gets lost )because i let her walk around the house alot!!1

!10. They like dark places tosleep and not alot of sunlight

Ps they dont run on wheels like hamsters!!

Answer 4

Dude a rat! Why would you want a rodent as a pet.  What are you gonna do with it, stare at each other?

Rodents dont make good pets thats why their called rodents.  Get a dog or a cat.

Answer 5

REASON TO HAVE A PAIR OR GROUP VS. A SINGLE RAT: Rats are highly social animals which gain a great deal of enjoyment and stimulation from each other's company. It just isn't natural for them to live alone. Rats play, groom each other, and cuddle up to sleep together, keeping each other warm. They also communicate by touch and smell, and by sound at frequencies we can't hear. No amount of human attention can entirely replace the company of another rat.

CAGE: A rat cage should be as large as possible to allow for exercise and play. The more time your rats spend in their cage, the larger it should be. A rat cage should be at least 14" X 24" X 12" tall. Ideally a rat cage should be 18" X 36", or even larger and tall enough to include toys such as branches to climb on, a wheel, a hammock, tubes, ladders, etc.

DIET: The generic “rodent mixes” containing grains and seeds sold in bulk in pet shops do not even come close to providing all the nutrition rats need. Packaged mixes which are fortified with vitamins and minerals are better, but often rats will only eat their favorite pieces. Rat blocks specially made for rats are a complete diet.

SOCIABILITY: Rats are especially suited as companions because they’re social animals (unlike hamsters) and love to interact with people. They're very personable and bond to people. Most rats will beg to be petted or to come out and play, and many will show affection by grooming their people with licks and gentle nibbles. Many rats like to sit on a shoulder just to be with their person.

For more information:

http://ratfanclub.org/helpinfo.html

EDIT: Mercades is wrong about 2 things:

- Milk/cheese/dairy is NOT a known cause behind tumors. They should be given sparingly, but because it causes diarrhea, not tumors.

- Do NOT get a glass tank just because you want ''no mess''. They do not provide adequate ventilation and can increase your rats' chance of respiratory complications.

Answer 6

Rats are the most amazing rodent on this planet and is the only rodent I recommend people getting.

First, you need a tall, large cage for a rat, better if they are paired in two. They needs hiding spots, lots of toys, salt licks, bird toys my rats love. They need to also be handled a lot.

My three boys love food, they eat rat mixture of grain, seeds, etc. They also get daily fruits and veggies as they can eat just about anything.

My rats also love to swim, so they get a once a week bath with special rodent shampoo.

They can be trained, mine are and can do all sorts of things.

Best of luck.

Answer 7

Rats are a great choice for pets.

Caging:

Cages should be large and enough space for them to run around. Bar cages are popular but if you're buying a hairless rat buy a wire cage.

Bedding:

Never use pine or cedar bedding, it can cause respitory problems and many more.

Diet:

Green vegetables and carrots are great to their diet also lab blocks. Fruits like citrus are not a great idea it can cause diarrhea.

Socialbility:

Rats are very social especially females. If your going to buy a rat buy 2, so the rat doesn't get lonely. You at least need to take them outside for 1 hour or they will get stress.

Breeding:

Not a great idea for starters. You need experience for this. Rats get lot's of babies and if you don't stop them, you will end of with hundreds of them. That's why you need to spay and neuter your rat(s).

Good Luck!

P.S- Chew sticks are always needed for rats they have teeth that will never stop growing so they need that. Treats make them happy. :-)