Pet Rat's Help Pleease ?

Question

i am planning on getting 2 rats within the next couple of weeks.

i already have the cage, everything to go inside all set up i just need the occupants!

The shop where i've decided to get them (pets at home) offer "rats" and "Jumbo rats"

Surely i'll just go for the rats... but what are jumbo rats?

iv heard they're like the older version? adults? i don't really know.

Also, i've got all the food that i'll use sorted but how often do i feed them?

They're nocturnal so aparently i should just feed them in the evening, but only once a day?

but with my gerbils they have their dry mix feed which i just leave in their cage all the time, and just every other day put some fruit in which comes out later on.

can i just leave the rats dry food inside?

lots of question i know :) i've got one of the books, but it has left me puzzled on the feeding lol.

Answer 1

yes wise not to go for jumbo rats - may be the super-rat discovered few years ago to hv developed - & may be difficult to handle.

rats can be affectionate  - & become attached to their owners when handled regularly & carefully. also, highly intelligent.

gd luck

Answer 2

Pet stores often sort rats by size, which is to say, by age. Petco near my house sells "small", "medium" and "large" rats, which simply means young, a bit older, and adult rats. I suspect the same is the case in your pet store. You can ask them if you're curious.

You should have food available to the rats at all times. They will pace themselves - they don't over-eat. They should always have their main staple food in their cage (quality lab block is best), and you can also give them fresh fruit and veggies, cooked pasta or rice, even meat and chicken - just make sure to remove whatever they don't eat, so it doesn't start rotting in their cage. I also make my own food mix for the rats - mostly oatmeal and a variety of other grains, seeds and cereals (barley, puffed rice, sunflower seeds, flax seed, millet, granola, Total cereal, cracked wheat, raisins, dried bananas and just whatever else I can think of adding in there).

Answer 3

You prob saw"dumbo" rats. They r normal, except....well....cuter. they have extra large ears and feet. If it actualy was jumbo, it just means their older.

Leave dry food in their cadge at all times. thats all the food they need. but my rats enjoy little treats now and again.cheese, meat, fruit.....anything!

Answer 4

CongRATS! Jumbo rats are referred as adult feeder rats :-(. Rats are just rats, not a pituctilur size or age. Rats need food available 24 hours a day, you can put it in a pilr or in a heavy small rodent dish. And rats are not nocturnal, they are most active at dawn and duck, but will adapt to your schduel. so put more food in there once or twice a day, make sure thaey always have it available Yes, fruits and veggies are great snacks.

Answer 5

Okay good place to buy your rats *Pets at Home" they have well bred animals there,wise choice.

Okay, rats should be fed once to twice a day yes they are mainly nocturnal thought they are awake throughout the day.

Fill their bowl to the rim every evening,if they eat all their feed by the next morning fill the bowl up half.

Basically feed them the same way as the gerbils you have.

Did you mean *Dumbo Rats*??

I don't think there is any *Jumbo rats*..

Dumbo rats have larger ears & have a slightly broader face,they sometimes are more friendly than the normal rat,they are basically normal rats with  bigger ears & a slightly different face thats all,though i would suggest on getting *Dumbo rats* as they look ****SO**** cute!

& are slightly friendlier rats.

Hope this helps & your rats are perfect!! x*x

(.ps, great choice for getting a pair!)

**EDIT**

just read up about **Jumbo rats**

they aren't as nice pets as normal or dumbo rats,don't get a pair,unless you really want to x*x.

Answer 6

Pet rats typically come in two types fancy rats and "dumbo" rats. I'm sure that's probably what was meant. Dumbos have larger ears that are set back on their head.

Also rats are not nocturnal, that's a misconception. They are actually crepuscular, they sleep on and off through out the day and night. It's been my experience that they will adopt your schedule, meaning they'll sleep mostly when you are outside of the house as well as some of the later night when your asleep as well.

Also, very important for a new rat owner to know, you don't feed a rat the same way that you do a gerbil or a hamster. Don't give them fruit, some can be poisonous to rats. Rats have delicate systems and they can't handle the high protein diets that are given to other rodents, it can cause them to develop tumors. So make sure that the food you buy your rat is made specifically for rats. This is from experience, when I first started with rats I made the mistake of feeding them like a hamster. I recommend lab blocks, they aren't pretty, but they are specifically formulated with the nutrients that your rats will need. You can give them treats, ike yogurt drops, etc, and even a small bit of meat occasionally, but be careful that they stay trim and healthy.

You can leave the lab blocks in there. I recommend feeding either a small bit every day or large amount every couple of days. Rats are stashers. They like to hide their food for later. The amount of food they can have is dependent on the individual rat, just like a person. If you notice that they're getting a little pudgy cut back, if they seem like they're not getting enough, give them more. Just watch them.

If you till have questions thhis is one of my favorite rat pages: http://www.quite.co.uk/rats/

http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/careofrat... (Note: I personally don't agree with what this site says on bedding, I recommend that you never use any form of wood bedding because it makes rats prone to respiratory infections)

I hope I was helpful.