Pet rat owners only...help??

Question

I'm getting a pet rat.. How do i tame my new rat? When i first handle him will he nip? What age is best to get a rat? Will he be easy to train?

Answer 1

This is my answer from another question which was basically the same as this. I got best answer. Please, for the goo of your future rats, get two! I fell it's cruel to keep a single rat, an i feel terribly guilty about keeping a single one when I was younger. I would never, ever, EVER have another single rat again.

This answer was about a female. Yours will a male, bu it's basically the same message. One male would probably need a clean out every 6 days, as would 2 males. When they are between 4-8 months old you will find that they may need to be cleaned out every 3 days for a while, this is when they reach sexual maturity and it's like teenage years really. Two males will be less trouble than one!

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

I really, really, really, really, really, REALLY reccomend getting another rat! They are no more trouble to have 2 than 1, and I know from experience, they are so much friendlier, happier, more confident, and bond better to you with another rat for company! They should be fine with the introdution, just get them out together and be careful. Let them play and get accustomed, and possibly squabble a little, but that's natural.

Please, please get another baby rat, if it's a girl, then get a girl, if it's a boy, then get a boy. The whole experience of rehoming is incredibly stressful for 1 rat, but 100 times less stressful and happier if they have another rat for company.

I fel so guilty about having a single rat because she must have been lonely, bored, and unhappy some of the time when I wasn't there.

You would understand when you are further into the rats life, or even after the rat passes away. Please get another before it's too late to introduce them. The pet shop where you got her may have some more out of her litter still there, that would be perfect!

I think it's costs aout the same, as most of the money you spend is used up on food, which a lot of will be wasted, and there is less waste. so basically it's the same costs.

A pair of female, healthy rats should suffice from a once weekly clean, and a good, full clean out perhaps every month. So no extra cleaning out problems to worry about!

Your rat may be happy when you are with her, yes, but the chances are when you are asleep, at school/work, gone out, or busy, she wil be lonely and sad. Please get her another companion!!!!

I'm sure you care about her very much, and I really do hope you take my advice and get another. They should be around the same age, give or take a week or so. This will help her settle in hugely!

I really hope you do get another companion!!!! I don't say it for nothing. Not only will it benefit you by the rats being 100000000x happier, it will benefit them incredibly well.

Syrian hamsters are a naturally solitary animal, hence often kept alone as a pet. HOWEVER: Rats are NOT naturally solitary, and can get depressed if they hav eno rat companions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

http://www.nfrs.org/company.html

http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk/information/...

http://www.ratfanclub.org/single.html

http://www.quite.co.uk/rats/#Social%20Li...

Go on the part; Social life: Rats need company.

http://www.rmca.org/Resources/apair.txt

Please x 1 trillion, get another!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Then she should settle in 100 times better. Get another rat, leave them together if the introduction goes well for 1 day or so, going in and gently stroking them every couple of hours or so and offering them a few treats. Put some tasty fruit such as apple on offer for them to eat. A little bit of lightly buttered bread works well to make my rats happier.

Don't expect too much too early. Let them become omfortable with you, not you be comfortable with making the be!

Another companion, it's crucial!!!!

5 days ago

Source(s):

Personal experience of rats.

Answer 2

leave your rats alone for the first few days so they can get used to their new home. then after a while, place your hand in their cage, and let them come over to sniff you. if you are worried about them nipping you, then ive found its good to make your hand into a fist, they find that its too big for them to bite. i got my 2 males when they were 12 weeks old. i think some people get them as young as 6 weeks old.  

Answer 3

Rats make amazing pets. But rather than getting one get 2 or more. Food is an amazing bribery tool. Its simple and the rats understand it. Never pick a rat up from above, they are small animals that are often preyed upon, and being so small something coming at you from above is very scary. Always scoop your rat from under or let her crawl onto your hand on it's own. Picking a rat up by the tail is absolutely not acceptable unless you are trying to break up a serious scuffle.

Be sure that your hands never smell like food, that would only increase the very slim chances of you possibly getting bit.

Always try to choose a young rat. They are easier to socialize, and being that rats have a short lifespan despite the best possible nutrition and healthy living environment, it gives you a longer period of time to enjoy your furry buddy. 6-8 weeks is an optimum age.

Young rats are of course easier to train, and once again food bribery comes in handy.

Overall, rats are my absolute favorite small animal pet. I couldn't imagine my life without them now. Currently I have 3 little girls who I adopted from a breeder on Valentine's Day. Before getting a rat from a pet store try and locate a breeder, or even a rescue. Rats from breeders and rescues are more likely to be very well socialized, once again lessening your chance of being nipped, they will be healthier, and you will more than likely to find a prettier rat.

If you have any more questions, email me. I would love to answer any you have, and offer any other advice.

Answer 4

I had three pet rats and they are great! I have been thinking about getting one for my 4 year old. Get them when they are a baby and just homd them frequently, they dont bite ever. Make sure you have a big enough cage for them to run around in. a two or three story cage is best. Keep in mind that they dont live very long so that is something to consider when getting an older one.

Answer 5

Rats make fantastic rats. I got my two from an animal shelter so they had been used to being handled. If you are looking a getting a rat, look into getting one from a shelter, they need a home and usually come with cage, water bottle, exercise ball etc so you save yourself up to a couple hundred dollars. Rats from shelters are often free too.

I forgot to add,

when i first got my rats I left them in their cage for a day, that way they could get used to smells first. I talked to them through the bars, so they could get a little used to me. Then the next day I stuck my hand in the cage, just left it still, and let them come to me and sniff me, without me moving. Later on I patted them in the cage, and than that night I took them out.

Your rats might be skittish for the first week, but after that they really settle in. They really do get used to you and get more cuddly.

Answer 6

First of all it sounds like you need to do some more research before considering rats. Rats should never be kept alone as they are very social, they should be kept in same s*x pairs or groups. I'd recommend getting a pair from a good breeder or rescue:

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

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

If your rat is well socialized (pet store rats rarely are), they will warm up faster and are unlikely to be nippy. Tips on trust training:

http://www.ratfanclub.org/trust.html

http://www.afrma.org/trusttraining.htm

http://members.aol.com/juliesrats/behavi...

Any age is fine really though you might want a pair of youngsters.

I'd recommend doing some more research:

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 7

I like to get then as young as i can find them. u need to put in alot of time with them and use food rewards. google rat training tips and they'll tell u what to know

Answer 8

cuddle it loads and he wont bite you when you first handle him. hmm, you shouldnt get one thats too old or else it will die quickly.. maybe.... around 9 months old. rats dont need to be trained, but you can if you want to. if youre talking about potty training, stay... but i dont know how to train them so sorry i cant help you with training your rat

Answer 9

When i got my rats they were about 8 weeks old.

I handled them most of the time so they could get used to me and over time the shyness gradually disappeared and they began to trust me. Now they want to come out all of the time.

I have never been nipped by any of my rats and it's rare for them to do this. They are easy to train from a young age and you can use clicker treat dispensers used for dogs to train your rat.

If possible it's always better to get a cage mate for your rat as they get bored and lonely if they are on their own. Even if they have all the toys and love in the world they still get lonely. They also improve from  illnesses quicker if they have a friend.

Hope this helped