Pet rats????

Question

I'm thinking about getting a pet rat and I have a few questions.

Should I get a male or female?

Do they bite?

Does it hurt when they bite?

Can i keep one by itself?

Thanks.

Answer 1

personally i think males (bucks) are more playful.

you can never guarantee a rat wont bite. the best thing to do is handle it as much as possible so they get tame and used to you.

been bit by rats in the past it doesn't really hurt its more of a shock.

yes you can have a single rat but you will need to give it more attention. 2 rats together is better as they keep each other company. if buying more than one rat from a pet shop make sure they are the same s*x and make sure the shop attendant is competent at telling then s*x of a rat.

the best advice anyone can give you is to go to a good breeder

Answer 2

I think you should get a femaile, they are nicer just watch out and make sure it is NOT PREGNANT!!!!  some bite, it can hurt but not that bad, just be care ful it dosent break the skin if it does bite, and if it does go to the doctor! You can keep one by it self    :)

Answer 3

Girllliiee.

Sorry not much of a help

hah

Answer 4

i prefer females they are smaller and more energetic and don't pee on everything

it is very rare for them to bite

if they do it may draw blood but like i said most of them don't

and some organizations consider it cruelty to animals when rats are housed alone

Answer 5

As a stereotype, males are gernerally a lot calmer. They would rather just hang out with you, and take naps on you. Females are a lot more active and brave. They would rather not have to sit still, but get the chance to explore and run around. But honestly, I have had just as many lazy girls, and hyper guys, so it really matters on thier personality.

One thing all (well most) males will do is scent mark. Most will only do this when they are new to you and will stop eventually, but they basically leave little bits of urine everywhere to make soemthing "theirs".

Every animal with a mouth bites, even you and I. All you have to do is give them no reason to bite. Rats will only bite as a last resort to protect themselves, after they know they can't just run away. So give the little guys their space, and always be calm aorund them not to spook them. Respect them like this, and you will never get bitten.

Oh, and rats have horrible eyesight, so they need to nibble on things to feel them out. They will probably nibble on your hand, but this is not biting! It's even cute :)

You CANNOT keep one by itself. Rats are incredibly social, and suffer emotionally from being alone. Having companions for a rat is just as important as having the right food, or cage. Single rats are prone to depression, boredom, destructive behaviour, illnesses, and a shorter life span. A companion will also spen 24 hours of every single day with the rat. The smount of play time you will be able to give them doesn't even come close, so single rats spend a LOT of time all alone. Don't do it.

Answer 6

i would recommend male- they are friendlier,but they tend to smell more than females because they are always marking their cage. you should really buy two or more,they are really sociable and prefere to live with others. although they love our company, they would really like a friend to eat,sleep and play with. also if they are kept alone they can get very depressed and this could cause illness. yes it hurts when they bite but usually they only bite when they are ill, or if they are being mistreated. otherwise they will be yor best friend.

i have three male dumbo rats and they are gorgeous!!

hope this helped good luck :-)

Answer 7

I have never been bitten by a rat.  I suppose all animals with teeth could bite given a bad temperment or mishandling.  I kept females as they are smaller, but I don't believe there is much difference between the two.  Rats are very social animals, you can keep them by themselves but make sure you take him/her out everyday!  They can get bored and lonely.  I think it would be more interesting to keep two, as it would be fun to watch them interact.  Make sure if you do get two to get them from the same litter or introduce them young!  Mine liked to run around my bed while I studied and ride on my shoulder as I did stuff around the house.  She never pottied outside of her cage either which made this alright.  Good luck, you will love keeping rats!

Answer 8

"Male or Female" - Both sexes make great pets however each has its own characteristics...

Males: A little more territorial and are pron to just laz around the also LOVE to scent mark

Females: Active and usually better temperment wise around other rats, they go into heat every 5 days though so make sure to seperate the sexes!!?!!

"Biting"- Rats can bite but it is very uncommon..and usually not something tat happens often however i dont suggest testing how long ur rat will tolerate u before it bites

"Does it hurt"- It is like a hamster or other rodent bite so yes it does hurt however a rats mouth is made differently and their 2 front teeth can actully seperate so the rat can hold wat they have grabbed without dropping it.

"1 rat" - I could humor u and say yes but NO any rat needs at least 1 cagemate even if u decide to play and love it eva day it will still get lonley..unless u plan on carrying ur rat around with u eva where then just do yourself and ur new rat a favor and get 2..

(^^)v

Answer 9

1. That depends. Here are some common differences between the two.

Males: Tend to become more laid back and mellow when they get older, making them better lap rats, scent mark more frequently (dribbles of urine), have a little more of an odor to them.

Females: Tend to remain more active and playful as they get older, prone to benign mammary and pituitary tumors later in life if not spayed.

This is the general rule but all rats have their own personality so there will be exceptions.

2. Not if well socialized, no.

3. If it's a serious bite, yes.

4. No. Well, you can, but you absolutely should not. They are highly social and should be kept in same s*x pairs or groups.

More reading:

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 10

you should get a female their less trouble and the just nibble on your finger they dont hurt

Answer 11

Well from Experiance i have 2 males, they are kinda like mamas boys, if you feed them treats and hold them, mine l**k  me,haha,

i also have a female, she is very shy but they keep themselves very clean! and they dont have much of a musty smell,

males have a musty smell and you might have to bath them youself, but it is very easy, you have to hold your hand under there chin and rwrap ur index finger and thumb losly around under there front feet. and wash with only a dime amount of soap. wash all off,

But anyways, Rats RARLY bite but if they do its out of being scared, and yes it will hurt. but mostly they only nibble. or l**k.

males love to be together, my boys play so much and females are the way, but males i would think need to DEFF. have a friend, but make sure there around the same age. or the bigger might want to be domanant. females you dont have to worry as much, (unless Pregnant) ,

but you dont have to get another rat right away. but it is good to get one from the same littler. but if you play with you rat alot and create a bond he might not need another rat companion.

Hope ive help

God bless

Sydney

Answer 12

Can you get only one? Yes.

Should you get only one? No.

Boys or Girls?

Rats are best kept same s*x PAIRS. The big question is, which gender should you choose? Females are usually more active and like to play. This is because in the wild, their job in a pack is to reproduce and care for their young, so they are always on the go to find a mate, find food for her kittens, make a nest for them, etc. Males are generally more laid back and are more content to just sit on your lap or shoulder. This is because in the wild, their only job is to mate with females. So, if you are looking for a rat that will play with you and is very active, females are the better choice. If you want a rat that is content just sitting on your lap and cuddling, a male is for you. Now, this is just a generalization. There is always the possibility that you could end up with a lazy girl or a hyper boy.

Myth: Rats bite a lot

This myth can vary, depending on the rat, but for the most part, rats do not bite. It is not in their nature. Some will if they feel pressured, insecure, frightened, stressed, etc. You usually have to just relax the rat and it should be fine. Fight or Flight. If this behavior continues, it is advised to see a veterinary professional. Now, biting should not be confused with nibbling/nipping. Often times a rat will nibble at your palm or finger. This can be for a variety of reasons. It could be just simply trying to get your attention, or it may be a bit nervous. If you are handling a rat that you’ve bonded with, it can be the ultimate rat compliment. When a rat grooms itself, it will often nip at its coat, or that of another cage mate. This is basically what it is doing to you. If your rat is doing this, it means that it accepts you as an equal. They could also be “exploring” you to get used to you, since they have such poor eyesight. This can also become a problem if you start feeding your rat through the bars of its cage. It will start to recognize your fingers as food, and may begin to get the two mixed up, resulting in it trying to “eat” your finger.

Unless the rat is biting to be mean, it does not hurt, and even when it is being mean, it shouldn't hurt that bad.

Answer 13

Female's are better cause they do not take a dump on everything...well they p**p and peep but...ya know what i am saying but anyway, they bite if you startle it and they nibble on your finger but that doesn't hurt only if they actually bite is when it will hurt!

Yes, you can keep one by it's self....

Answer 14

rats are very social and smart animals, they tend to get depresed when kept by themselves. id keep at least two. they need a very large cage with tons of stuff to climb on. look into ferret cages or my first home deluxe cage for exotics. and no a well breed rat will not bite. i work at petsmart and have never been bitten. the rats there are so poorly breed though that i wonder why. male rats are typically calmer then females but they both are very sweet. if you decide to get one look into local shelters and breeders. also some local petshops do all of their breeding in store and you can meet both parents. if you do go the petshop route then look for males and females in seperate cages, and that the rats are not on pine or cedar. make sure all have food and water. if that passes, pick up the rat you are interested in and listen to the breathing. if it sounds wheezy at all, check two or three others if they  all sound wheezy do not buy a rat there. also never buy a rat from petsmart there animals are poorly breed and can be really sick.

Answer 15

I had a female pet rat, and she was really sweet and such a cutie!! I've never had a boy rat, but I've heard they are just as good. Boys are usually bigger with greasier hair, and they are not as energetic as girls. I recommend that you get a female, just because I had such a great experience having a female rat.

They sometimes bite in a playful way that doesn't hurt. When my rat was little, she'd grab my finger with her mouth and try to pull my hand into her cage with her. It was so adorable! When rats bite, it's almost never harmful, it's just their way of figuring you out. And rats chew a lot, so beware of that...they'll chew on anything that they can sniff out.

Yes, you can keep one by itself as long as you can devote plenty of time to it. Make sure you get the rat out of its cage and play with it a few times every day. If you know you won't have enough time to be a completely dedicated rat-parent, then you should get other rats so they can play with each other.

Congratulations on considering to get a rat!! Rats are the best!! I'd do anything to get my baby back...she died last April and it broke my heart. Rats are amazing friends, and they are very smart. It's especially cute when they fall asleep on your lap.