Rat help trying to pick a rat?

Question

i wnat to get a pet rat but i hade some questions for each s*x for female few questions will thay stay on your solder if your walking around and i heard they get tumurs wau easer is this a big issue also witch one would be easyer to take care of for a beginner. also for males i heard tha mark there territory alot will it make him smell alot more and are males alwys lazy or can they be playful. also i heard that males can become villiont would they bite you or injury there rcage mates alot and will the mals mark you when you hold them. thanks for youir help.

Answer 1

1. Both male and female rats can ride on shoulders.

2. Females are more prone to tumors, and it may cost a few hundred box to have a tumor removed if the rat gets one. Males get them too, but females are a lot more prone. You can have a female spayed and that cuts down the tumor rate from 70% down to 4%

3. Males do mark, but when they do mark, it's only a couple drops of urine. I am sure you can manage wiping it off with a towel. Males are more musky rather than stinky, and the scent isn't as strong. (male mice are worse)

4. Males tend to get lazier than females, but in some rats it's the opposite for them

5. The chances of getting a male that is overly aggressive is very rare, but if you do end up having an aggressive male, he can be neutered to tone down the hormones boosting the behavior

Answer 2

The rats temperament depends on how much they were handled when they were "pinkies".  Rats that were handled more after birth (especially before their eyes opened) tend to be friendlier and more playful.  Ask the shop how often the rats were handled when they were born.  I have had rats that would sit on your shoulder, and even l**k your nose on command.  I have also had rats that had bad attitudes, especially after mating.

Answer 3

http://www.dapper.com.au/

This is the best rat site out there! I love it!

Ok So Ill try and answer your questions in order.

Will a female rat stay on your shoulder? Mostly Yes. Especially if you have long hair. My girls tend to prefer to sit in my sleve but the do hang out on my shoulder too.

As for the tumors, yes I have heard it is a problem and more common in males but Most people dont have any problems so  I think its more a luck thing.

Which one would be better for a beginner? I assum you mean male or female and I honestly can give you much advice there as I have only had females. You should be able to find that information on the dapper rat.

Males Marking their territory? Yes they do, but so do some females! ONe of my girls Lola is a terror for sent marking but you get used to it after a while and it doesnt bother me any more - I take it as a complement that she wants the world to know Im hers. Plus she only does it every now and again.

Males smelling? Again I wouldnt know so you should conslut the dapper rat info page.

Are males always lazy? Again I dont know personally but I have heard that the are happier to just sit on your lap being petted then females can be - I know my girls barely sit still for five minutes if I let them free range!

As for males being violent I have NEVER heard that! In general rats are loving and gentel pets - my girls havnt bitten me once!

Hope wev helped

Grainne, Izzy and Lola!

Answer 4

it depends entirely on the rats personality, in general males tend to be more lazy, smell more but are more likely to stay still on your shoulder. i've got 2 females and these are my first rats. all rats dribble urine a lot as they have no bladder control. my females are very playful and active most of the time (when they're not sleepy) as i've never had males before i cant really compare properly the differences in them.

Answer 5

Hi

I had three male rats, all had very differnet personalities, one was always running everywhere, one loved cuddles and the other was timid and bit if you startled him. Initially when held they did poo alot as were scared, but as we handled them alot this became a lot less.

They were very inquisative and loved human contact, always coming to the cage when we walked past. They especially loved the rat ball, like a hamster ball but bigger.

The cage needs to be cleaned at least once a week ,  you can get sented granuels that go on the bottom of the cage before you put down what your using as ground cover.

Some Rats will sit on your shoulder but i would advise great caution as they arent aware of danger and can easily fall and get hurt at this level.

Hope that helps

Answer 6

I only like male rats.  I had one previously who was absolutely lovely, lived alot longer than your average rat....

he would sit on my shoulder and nestle in my hair

he would ride on my chest around the house, hangin on like cliffhanger

he would cuddle next to me on the couch

he would never try run away or escape

he was lazy as h**l

he would give me kisses

and he once mischieveously tried to drag off my 1kg bar of chocolate i got for my birthday

he was lovely.

now however, i have two male rats

the one is extremely hyperactive!! he can't keep still

he always tries to run away - but he always comes back (not when he's called though lol)

he will not sit still long enough to sit on my shoulder

he likes to run up my back and sit on my head

he loves to explore

he loves treats

my other rat is completely opposite

okay he is pretty energetic when he wants to be

but all other times he is pretty lazy

he waddles around and plays alot

he sits on my shoulder for short periods

he loves crawling around a jumper

but most of all he likes sleeping in his hammock

you see...you have stereotyped rats

all rats are different

generally females more active than males

but males can be as different as chalk and cheese

my rats now do not piddle on me at all

they have piddled once or twice on my boyfriend

my rat which passed away used to piddle on me alot when he was really little, but he stopped that

anyway, the males have a musky smell which comes from their coat and i just love that smell, its kind of sweet, and my sister's female rat (which was absolutely mental) never smelt like that....

my male rats never fight, just play, as long as they have been together since they were really little they should have no problem!

anyway

i hope you realise that you shouldn't expect too much from your new pets and that as long as you get your rat young it should be pretty easy to train to do what you want it to i.e sitting on shoulder. good luck