Should i get a rat?

Question

im thinking of getting a rat. =]but i have a couple ?'s

how long do they live-

what to feed them-

where to get an afordable cage-

are they fun-

and other information u can give would be nice =]

Answer 1

Rats live an average of 1-3 years. But this can depend heavily on where you get your rats. Rats from a reputable breeders can be expected to live 2-3 years. Rats from pet stores average at around 1.5-2 years. Of course these are averages.

Rats are best fed a staple of lab blocks, which contain everything a rat needs. Some of the best lab blocks are Harlan (I use  Teklad Global 2014 from http://www.theratshop.com/shop.php?cat=3... or Mazuri (found at Pet Smart). The best thing about the above lab blocks are that they do not contain a lot of corn (which has been known to cause cancer in rats). In addition to lab blocks you can feed a small amount of healthy treats and fresh veggies and fruits.

I recommend Martins cages(http://www.martinscages.com/products/cag... or Pet Smart cages(http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.js... When looking for a cage you can enter the dimensions into a cage calculator to see if the cage is big enough: http://www.rattycorner.com/odds/calc.sht... The nice thing about Martins and Petsmart cages is that they are easy to clean, the have solid bottoms(easy on the rats feet) and the wire is small enough so that even little rats cannot get through(ferret cages bar spacing is often to big). Cages for hamster or mice are usually way to small and should not be used. As for bedding the big no no is pine or cedar...they are toxic and can cause all kinds of awful health problems in rats. Your best and cheapest bet is Aspen shavings...which are sold at most pet stores. You can also use Sani-Chips or CareFresh, but they can be more expensive. You will also need a water bottle, which are available in almost all pet stores.

Rats are extremely social creatures and should ALWAYS be kept in pairs...this will not take away the bond that rats have with their humans, it will only make it stronger. Getting two girls or two boys are both acceptable (males usually don't find, and almost never do if they are from the same litter). Males are usually a bit more calm and into being held, whereas females are more active and into exploring. DO NOT get one male and one female and house them together as they will multiply FAST. Rats are not only social with each other but also with humans (especially if they are from a breeder)...I compare mine to a little dog. They interact and play games with you, they snuggle and give you kisses. You can even train them to do tricks such as learning their name.

When choosing your rats you should ideally find a breeder. Breeders breed their rats to be health, friendly and pretty. Your rat will most likely be socialized from birth and live to a rip old age. Pet store rats can make wonderful pets, but sometimes they take longer to warm up to you. They also suffer from more health problems. To find a local breeder go to: http://ratster.com/. Either way you go look for a rat that is alert and not sneezing or looking sickly. But your hand in the cage and let the rat pick you.

If you have ANY questions please contact me at: [e-mail]. I'm a rat owner of 6 years and have recently started breeding pedigreed rats myself.

Answer 2

Rats can live up to 5 years, but usually around 3.

Feed them a quality lab block with fruits and veggies http://ratfanclub.org/diet.html

An affordable cage is anything at least 2 square feet per rat. Petco has a decent rat mansion that has 1/2" bar spacing so you won't have to modify the bar spacing to keep the rats in.

They are very fun and very friendly. They learn tricks. The are not as fun alone though. They can get depressed and lethargic without a companion rat.

Answer 3

Rats are great pets.  They do better in pairs (same gender) so a 2 ft by 2 ft by 2 ft cage would be great, wired cages are the best.  It should be cleaned at least 3 times a week. They have a lot of choices in PetSmart.  Giving them toys will make them happy, like swings, boxes, and ropes.  There are pellets for rat food, but they can also eat cooked or raw pasta and fruit.  Rats are generally friendly and they are constantly looking for something to do.  Playing games with them like letting him/her swim around in some lukewarm water will make the rat really happy.  They usually live to about two to three years.

Answer 4

You should get a PAIR of rats, not just a single rat. They're happier when they have a play mate.

Pet store rats tend to live 2-3 years. Some rats are known to live 4-5 years, but I do believe they're likely from quality breeders.

My rats get Mazuri lab blocks and Regal Rat kibble, along with daily supplement of melon, peas, carrots & healthy cereal (Kashi Go Lean).

Most affordable cage (that's worthwhile) is the Super Pet My First Home For Exotics ($99) but you can look on Craigslist to see if any local residents have a large cage for a discounted price.

Of course they're fun. They can be quite dog-like, and every rat has their own personality.

Answer 5

I had a rat and she was awesome, she went everywhere with me.

Mine lived for 3 years,, which is the normal lifespan, but some have lived up to 5 years.

I fed mine food from walmart, it will have a picture of a rat on it.

I got my cage from walmart, also.

Mine was very fun, I swear she thought she was a dog, she would chase her tail. A lot of peopledon't believe they can love, but I know they can, she was very loving, and would jump around her cage when I opened the bedroom door.

I would recommend one, the only problem I had was the lifespan]:

I now have a ferret[;

Answer 6

you can instant message me and ill tell u everything about the good of getting rats

Answer 7

First thing you need for a rat is another rat, as they get lonesome easily. especially if you can't be around to give them constant attention

They live for an average of 5 yrs, should have a constant supply of dry rat food available at any pet store.  I use the nutriphase brand because it's fortified with extra vitamins and minerals.  This is available at petsmart if you are interested. they like pretty much anything like fresh fruits and veggies, boiled eggs, meats as well as the bones.  they love the marrow.

  I made my own cage from a large clear storage bin.  I left the bottom in tack, modified the lid by cutting out the middle portion, leaving the egdes and bought about 2 feet of hardware cloth to replace the part I cut out.  It cost me a grand total of $10.00 and my rats are happy as can be with all the room they have.

It took a long time to get them socialised, They are from a pet stre and got no interaction with humans so be careful of that.  You have to have patience in the beginning.  After a month one of my rats is now laying on my shoulder, watching me talk about him to you, and I'm in absolute love over them.  

I advise you to get a book called "RATS" by Debbie Ducommun. to have on hand for lots of valuable information.  I also found that at petsmart.  She is an expert on the care and upkeep on rats and she makes it interesting to read.

also check out

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

The links provided at the top of the page are filled with valuable information for rat lovers