I want to get a rat...

[gritsar]

Our rats, Bubonic and Skooter, were males, were raised together and died within a month of each other @ approx. age 2. They both weighed over 2 lbs. Can you say too many treats? They weren't meant to be designer rats, they were snake food that became pets; and great pets they were. Ours were potty trained as well. Always went back to their cage to do their business.
Rats beat hamster hands down for pets, IMHO.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

I've often heard that males smell worse than females, but I've actually always wanted males before doing additional research. I know a lot of people don't like how large their testicles get, but that does not really bother me. Is it imperative to have them neutered? Do they truly smell?

Also, it seems like quite a few rat breeders like to see the rats they sell spayed or neutered. I really would rather stay away from that, but what is the purpose? Just to prevent breeding? I don't plan on breeding at all and want to get two of the same sex. Do I need to have them neutered?

I have the name and number of a family who breeds for 4-H and I'm hoping they will be able to hook me up with some babies. If I can get a cage large enough for three, I will definitely get that many! I will have to see though. I have to take a look at my friend's cages this weekend.

 

[texasgirl]

I never had the females spayed but I do plan on having my current male neutered. He is getting a little older and is starting to smell more strong.
A few years ago I got an aggressive 2 year old male from the pet store (couldn't be sold as a pet or feeder) and he was older and not neutered and had a terrible musk, I just don't want to let my boy get that stinky as he ages. It only costs $35-45 to get a male neutered here, if you plan on getting females I wouldn't worry about it although early spays have been shown to possibly decrease cancer risks.

 

[Cara]

I had rats in college and they are the only pet i've ever given away. They were pretty much hellish. They were males and peed everywhere so I had to clean their cage out daily, taking it completely apart and scrubbing every surface, and bathe them weekly. They wrestled like crazy at night so nobody in the 4 bedroom house could sleep, and we had to buy bedding according to how quiet it was when they started crashing around. And trying to find a vet who will treat them is ridiculous, let alone one at a reasonable price. A consultation alone cost $65 from the only vet in the city who would see a rat, and there was nothing wrong with him. Be sure to take the noise aspect into account, as an agreeable roommate may swiftly turn into one willing to turn you in if you don't get rid of them.

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

I'm actually lucky because I don't have a room mate. Hopefully next year I will be an RA and once again will not have a room mate. I can actually have that option all four years because I am in the honors program

Ok, so I'm definitely leaning more towards females. I don't mind noise at night, as I can sleep through pretty much anything. I have cats at home and they are always fighting and making noise at night time! I already have a choice of bedding in mind. It's a soft cottony stuff and looks great for making nests and what not. My friend used it for her hamster and it was very easy to clean! They didn't have so many choices back when I had a hamster. They either had pine or cedar.

 

[dcampbell54]

My son has had rats for about 6 years now. The only bad thing they don't live long. They make great pets and are super smart. We always try to get a baby so we can train them. The first thing we do is introduce them to water. Before you know it they love their bath
Its best not to buy from a pet shop because of the inbreeding..We figure everyone we get we save it from being snake food.. Donna

 

[ksacres]

My husband's siter had a pet rat named D-Con...

 

[Kittikity]

Rats are awesome.. Like others said, the males are more calm and cuddly, the females are more active and curious.. We have three females.. We buy a new one whenever one dies so they will always have friends.. There are several varieties to choose from also.. I bred siamese dumbos for a short while.. (I had to stop because we were living in an apartment and they found out and said we couldn't have them..) The siamese is just like a siamese cat with the cream body and the darker ears, legs, and butt area.. The dumbo is the bigger ears which are just too cute.. Especially as babies.. I also had some blue rats that were the color of russian blue cats.. The blues can be a light blue or the dark russian blue..

Being bit by a pet rat is very rare.. It's usually from them not being socialized enough or they are very very afraid.. I've never been bit by a rat in all the years I've had rats.. One thing I would suggest not doing is to feed them anything through the bars of the cage.. Even snacks and treats.. They will learn that anything that comes through the bars is potential food..

They also love hammocks or any old clothes to sleep in.. I use aspen shavings for mine.. It absorbs the smell quite nicely.. Don't use pine or cedar shavings.. They smell nice but the oils that make those shavings smell so nice can irritate the rats lungs.. The aspen shavings don't have those oils.. They love things to chew on and it's good for their teeth..

I think that's all the advice I've got for now.. If you have any questions, feel free to ask..

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Thanks for the wonderful advice!

Did you have a problem with your males smelling? Everyone tells me they stink. I plan on cleaning the cage very regularly, but I don't want the whole room to constantly smell like rat urine, especially if they spray.

 

[Kittikity]

That I can't exactly say much about.. When I had the males, I had several rats so mine always smelled a little.. But I never really noticed anything different between the males and the females though.. But you can give them a bath.. Just like most any other animal.. If they're started with the baths when they're young, they're more likely to accept and even enjoy them.. I also can't say if neutering them helps or not.. I've always either had mine separated, even before I was breeding..