People who keep rats.....

[SamG347]

Do you notice a difference in the temperment of the rat depending on what age it is when you get it?? Like will a younger rat that is handled grow up to be nicer than an older rat like the ones you get at pet stores? Also are PETCO rats just as nice as rats you can get from a breeder?
Thanks!

 

[MagsC]

In my experience the ones that are worked with when younger make the best pets, I think that goes for breeders and non-breeders. However some of the people who raise rats, breed for temperment so the babies probably have a better chance of being docile? Some also try to weed out the health problems so you may have a longer lived rattie.

 

[Aneesa's Muse]

When at all possible, go with a reputable breeder ..not just any breeder (I can tell you horror stories about "breeder rats" ..and "pet store rats", for that matter).

I've raised a two litters here, both accidentally ...and handling the babies is key in their behaviour later on. That being said, time well spent with an older rat from ANY situation can also yield a very well behaved, social rat kid. It really can.

I have rattie kids from pet stores, reptile store's feeder bins, and some from breeders. They all know their names and respond to it.. none of them bite at random or out of fear, etc. ..they all will snuggle with me, but the girls definitely prefer to romp and stomp more

My newest rescue is Koda.. a very large dumbo variegated boy that has not been held or handled very much in his life (or.. he's been terribly mishandled) ...so he and I are working on trust issues with my approaching hand ...and his venturing out of his cage to come to me. He has not bit me once in the entire time I've dealt with him ...but he does drop large, heavy fear poop bombs if I move too suddenly

Your best bet is to find a reputable breeder in your area ..or within rattie train distance... and start communicating with them now. You can also look on petfinder.com and find ratties that need their forever home ..and the rescue where they are being fostered already socializes and assesses any issues that they may have before they are adopted by you. One of my dearest friends operates a rescue in Nebraska and she does wonders with the "babies" that come through her home.

You can check out some of the rattie forums, as well. Goosemoose has a very active rat community ..The Rat Shack does too, I believe.

Good Luck!

 

[Wyo Chick]

I am a fairly new rat owner. My experience has been mixed. One of my rats was handled since he was little and is very friendly!!!Loves to be held and be with people. I went to the pet shop and was just looking at the other rats. There was an older female that was so pretty. The lady kept telling me not to get her because she's older and has not been handled. She'll be mean. But the more we talked to her she acted like she wanted out of the cage. So I picked her up and it was love at first touch. She is wonderful. But she doesn't like to be held as much as the first rat. But still very friendly and talks to me. I'm not sure about pet store or breeder. We have a great petstore in town that I trust.

 

[MagsC]

Ditto on the REPUTABLE breeder!

 

[Aneesa's Muse]

Wyo Chick.. it is pretty common for the girlies to be spazzes... they like to GO GO GO

..while little boys will quickly become squishy balls of goo and just snuggle you up for all they're worth

I love my crazy spazzy girlies ..but it's nice to have a 2lb. man rat to snuggle and watch a movie with