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Anonymous
Hey /an/. I was reading through one of the rat threads and became very intrigued. So I have some questions! Thorough answers and/or informative websites would be fantastic.
Basically, I'd love some animal companionship, my family owned lots of dogs and I've been pretty lonely without them since I left, but I can't quite afford the upkeep of one myself, seeing as I live in a very small apartment.

Here we go:

-How much do rats cost?
-Where is the best place to obtain one? (rescue, pet store, etc?) How can I tell if they're healthy?
-Do they fair well alone or should they have a companion or two, and what gender is best?
-How big of a cage do they require and what is the best bedding? How often should you change the bedding? Do they like running on wheels? How much do the cages usually run?
-What is the best food to buy for them?
-Do they need little chewing blocks like other rodents do? (I owned a gerbil when I was about 10 and remember having to put little blocks of wood in her cage often.)
-I've read that rats are affectionate and love to be around you once they get to know you - approximately how long does such a process take and how should you go about it? How do you know if a rat wants to be left alone or doesn't like you? (I have enough free time that I could use to spend with the rats.)
-Can they be trained at all?

That's all I can think of at the moment...thanks in advanced.
>> Anonymous
I only have a few answers since I don't actually have a rat..

You should absolutely get more than one rat, both of the same gender.

The bigger the cage the better, you probably shouldn't skimp. There's a calculator I saw once for whether or not the cage will be sufficient.

ratforum.com is probably the best place to go to for answers.
>> Anonymous
>How much do rats cost?
Regular ones are like $7. If you get a "fancy" color or coat type, it might be more.
>Where is the best place to obtain one? (rescue, pet store, etc?)
This will depend entirely on what's available to you. Some pet stores take awesome care of their animals. Others do not. Make sure the animals look healthy, they have good food and water, clean bedding, etc.
>How can I tell if they're healthy?
No discharge around the eyes or nostrils, no swaying, no excessive sneezing, no raspy or labored breathing.
>Do they fair well alone or should they have a companion or two, and what gender is best?
BEST in pairs+. Try to get siblings. Males tend towards fat and lazy but can fight sometimes and should be neutered. Females are usually active their whole lives, very energetic. There are definitely exceptions, though. It will come down to the individual.
>How big of a cage do they require and what is the best bedding?
The bigger, the better, though I couldn't give you exact dimensions. Bedding like Carefresh is okay, but cedar and pine should be avoided entirely. Aspen is alright too, iirc.
>How often should you change the bedding?
Probably once every week or two, with some frequent spot cleaning if they potty in one place (which some rats will naturally do).
>Do they like running on wheels?
Depends on the individual. Some people are strongly against wheels because it can cause shit like back injuries. If you do get a wheel, get one that's solid, no bars or wires for toes or feet to get caught in.
>> Anonymous
>How much do the cages usually run?
Depends. You're probably looking at a number anywhere between $60 and $120. You might want to check Craigslist. If you adopt, some places will give you the cage, too. You can also make your own - google it.
>What is the best food to buy for them?
Probably like a lab block staple with a little seed.
>Do they need little chewing blocks like other rodents do?
Yeah. Pet stores will have this shit in all shapes and sizes. Just make sure it's 100% edible. There's wood, mineral composite, etc.
>I've read that rats are affectionate and love to be around you once they get to know you - approximately how long does such a process take and how should you go about it?
Depends on the rat. Some rats will want to be with you 24/7 right out of the cage. Some will take weeks to calm down. If you have a stubborn rat, don't be grabby, put them in a low traffic area, and let them get used to their environment and your smells/sounds to start off with. That should be enough to get you off on the right foot.
>How do you know if a rat wants to be left alone or doesn't like you?
It'll be obvious. It'll run from you, hide, possibly nip.
>(I have enough free time that I could use to spend with the rats.)
Well you'd better if you're planning on getting some. They need a lot of interaction.
>Can they be trained at all?
Well, what do you mean by trained? Potty trained? Most rats won't poop on their owners or outside their cage, but they'll almost always trickle a little urine everywhere for scent marking (both sexes do it, but males do it more). Tricks? Most rats are smart enough to associate positive reinforcement to actions and can be taught simple things.
>> Anonymous
http://exoticpets.about.com/od/careofrats/Rats.htm

Read
>> Anonymous
That picture is a mouse, not a rat.

Have a good day.
>> Juba, The Baghdad Sniper !1EVr3uyPJI
-How much do rats cost?
$5-ish
-Where is the best place to obtain one? (rescue, pet store, etc?) How can I tell if they're healthy?
Pet store, get young'ns. To choose one, stick your hand in the cage and let one come to you. check their eyes for anything drippy, and their feet for anything abnormal.
-Do they fair well alone or should they have a companion or two, and what gender is best?
I have a Male, they're more active. Mine is alone, and he's fine.
-How big of a cage do they require and what is the best bedding? How often should you change the bedding? Do they like running on wheels? How much do the cages usually run?
If you want him to get excersize in his cage it has to be xbox hueg for a fully grown rat, but for sleeping quarters you can get a relatively small one. Make sure he has shit to climb on.
-What is the best food to buy for them?
Rat food, feed them veggies on occasion.
-Do they need little chewing blocks like other rodents do? (I owned a gerbil when I was about 10 and remember having to put little blocks of wood in her cage often.)
It's advised.
-I've read that rats are affectionate and love to be around you once they get to know you - approximately how long does such a process take and how should you go about it? How do you know if a rat wants to be left alone or doesn't like you? (I have enough free time that I could use to spend with the rats.)
My rat loved me from day 2, use the method mentioned above.
-Can they be trained at all?
Better than a dog, they can come, heel, do tricks, stay, and speak. If they had the proper vocal equipment they could probably speak english.
>> Anonymous
>>298498
Males are not more active, generally. The girls are more smaller and more active.... boys are big and slow and lazy. There are exceptions, which is probably what you have.
>> Anonymous
Thanks for the info guys.

So there's no difference between a 15 dollar rat and an 8 dollar rat other than coat colors? I was in the store today and they had some marked like that.

Also, are the females generally as willing to cuddle and sit with you as males? I've read that males are lazy and will sit with you and the females like running around more.

And sorry for the pic, I just typed rat in google and grabbed the first pic I saw, haha.
>> Anonymous
>>298819
I would really suggest males over females. As fun as energetic rats are, its a lot better to have one willing to ride with you on your shoulder as opposed to one that will climb you like a jungle gym. I had females, and while they were sweet, the higher-energy was a bit irritating.
>> Anonymous
Stick with gerbils, they go up the canal more readily