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Laura
I'm buying a rat next week. Is there anything I should know that wikipedia won't tell me? First time owner btw; I've had cats and rabbits before.

Also, is there much behavior difference bewteen males and females?
Are there alot of different breeds of domestic rats?
And I've heard they're pretty active at night. Do the rats grow out of this if you keep them active in the day and let them alone at night?
>> Anonymous
i hear they like teh cheese
>> Anonymous
they squeak
>> Anonymous
>>235958
Let me help

1) yes, males tend to be a bit more agressive, but good handling and socialization wont make it a problem

2) Most likely your getting a Fancy rat, or a Norwgean (spl?). Most common as pets.

3) yes.
>> BitterAnon !!WJLRQ1cwCyZ
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Don't use wikipedia for anything other than a joke reference. People like me edit wikipedia.

>behavior difference between males and females?
Yes, usually. Males tend to be cuddlier and lazier as they age, while females are generally active throughout their lives. There are exceptions of course.

>Are there a lot of different breeds of domestic rats?
Yes and no. They're all basically the same. There are coat differences (teddy rex, hairless, rex, satin, etc) and there are patterns and colours, but they are all the same rat. Its not as drastic of a difference between a black dumbo berkshire and a lynx odd-eye as there is between a terrier and a greyhound.

>active at night.
It depends. If you are active at night, your rats will be active at night. Some rats do have a preference, but in general, they will be active whenever you are in the room and probably sleep most of the time when you aren't.

www.rmca.org General rat/mouse site with tons of information.
http://ratguide.com/ Has health, care, bedding, etc information with references.
http://ratguide.com/care/beginning/choosing_and_obtaining_a_pet_rat.php Read this now.
http://www.curiosityrats.com/ One of the best breeder and info sites, even if it looks stupid. Hit "info" on the side and start reading there.
>> BitterAnon !!WJLRQ1cwCyZ
Also they shouldn't squeak normally, if they do there is something seriously wrong.
And, while they do like cheese, they should not be eating it regularly.
>> Anonymous
Male rats are very lax, cuddly, big ball-bearing machines. Females usually remain baby-like and inquisitive throughout their lives, always on the go.

I've NEVER known a male rat to be aggressive - they will wrestle with eachother more than females, and will wrestle with your hand, but that doesn't mean they bite any more often.

Just buy a magazine called 'Rats', it should be at most pet stores. It's one huge issue, basically a care guide, it will give you a lot of information that's useful (I think it's 7 to 10 dollars) and backed up by real sources.
>> Anonymous
Avoid Kay-Tee brand anything. Seriously, it's bad stuff.
>> Laura
>>235978
Thanks for the helpful answers :) they were exactly what I was after.

Another question I have: care guides online reccomend keeping rats in pairs at a minimum. Is just keeping one rat as cruel to them as they make it out to be? I don't want to be guilted into buying more than I can handle...
>> Anonymous
always get two rats

Don't keep them in an aquarium. They need lots of ventilation.

If you get boys prepare for lots of urine. They LOVE dribbling it everywhere
>> Anonymous
>>236013
People on here are always super adamant about two or more rats, no exceptions. Before I knew a lot about rats, I kept them one at a time and never had any problems. That's all I'll say.
>> Anonymous
>>236070
yeah YOU had no problems. Just a sad lonely animal that couldn't tell you it was depressed
>> Anonymous
>>236079
Not really. This was back when I was in high school and my entire family would play with my rat. She'd probably be out of her cage and interacting with people for most of the waking day. But if you're going to have a single rat, that's the kind of attention you're going to have to give, I guess.
>> Anonymous
>>236083

Hence why we always say to get two. Because even when people say they'll play with them, they rarely do. It's far easier to just say to get two and know the rat will have a companion then to tell someone who doesn't know enough about rats to know what the genders behave like that having one is ok and knowing it will probably pine away alone in it's cage because it's owner knows jack shit.

Get two. If you can handle one rat, you can handle two rats.
>> Anonymous
>>236092

It's not like we're claiming the bare minimum on rat handling is seventeen and if you have less then that, they'll be unhappy. Two is not a big deal
>> Anonymous
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Rats are mostly lactose intolerant. Don't feed it cheese, for the love of Allah. Also, they get depressed without a cagemate. And they usually only squeak as a sign that they are in pain.

tldr; NO CHEESE, GET MORE THAN ONE RAT

http://www.quite.co.uk/rats/ read everything here, please.
>> Anonymous
>>236094Allah

lol wut
>> Anonymous
>>236069
Actually, a rat's digestive system is such that it can't control its....functions, so a female is just as likely to dribble. It doesn't hurt your clothes, and if it gets on your hands, thats your problem. Just wipe it off on your pants, its not a big deal
>> BitterAnon !!WJLRQ1cwCyZ
>>236112
Where did you "learn" that? Some dominant female rats do urine mark, but most do not. Most pet rats will learn very quick that you do not like being pooped/peed on and will try to avoid doing so.

>>236013
If the rat will be a near constant companion, then it is okay to get one. They are social animals, and the best companion for a rat is another rat. They don't exactly die of loneliness, but isolation leads to the same problems in rats as it does in humans: depression, obesity, and poorer health in general.

I would actually recommend getting three rats. If you get a pair and one of them dies, then you have a single rat and must introduce another rat to one that has just lost its best friend. If you get three rats though, and one dies, then the remaining rats still have company that they trust.

Rats are so cheap to keep that unless you have 4+ then there is no appreciable difference in resources between a single rat, a pair, or a trio.

For a first time rat owner, I would suggest three males from the same litter, or at least the same breeder. If you don't mind the testicles, that is.
>> Anonymous
>>236115
The problem with this is that after hearing this
>>236013
This pet owner really doesn't seem that ready to be a complete companion for a rat. She doesn't want to be guilted into more then she can handle? Two instead of one is more then she can handle? It's the difference between a pet that lives and a pet that is actually happy. I know people like the OP who are getting rats. They don't really care if their pet is really happy so they'll have 40 people tell them that a rat needs a friend and 1 who says that in some situations, with very careful care, one rat is ok alone. They take that to mean that of course getting one is ok even though getting two is just as easy and their rat is unhappy until it dies of some easily fixed disease. I've seen it happen. It pisses me off.
>> Anonymous
>>236115
>>236119

Oh, and I mean the part where you say one is ever ok. I personally have four for similar reasons as those you mentioned. The fourth is pretty new but you're right. My rats loved being a trio.
>> BitterAnon !!WJLRQ1cwCyZ
>>236119
You raise a valid point, I guess. I figured though, that if "Laura" really is reading all of this stuff and asking questions and trying to educate herself, then when her solitary rat gets lonely and gets sick, she will come back and say "i know you told me to do this but i did this instead and now my rat is dying halp" and we can all laugh at "her" and - Hey, I just noticed the feminine namefaggotry! Tits or gtfo, Laura.

Annnyway, in 99% of the cases, it is best to get two or more rats. If you get one rat, then do not socialize it properly, I will personally berate you on the internet while glaring harshly at my monitor and I hope it makes you feel guilty.
>> Anonymous
>>236125

99% of all cases.... 100% of cases with first rat ownership.
>> Laura
>>236125
>>236119
I guess now I know to get at least two rats instead of just the one, possibly introducing a third after a while. I had it in my head that 2 rats need twice the space, twice the food, and twice the attention, but now I realise that t'ain't the case at all. In fact, before I read up on keeping them, I thought they were mostly solitary, because people I know with rats only kept one. But looking back, those were really unhappy, depressed animals. And the people that kept them were nobs.
I don't want to be some complete nubster who has no idea what they're doing. Hence me asking for advice and taking it.
>> Anonymous
I got a baby rat not too long ago from a pet store and actually got talked out of buying two rats by the pet store guy. He said they wouldn't bond with me if I got more than one and I didn't want to have pets that I couldn't get close to and would bite me and shit. The next day I went and got another rat anyway because I figured I could take a couple rat bites if it meant my pet wasnt a fuzzy ball of lonely neurosis. Fast foward to now- me and my 2 rats are BFF's and obviously that guy was a fucking idiot. Anyone who says you cant bond with 2 rats is some sort of asshole who doesnt know how to be nice to animals
>> Anonymous
>>236756
well done laura!

Now show us your breasts!