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Anonymous
Hey /an/, I just got a rat! A male "fancy" rat to be exact, although I'm not entirely sure what that means.

Any tips on taking care of and training them? I've heard they're really intelligent, and you can train them to come to their name and little things like that.
>> Anonymous
Fancy rats is a store-applied tag differentiating them from "feeder" rats, they're both the same species though, Rattus norvegicus, and both equally worthy of love!

As far as information goes, an invaluable site to look at would be www.rmca.org, the Rat and Mouse Club of America. They have many articles published as well as forums with helpful people!

Also, first off, if you got one rat... GET ANOTHER! They're social animals and will get depressed unless they have another one of their own kind in their cage.

Secondly, don't keep it on pine or cedar as it can hurt their respiratory tract and make them more susceptible to respiratory infection, the #1 killer of rats (and mice)!

Thirdly, google up some shit and check out RMCA! Or the AFRMA.
>> Anonymous
Cool, thanks for the info.

He seems so scared right now, whenever I try to get my hand near him he runs for it. Hopefully he'll warm up to me and not be afraid anymore.
>> Anonymous
>>234974

GO GET ANOTHER

THIS WILL MAKE HIM FEEL BETTER/CALMER
>> Anonymous
dude, did you look up anything before getting a rat? first rule of rat keeping, always, ALWAYS get a same sex buddy for your rat or he will be depressed/bored/destructive.
>> Anonymous
yeah for serious get a second one. Not much more mess, and if you don't, he'll be sick and depressed all the time, and not as good of a friend.
>> Anonymous
>>234990

Where do you people get your info?

Yes, a second rat is the best option, but a solo rat is not necessarily a depressed blob of sad. I kept a lone female, and even take her to school with me from time-to-time (they didn't mind as long as she was caged during class) who lived to almost three years and she was always energetic, healthy, and very social. I don't buy into all this "you don't speak rat" bullshit, because I certainly don't speak dog and mine is very content being alone.

I currently have two male rats, only one of which is social. He never "helped" or "tamed down" the first rat I bought, which has been skittish since day one, so basically, one male rat gets to go to the store for yogurt treats while the other languishes in his cage, being depressed and sickly even though he does have a companion.
>> Anonymous
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I bought another one. <3 There's no harm in it anyway, and surely they'll be happier. It's from the same group as the first, so they're familiar with each other already.

One is named Zack..I don't know what to name the other now. :( With having tow tough, I plan on getting a slightly larger cage next paycheck.
>> Anonymous
name him Cloud.
>> Anonymous
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Name the second one Edgar.
>> Anonymous
>>235026
Damn beat me too it.

Sephiroth or Angeal would be good too.
>> Anonymous
>>235026
You make me want to cry, goddamn. I didn't name him after Zack Fair. D<
>> Anonymous
>>235040
Oh you did, you just haven't realised it yet...
>> Anonymous
I thought of naming my child Sephiroth, Cloud, or Zack...his middle name would be one of the other two.
>> Anonymous
>>235191
zack is a fine name, and I would say kill yourself for considering the other two but you probably will never ever have children

ever

fine for pet names

ever
>> Anonymous
>>235019
Wiki for #2
>> Anonymous
>>235019
How big is your cage?
>> Anonymous
>>235192
5 months in
>> Anonymous
DONT GO ON THIS LINK

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3xKfUOWNb4
>> tigerfeather !CrwtTbFNxQ
>>234993
It is true that one rat can live healthily and happily, they just need a lot of affection and attention. Generally speaking, the majority of people who go into a pet store and look for a rat or mouse are looking for a cage pet that doesn't need much interaction at all, which makes pet stores and breeders automatically go "Get another!"
>> Anonymous
Don't worry too much about them being shy towards you right now. I have three right now. One of them is REALLY shy and scared of everything. I've had her for about 4 months and she just started really warming up to me a month ago.
Make sure you handle them as often as you get the chance and give them treats. With my shy rat, I would give her treats, but she would have to let me pick her up first or let me pet her while I gave her the treat.
There are a lot of websites out there that could help you with rats too. :)
http://www.petinfopackets.com/rats/ratinfopacket.html
http://www.quite.co.uk/rats/#Rat%20Rescue
http://www.rmca.org/Resources/rmcafaq.htm
http://www.dapper.com.au/articles.htm

Here are some of the websites I keep on hand.
>> Anonymous
Also, rats are really prone to respiratory problem.

Training: There are things you can look up on the internet to help you. Give them treats and say their name when you do, they'll start coming to their name in no time!
>> Anonymous
I've got two rats, and I trained them both to come to me when I snap my fingers. That way I can get them to come exactly to where I'm snapping as opposed to just calling their name and having them come over. I'm sure there's lots of different ways you could train them, just be consistant and work at it every day, giving them a small treat when they do it right. The fatter of my two rats learned very quickly :-)
>> Anonymous
Be very very careful w/ the rat, rats are very fragile and can die easily. Keep out of reach of all other larger animals: Dogs, Cats, etc.
>> BitterAnon !!WJLRQ1cwCyZ
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>>236157
Exceptions exist.
>> Anonymous
>>236166

Don't give stupid people exceptions!
>> Anonymous
I'd never trust my dogs around a rat, but all of our cats were just completely weirded out by them and stayed away from the cages. Too many gnawed off cat whiskers.