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Anonymous
My partner and I are looking to get some rats once we move into our new flat. We've done quite a bit of research and there is a breeder relatively close to us and a petshop that said breeder sells to. We've checked and it seems really nice; friendly, knowledgeable staff and healthy-looking animals.

Gonna get two females and call them Tzeentch and Korn, but we were thinking about getting a third. Is it wise to put an odd number of pets together and will a two-tiered cage be big enough for three? The one we were looking at was a relatively big wired cage that we'd cover the floors of.

Also, can you use a rat cage for a chinchilla? We would be thinking of getting one after the rats have well...moved on ;__;

I come from a family that didn't allow pets and I'm very nervous about owning them - even something as small as rats. I've done as much possible research about them but I was wondering /an/ if you had any top tips for looking after ratties?
>> Anonymous
>>217061

Sorry, just been corrected. *Khorne
>> Anonymous
Biggest advice I can give you about owning rats is to pay oodles of attention to them. It's good that you're getting two, because they're very social and need affection at all times, but when you're home, it's good to have them out to sit on your shoulder or whatever as much as possible. They actually get quite standoffish and sometimes even depressed if you don't dedicate massive amounts of time to being with them. You don't even need to put any effort into it, just keep them near you and scratch their necks every once in a while.
>> Anonymous
>>217065

We are both students so I reckon we will be in the flat quite a bit. Also, both bookwormy - it'd be ncie to sit with a rat on my shoulder as I read but I doubt a female or baby would sit still for long enough.

And yeah; the decision to get both was defintely because we don't want them to get lonely. It's also a little because we reckon the more the merrier too - but the possible three stems from the fact that I've heard they can get really sad when another rat dies.
>> KZN
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Two or three female rats should do well together.

A two-layer cage would do wonderfully for them, even better, three-layer, because they love to climb. Just make sure it's big enough for the three of them...something about the size of the one in this pic.

Something this size is I'd say around...75-80 USD? Not too expensive for a big cage, but certainly not cheap.

Apart from that, I've never owned rats, so I can't tell you much more, except be prepared to have to pay for a vet if one of them needs it.

Good luck, Anon, and I admire your precaution and research beforehand. From the looks of it, you'll be a fine pet owner, so don't worry.
>> stabby
>>will a two-tiered cage be big enough for three?

Depends on the overall size of the cage. What are the demensions? Same for your chinchilla question...'cept chinchillas suck shit.
>> Anonymous
Rats are easy pets, they warm up to people fast and like to learn, and it's really hard to make a mistake with them. I'm sure you've already read the basics, like a diet, and by the sound of it, your cage is plenty big enough for three rats if it's big enough for a chinchilla. I left the wire flooring on my cage because it is collapsible, but to prevent foot problems I use old towels/shirts and timothy hay in the main area of the cage, which I replace about twice a week. Also, ferret hammocks or the little hanging tents are awesome for rats. I even have a tiny little bed that was designed for small animals, they get a lot of crumbs in it and it requires frequent washing but they but don't chew it up.

If you haven't already, read up on the condition called mycoplasmosis, as it's pretty common in the pet rat and it's good to catch the signs early.

Also, they will demand yogurt drops for the Rat God. Good luck!
>> Anonymous
>>217073

I haven't really looked into what Chinchillas are like to look after. I just thought that they looked really cute; what are they like to keep as pets?

As for the cage, it looked something like this one http://www.purrfectlypets.co.uk/product.asp?strParents=&CAT_ID=0&P_ID=12570&strPageHisto
ry=search&numSearchStartRecord=1

Sorry the picture quality isn't great. The one shown online is much cheaper, but I think the store one (£75) was a bit bigger. Had an extra little tier on the top level for climbing.
>> Anonymous
>>217074

Hmm, so I should be aware that if their coat looks bad and they are sniffling and sneezing that I should get them checked out? Thanks for the tip - this sounds nasty so I'll be sure to look out for symptoms. Only get a few years with rats so I'd better make them worth it :(

And I'm glad you got the reference. We are torn between Slaanesh or Nurgle for the third one. Also not sure what colours to try and get; I'm thinking Khorne has to be black.
>> Anonymous
>>217076

Hehe, I'm married to a fa/tg/uy.

A rat's coat quality will naturally deteriorate as they get older, especially with males, but you will be able to tell if it gets dull and falls out really easy.

The wheezing and sneezing is the biggest sign. A little bit of porphyrin (the bloody looking mcuus) is okay, light tends to put more pressure on the tissue behind their eyes where it is produced, but with a case of myco they will usually produce so much porphyrin that you usually see it all over their nose and rubbed all over their face from trying to clean it off. It sounds scary but once you've been through your first episode of myco, it gets easier to treat because you can recognize when your rat isn't feeling so great and get him treated quickly. A lot of vets thankfully don't charge a whole lot just for antibiotics.
>> Anonymous
Tzeentch and Khorne?

No, you must name them after Skaven special characters!

The one that always escapes and gets loose is Deathmaster Sniktch...etc, etc.
>> Anonymous
>>217076
Nurgle.
>> Anonymous
>>217168

What the hell?

I just came from /tg/ and this is what I see. Shit, that rhymed.
>> Anonymous
>>217061

No, don't call them that, it'd be too easy.

Seriously call them Korn and Dizz(y)ing.
>> stabby
>>217075
chins are expensive rats with 0 personality.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
lol, rats
>> Anonymous
no don't re-use the cage. chinchillas require good-size cages. i started out mine in a ferret cage, but it proved to be too small, so a bigger one was built the size of a regular fridge. as far as personality, people differ on them. i find them to be charming and smart as long as an hour a day is spent with them. just be prepared for a pet that lives on average 17 years (though the real range is 17-25 years).
as far as rats go, a big group would be fine. working at pet shops before, they do well in groups of any size as long as they have adequate space. they're social animals, so i don't see any issues of fighting. good luck whatever you decide, op.
>> Anonymous
I had some mice once and they shit so much the cage stinked a day after changing the bedding. Have fun with the smell.
>> Anonymous
An odd number is actually the best to buy. That way, when one passes on, the remaining two are not left alone and depressed. Rats get VERY depressed when they lose their friends, and sometimes it will lead to them starving themselves to death. So yes, 3 is an awesome idea. That's what I always had when I had ratties :).