File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
Is it a good idea to get a rat from petsmart?

Do they take good care of their animals, handle the rats from an early age, and all that, so that they're sociable?
>> Anonymous
No. Seriously think about looking for a breeder. Big pet stores usually have employees that don't know shit all about animals.
>> Anonymous
>>316149
And how would I go about looking for a breeder?

On average, how much would I have to pay to get a rat from a breeder, as opposed to a shop?
>> Anonymous
So does the Smart being separated by the blue letters mean it's Pet Smart or does the bouncing ball signifying an apostrophe between the T and S mean it's Pet's Mart?
>> Anonymous
>>316152
the world may never know
>> Anonymous
>>316150
just get one from a store. easier.
>> Anonymous
>>316155
If you want a socialized rat, DON'T DO THIS.
>> Anonymous
>>316156

This. I got my first rat from a small local shop- she was a feeder rat, actually. Sweetest thing from the start. I tried getting my last two from PetSmart and they were still trying to tear into my hands after two weeks of careful handling.
>> Anonymous
Big chain stores like Petsmart don't know the first thing about socialising any of their animals. You buy one from them and you're going to most likely have to spend a lot of time doing that yourself, if you don't mind that go for it. Watch out for sick ones also.
>> tigerfeather !CrwtTbFNxQ
It's like any other large business:

Depends on how your district is handled. Just go into all your local stores, see how the rats look. If it's healthy, then get it, if not, then don't.
>> tigerfeather !CrwtTbFNxQ
>>316158
Oh, also, one rat will bond to you easily, and two will bond to each other. Be sure that you're getting them used to you well enough, eh?
>> Anonymous
>>316158
>>316159
But I don't know WHERE to go other than petsmart or some shitty local pet shop.

How would I go about finding a breeder or whatever?
>> Anonymous
>>316164
actually my first rat took to me alot more after i got her cage mate.
>> Anonymous
>>316171
i hear the internet is an amazing thing these days...
>> Anonymous
>>316187
The most that I've come up with by doing a google search of rat breeders in my area is a site with a few ratteries about 5 hours away from me.
>> Stabby
>>316171
Christ, just fucking google "rat breeder [state name]".

It can be hard to find a rat breeder, but it is worth the effort. When I was younger I bought my first rat from a Petco and she was an unsocialized shit from day one. Despite my best efforts with her, she was always a biter. The thing is, rats REALLY need to be handled several times a day, starting even before they're weaned. Most pet stores -chain or otherwise- don't realize this, or simply don't care because the rats are "just feeders" or whatever.

Anyway, if you want the loving, friendly rats that Anon loves so much, put forth the effort into finding a good breeder. A bitey rat is not a pleasant pet and you will not want to take care of it.
>> Stabby
>>316198
5 hours is totally worth is for a rat that you can actually handle and enjoy.
>> Anonymous
>>316200
Perhaps, but we can't drive out 5 hours, then 5 hours back - 10 hours total - just for a rat. Specially with gas the way it is.

If I can't find any, I'll just have to get one from a local pet shop or something. Hopefully I'll be able to work with it.
>> Anonymous
>>316204
Good luck with that, seriously. I had one for 2 yrs that never stopped biting from a pet store. Got a rat from a breeder for my second and third and will never buy from a pet store again.
>> Stabby
>>316204
So what? Go to a diner and make a day of it. I promise the difference in temperment will make the drive worth it.
>> Anonymous
I got my two girls from Petsmart and they are wonderful. All of their rats were healthy blue dumbos and the cages for all the animals were very clean, with toys to play with and Carefresh Ultra as bedding.

Petco, on the other hand, has sold me 2 different rats that died almost immediately after buying them. I should have known better because the people that work at the Petco here are retards, but I'm a sucker for a cute rat.

I've gotten rats from many different places over the years... breeders, adoption, small pet stores, large chain pet stores, rescued feeder rats... all long as they're healthy, they're all the same.
>> Anonymous
call local animal shelters, they often have rats.
>> Anonymous
By the way... I don't know what you people are doing, but rats typically aren't biters. I've owned 15 rats over the years and only one ever bit anyone. And like I said, I got them from a variety of sources and they were all sweethearts from day one. Some were babies when I got them, some were adults. Maybe I just got lucky, but I don't think your rat is going to be a monster just because the petstore people didn't cuddle it every day. Shy maybe, but not mean.
>> Anonymous
It really depends... I actually got my second hamster from a Petsmart for free, because he was an older, kinda funny looking guy no one wanted. However, this turned out to be awesome because it turned out that he was the employee break room hamster, and was getting constant handling and affection, and was one of the sweetest hamsters I've ever had.
>> Anonymous
My rats came from Petsmart, and both are happy, healthy, and incredibly friendly. However, I attribute this to a rat person being put in charge of the small animals there. They were kept 2 to an enclosure, and I got two who had been kept together and were already on good terms. I also asked to hold them first - they were nervous but really no more so than they are now when an unfamiliar person holds them.

Basically, it comes down to how well they're kept.

If I could do it again, I probably would have adopted from a shelter. Rat breeders are rare in certain areas (closest one to me is in Austin, I'm in San Antonio, 100 miles away, and their rats' lifespans are generally no longer than the average 1.5-2 years, with some exceptions.) Rats socialize pretty damn well and generally have good personalities regardless of where they come from (as evidenced by the many people who've gotten feeders and turned them into loving pets), so health is the top concern for me, and frankly if a breeder's rat isn't going to be healthier than a shelter rescue, that's the way I'll go. Research the breeder you go with, and look at their obituary page to see the lifespans of their rats to see if they'll actually be longer-lived than the average.

The reason I wouldn't buy more from Petsmart is simply because I regret supporting the rat mills - same reason I'd adopt a shelter dog over buying one from a pet store.
>> Anonymous
I got mine from petsmart and she is very nice. She hasn't bitten me at all. You might want to try petfinder.com. They have small animals there too.
>> Anonymous
>>316162
>>316162
>>316162
>>316162
>>316162
>>316162

This, this, THIS, THIS THIS THIS YOU IDIOTS.

EVERY store will vary greatly depending on the quality of the managers, how strict the district is on keeping store quality standards high, the employees currently on hand.. NOT TO MENTION rats all have different personalities.
OF COURSE..
This applies to mom and pop stores and independent breeders as well! Some will be AWESOME. Some will suck HUGE DICK.

Do not GENERALIZE!

Educate yourself and explore the options you have to find what particular method of obtaining a rat will yield YOU the best pet, whether it be from a big chain, a local store, a breeder, or a rescue. You cannot get that kind of advice from this board.
>> Anonymous
>>316164
This is partially a myth. Yes, two rats will bond to each other. Rats are very social animals, though, and bonding to each other does not lessen how well they bond with their people. In the wild, rats bond with more than one other rat - they live in large communities. Domestic rats are a bit like domestic dogs in that an inclination to bond with humans has been bred into them. In fact, keeping multiple rats sometimes improves the bond with people as lone rats can become neurotic and maladjusted without hours of interaction every day, and pet owners often don't have that kind of time to devote.
>> Anonymous
>>316353
Yes, but the only way to know for sure if it's a socialized rat would be to actually take it home and keep it for a week to find out, right?
>> Anonymous
>>316461
Why not do that? Any pet store or breeder worth their salt is going to have some kind of guarantee (ex: Petco and Petsmart's 14 or 15 day guarantee). I'd avoid an all-sales-final deal.

But an outgoing rat should be easy to spot. If you, or the employee helping you, or the breeder - whatever - puts a hand in their cage, the confident and curious rats shouldn't have any problem coming out and checking you out.

Again, observation is key. How they interact with the other rats and how they interact with humans are things that you are going to have to observe.
>> Anonymous
>>316464
I've never really owned anything but some cats, most of which I got free. I figured there wasn't any kind of return policy on a pet....if that's the case, then I'll just do that.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
Nevermind, I actually found a guy in my city that has some babies for free on craigslist

Aren't they adorable :3
>> Anonymous
>>316542
See, there you go. I prefer getting babies because you can get them used to you from a young age. My preferred method is to carry them around in my shirt for a while every day.

You should get two boys.
>> Anonymous
>>31616
>one rat will bond to you easily, and two will bond to each other. Be sure that you're getting them used to you well enough, eh?

BULLSHIT

>One fear expressed by potential rat-owners is that if they get more than one rat, the animals will bond together and be less tame as a result. The opposite is usually the case, as solitary rats can easily become clingy, introverted and neurotic. Rats kept in pairs or groups are happier, more confident, and no more difficult to tame. If you want proof of this, go to a rat show or visit someone who keeps a group of rats as pets. You will be able to meet plenty of extrovert, confident rats and their ratty friends. We are not aware of any sound argument for keeping rats alone.

from http://petrat.info/
>> Anonymous
I work at a Banfield Pet Hospital in PetsMart, and I have to say...for the rat's own sake, please SAVE them from petsmart. Those idiots bring back at LEAST 10 dead critters every week, and we usually have to treat several rats/hamsters/g.pigs every two weeks.

Fucking idiots is what they are.
>> Anonymous
>>316542
That's how I got my boys actually, craigslist. The owner had an accidental litter and handled the babies gently every day. My two rats are such sweethearts, I can grab them with one hand and they go limp, trusting me completely (I don't do this often though, I'm respectful). Stanley is so friendly he'll JUMP onto me when I'm kneeling down or standing next to their home (they free range) :3
>> Anonymous
>>316545
I was REALLY wanting to get babies in the first place for that reason. Still waiting for him to get back to me on if any of them are still available, the post is only 3 days old so I hope so.

And about getting 2 boys...I know not to get a boy and girl since they get pregnant every single fucking month, but I heard that the females are more active and playful. Why not get 2 girls?
>> Anonymous
>>316614
It's a matter of preference really. Females are more active and playful up until they die pretty much, while males are active and playful while young and get cuddly and lazy (and fat and squishy) at about a year old.

Intact males have an awesome scent (kind of like corn chips) that is not the least bit unpleasant. Intact males are also much less likely to develop nasty tumors than intact females, which very commonly suffer from mammary tumors once they start getting past a year to a year and a half. These can be expensive to treat, as it requires surgery, so if you plan on getting females I'd recommend going with the expense of spaying them for their own health. It'll probably save you money in the long run - rats are far too endearing and you'll end up dropping any price to keep them alive. Better to nip the problem in the bud, so to speak. Neutering males also has health benefits but they're nowhere near as pronounced.

Also, if you spay the female you can get a male and a female with no problems and have the best of both worlds. Male-female pairs get along famously with no problems if one or both are neutered.
>> Anonymous
>>316614
I have two girls right now and they're very sweet, but they just want to play all the time, while I kind of miss all the cuddle time I had with my boys. It is just a matter of preference.