VP - 2005-12-24 Hi, I have a dumbo rat. I got him just last night and i'm totally addicted to him! When we brought him home i gave him a piece of Ghirardelli chocolate and now he is so addicted to it. They are really cuddly and each one has a different attitude. I definitely prefer them over hamsters. They are clean, loving, don't bite like other rodents, can actually bond to you, and can be taught as much as dogs! When people say rats are dogs in a smaller package, BELIEVE THEM!! i recommend them to anyone with the time that is allergic or cant manage to take care of a dog or cat.
Samantha - 2005-12-18 I love rats and have always had a pair on my shoulder for the past 4 years. I just recently had a litter out of my beautiful American Blue Berkshire Standard and my handsome Agouti Berkshire Dumbo. This site has great information, but I would like to suggest changing a bit of information. The father should always be removed when the babies are born until they are weaned. There are two very serious reasons to this, male rats may randomly kill the newborns which happens more than often. Most importantly is that female rats go back into heat an average of 36 hours after birth, being bred so soon is endangerment for her current litter, her upcoming litter, and most of all your beloved girl.
Temuera - 2005-11-27 It was a very good piece of infomation except that you haven't put; if your rat does this then you should do this that and this! for example ( this is true because it is about my rat) the only thing my rat chews that hard and that can wear down his teeth is his rat nuggets that i have mixed in with his food. i am worried this will cause eating diffaculties and i will have to take him to the vets! i just hope he gets into the habbit of chewing things that he is aloud to and that are hard. he is young though so that might be the cause! Temuera (Temmy for short)xx
Temuera - 2005-11-27 My rat ringo is so cute and he is very loyal. I feed Ringo on Rats nuggets, a mix of gerbil mix that can be fed to rats and a few banana chips. Ringo loves banana chips! you can persuade Ringo to do anything if you have a banana chip!! he is a big softy and you can take him out any time you want! ( out of his cage) i know that in some infomation books about rats it says you shouldn't but i still do. i mean i take him out of his cage while he is sleeping. i wake him up by gently stroking him on his head between his eyes... his favourite spot ;)!!!! I got my first rat when i was five and my little bro was 3 and my big bro was 7. my big bro had a rat and a guinea pig and we used to sit in our kitchen and i would be sitting with my rat and he would be sitting with his guinea pig. never his rat. mine was called Jake. His was called Gregory. you see, when we bought mine, my big bro wanted one so he got one. he felt sorry for gregory because he had no hair. he had a terrible illness. then when he got older, he got better but even worser in a way. :( the illness had afected his behaviour and he got very, very, very visious. even when you put your hand in his cage he would attak your hand. your rat should never be like this and you will probably never see a rat this visious in your entire life! thats how rare it is in rats to find a visious one!!! Jake on the other hand was totally the opposite. but sadly, she passed away of Brain Cancer. i was crying for weeks!! :( we eventually gave up on greg and we had to get him put down :( thats my story and its true!! :( unfortunately :(
jesse - 2005-10-25 My pet rat, Pepito, I had since he was a little pink ball of skin (Baby),lol. he got bigger and bigger and now he is about the size of a guinea pig! He is really tame. I could even let him on my computer desk for the WHOLE DAY and he won't run away. hes practically as loyal as a dog, and he is smart. if you want the ultimate rodent, get a rat
Cody Douglas - 2005-10-09 My pet rat (Sofie) is absolutely adorible. This web site has helped me be more prepared to handle and care for Sofie. You might ask your self if a rat is a good pet for you or a loved one, well it is. He/she will cuddle you when sad or derived. Also will let you just have fun. Sofie to me is valient, because I have three cats and one dog in the house and now she is one of the gang. If you have a pet rat good but if you don't, get one and see how fun and easy it is.
sally - 2005-10-05 Rats are wonderful pets, but you should ALWAYS keep more than one as they are very sociable animals and love each others company!!!
They are very intelligent and interactive, they should not be kept on wood shavings, as it releases harmful phenols which can cause respiratory diseases and even cancer.
Most shop bought rat food is not very healthy, as often it has too much seed in it, which is too high in fat and protein for them, you can look on rat sites on the internet for homemade mixes, which are a lot healthier!
Anonymous - 2005-10-03 my son got 2 1 yr old pet rats for his 13th birthday a couple of days ago and he is absolutely in love with the little guys. my son says he loves them more then our cat because they are more loving and the rats loved to be held. (dont worry about the cat....the rats scare the cat so our kitty stays far away.)
Active and smart little animals, rats can make great pets especially for children!
Hi, I have a dumbo rat. I got him just last night and i'm totally addicted to him! When we brought him home i gave him a piece of Ghirardelli chocolate and now he is so addicted to it. They are really cuddly and each one has a different attitude. I definitely prefer them over hamsters. They are clean, loving, don't bite like other rodents, can actually bond to you, and can be taught as much as dogs! When people say rats are dogs in a smaller package, BELIEVE THEM!! i recommend them to anyone with the time that is allergic or cant manage to take care of a dog or cat.
I love rats and have always had a pair on my shoulder for the past 4 years. I just recently had a litter out of my beautiful American Blue Berkshire Standard and my handsome Agouti Berkshire Dumbo. This site has great information, but I would like to suggest changing a bit of information. The father should always be removed when the babies are born until they are weaned. There are two very serious reasons to this, male rats may randomly kill the newborns which happens more than often. Most importantly is that female rats go back into heat an average of 36 hours after birth, being bred so soon is endangerment for her current litter, her upcoming litter, and most of all your beloved girl.
It was a very good piece of infomation except that you haven't put; if your rat does this then you should do this that and this! for example ( this is true because it is about my rat) the only thing my rat chews that hard and that can wear down his teeth is his rat nuggets that i have mixed in with his food. i am worried this will cause eating diffaculties and i will have to take him to the vets!
i just hope he gets into the habbit of chewing things that he is aloud to and that are hard. he is young though so that might be the cause! Temuera (Temmy for short)xx
My rat ringo is so cute and he is very loyal.
I feed Ringo on Rats nuggets, a mix of gerbil mix that can be fed to rats and a few banana chips. Ringo loves banana chips! you can persuade Ringo to do anything if you have a banana chip!! he is a big softy and you can take him out any time you want! ( out of his cage) i know that in some infomation books about rats it says you shouldn't but i still do. i mean i take him out of his cage while he is sleeping. i wake him up by gently stroking him on his head between his eyes... his favourite spot ;)!!!! I got my first rat when i was five and my little bro was 3 and my big bro was 7. my big bro had a rat and a guinea pig and we used to sit in our kitchen and i would be sitting with my rat and he would be sitting with his guinea pig. never his rat. mine was called Jake. His was called Gregory. you see, when we bought mine, my big bro wanted one so he got one. he felt sorry for gregory because he had no hair. he had a terrible illness. then when he got older, he got better but even worser in a way. :( the illness had afected his behaviour and he got very, very, very visious. even when you put your hand in his cage he would attak your hand. your rat should never be like this and you will probably never see a rat this visious in your entire life! thats how rare it is in rats to find a visious one!!! Jake on the other hand was totally the opposite. but sadly, she passed away of Brain Cancer. i was crying for weeks!! :( we eventually gave up on greg and we had to get him put down :( thats my story and its true!! :( unfortunately :(
Rats are great. they are not dirty at all and they are so cool because they are cheap but can learn tricks like a dog.
My pet rat, Pepito, I had since he was a little pink ball of skin (Baby),lol. he got bigger and bigger and now he is about the size of a guinea pig! He is really tame. I could even let him on my computer desk for the WHOLE DAY and he won't run away. hes practically as loyal as a dog, and he is smart. if you want the ultimate rodent, get a rat
rats really like yogurt, and sit on your shoulder well. Very curious, i got two females.
My pet rat (Sofie) is absolutely adorible. This web site has helped me be more prepared to handle and care for Sofie. You might ask your self if a rat is a good pet for you or a loved one, well it is. He/she will cuddle you when sad or derived. Also will let you just have fun. Sofie to me is valient, because I have three cats and one dog in the house and now she is one of the gang. If you have a pet rat good but if you don't, get one and see how fun and easy it is.
Sincerily, Cody and Sofie
Rats are wonderful pets, but you should ALWAYS keep more than one as they are very sociable animals and love each others company!!!
They are very intelligent and interactive, they should not be kept on wood shavings, as it releases harmful phenols which can cause respiratory diseases and even cancer.
Most shop bought rat food is not very healthy, as often it has too much seed in it, which is too high in fat and protein for them, you can look on rat sites on the internet for homemade mixes, which are a lot healthier!
Rats are wonderful pets!!
my son got 2 1 yr old pet rats for his 13th birthday a couple of days ago and he is absolutely in love with the little guys. my son says he loves them more then our cat because they are more loving and the rats loved to be held. (dont worry about the cat....the rats scare the cat so our kitty stays far away.)