is it better to get 1 or 2 is there a difference in male or famale? do they make good pets? about how much a year do they cost? how much should i have saved for medical emergencies? what to feed them, how much attention do they need?housing? anything else should know?I am considering getting a pet rat/rats?
Yay someone who researches before they buy!!! I love you lol!!! Ok here are answers to your questions:
is it better to get 1 or 2 is there a difference in male or famale?
Definently two! Rats are social creatures and no human can ever replace a rat buddy:
http://www.ratfanclub.org/single.html
Males tend to be more laid back and lazy, but mark their territory more. Females are usually more playful and hyper, but probably won't cuddle. It can go either way though. I've had females who would rather cuddle than play.
do they make good pets?
In my opinion they are one of the best pets you can get. Interactive, social, loving, loyal, etc. They're like mini dogs :)!
about how much a year do they cost?
It depends how many you have, what kind of food/bedding/toys you get and how much you spoil them :D! Let's say you have two and you spoil them, but not a over the top. Here's a break down of the prices (not including what it costs to start up)
Food: If you got Mazuri lab block it would cost about $6 a month (2lbs a month), so $72 a year. Some rats eat more than others though.
Vegtables and fruits: Hopefully you eat fruits and veggies, so this should cost very much. They need this daily.
Litter: Well I'm cheap and this makes cleaning up a lot easier, so I use newpaper, so that's almost free. Good beddings to use though would be Carefresh, Aspen, etc. but not Pine or Cedar!! Carefresh yearly costs would be about $75
Misc.: This is toys and other extras you get them could cost up to $200, but average would probably be like $60.
So without vet bills it would cost about $200-$250 a year.
how much should i have saved for medical emergencies?
Rat bills can add up a lot, so I would save up at least $500 especially if they're older or from a pet store. Make sure the vet you find has seen rats before. Here's a good website with listings:
http://www.ratpalace.com/rat-vets/usa-ra鈥?/a>
what to feed them, how much attention do they need?housing?
Harlan Teklad, Mazuri, Oxbow Regal Rats, or Subee's Mix, and vegtables and fruits daily.
They should have at least one hour out of the cage a day.
In my opinion the best cages you can get for rats would be the Critter Nation or Martin's Cages:
http://martinscages.com/
http://kristinewickstrom.homestead.com/f鈥?/a>
Here is a website to help you out:
http://www.goosemoose.com/
Also have you considered adopting instead of getting an extremely unhealthy one from the pet store?
www.petfinder.com
There are also breeders, but you have to be careful about what breeder you buy from because most are bad. Here's a good link on decideding if a breeder is good or bad:
http://blackwolfrattery.com/gpage3.htmlI am considering getting a pet rat/rats?
Rats are really great pets, they are intelligent,cute, and fun to play with. You should get 2 because they are super social and love company! I can't say exactly how much a year the cost but be ready for big responsibility (you could also check out prices online of all things you will need like food, water holders, food bowl, bedding etc...and keep in mind that these items will be bought regularly) For medical emergencies you will probably want at least between 75-100 but it really depends on the emergency, some may only cost 30 dollars, while others 100. Feed them a diet made for rats, often called pellet diet. They can have fresh veggies and treats but not a lot, it can only reach a maximum of 10% of their diet You should take them out of their cage for at least 45 minutes each day, let them play and interact with you.. The housing needs to be big. The bigger the house, happier the rat, especially if you have 2! It doesn't need to be massive but something that maybe says '; For rats'; on the box. Here is an example of a good cage:
http://www.cagestore.com/prod_images_blo鈥?/a>
You check this website out: http://www.petfinder.com it's a really great way to save a homeless pet. Just type in the breed of animal and your location and they will find you a shelter with a rat! Good luck!
Rats are make amazing pets. They are very Intelligent, sweet, and lovable. You should never, ever, get just one rat or it will become aggressive and depressed. They are a lot of fun, mine love to give kisses! Male rats are a lot easier to train, are more laid back, but still a lot of fun. However, they have more of a musty scent and leave a trail of pee sometimes. The girls are a lot more active and hyper when they get older the often get tumors though. Rats are great no matter which sex you get. It's all about personal preference. The cages can get pretty expensive. Mine is five feet tall, 30inches wide almost 2 feet wide, it was $200 but it's worth it. You can buy rat cages for a lot cheaper but it's hard to find a decent size for cheap. I spend about 8 dollars on food which last about a month or 2. I also spend a few dollars a month on treats. They can eat tables scraps but you just have to be careful what it is. Mine love bread and bananas. The vet bills can get to be VERY expensive but with the right care they shouldn't need it. I have a large cage so I spend more money on bedding then most probably would, plus I get a more expensive brand for quality. It's about $12 for a large bag. It's called coco, designed for reptiles but it absorbs and evaporates pee, it also has a natural smell to it. Both pet experts I have talked to at the store (separate visits) recommended it. corncob bedding and fibers are also good. For housing I actually just use a shoe box and they love it. I give them some old towells and old clothing that have holes, they make nests out of them. Normally I'll take out my rats for about five minutes a day, at the least. Sometimes I'll just feed them treats through the cage. They like challenges so you could sometimes hide their food. Just make sure when they're out of the cage to watch out for anything that can harm them, like electical cords. When and if you buy a new rat after having your for a while, make sure to keep them separate for a while to make sure if its sick it wont pass it on, and introduce them gradually, and in neutral grounds so your older rats don't get protective of their territory. Good Luck. Rats really do make great pets as soon as you get them situated.
Rats... ah, I love them so much! They actually make really great pets. They're naturally very, very clean, and we've found that the one male we had was the most laid-back of all four rats we had. We've never had more than one at a time, but I think they were all a little lonely, even though we played with them every day. Medical emergencies really didn't happen, but remember, we only had one rat at a time. PT got an absessed tooth and had to be put down, Sammy (my favorite) died of accidental cedar poisoning, and Dharma and Leona died of cancer. There's not much you can do for them when they have cancer, it's probably kinder to have them put down. Their life-span isn't more than a few years anyway, but it's never easy to lose them. My mom bought their supplies, so I don't know much about cost, but it's not bad, they're super easy to care for, just make sure they get lots of love and attention.
And... yay! Yay for pet rats!!
i like having just one, 'cause they grow more attached to you faster. If your not home alot, then get two.
I love females :D. so adorable and loving.
if you want to get one, plan on a couple years (3-4) and per year. It depends on how much you spoil them. of course they should have fresh bedding and such, but Mis[t]y gets people food. fruits, vegetables, nuts, cheese, anything as long as its not meat. Mine gets leftover pop-tart crust, and she loves it!
For medical emergencies, well..... not many vets will do anything with a rat when the rat is in trouble because they rarely work with them. The anesthesia amount is uncertain and they don't really know what to look for if they were to open them up. My recomendation is to keep them healthy and happy and watch for the fur to change apperance. If it starts to get unclean because she/he has stopped grooming, there might be something wrong, or its getting old, which is normal. And if your rat starts chocking and won't throw an item up, give it sugar-water. It does the trick.
A rat is a social creature, so it needs as much attention from you as you need from your friends. Just cuddle and play and it keeps them happy.
Housing...well...i just have a fish tank with some bedding in it, a tissue box, and some ripped up newspaper that she can built a nest with.
Just know that rats don't live long. The most i've had a rat for was 5 years, and she was OLD!! Just give them love and attention. Thats all they really need (aside from food/water XD)
sorry for the paragraph(s) oops!
Rats are awesome! They are very smart and can learn their own name. Females are more active than males.
Well if your going to handle them a lot I would say one. but if you your not going handle every day I say two. now there life span is about 3-5 years. they are very clean.
Males sometimes fight, only occasionly but still. Rats do like to be kept in pairs though, so get two girls and good luck!!
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