Possibly getting a Rat.

[Kfamr]

My biology teacher has a male albino rat named Archimedes. It used to be the classroom pet, but a student took him home. The student is no longer living at home and can't keep him.

My teacher said he's a VERY well-fed rat, very smart, and very loving.

I have a few questions though, before I ask my parents their permission, and i'd like if maybe Cass, YLL, or other responsible knowledgable Rattie owners could help... :)


- Would it be necessary to get another rat to house with him, even if he's been housed alone?

- How much are vet appointments and such, and do they get any kind of expensive shots? Is a vet necessary? (Need to know because i'm not sure if the pup's vets do small animals too)

- Would it be okay to switch foods if i'm not happy with what they're feeding him?
( I'd like to feed them/him?: http://www.ratsrule.com/diet.html )
- What things do you think are necessary to keep in and out of their envornment?

- Is it okay if rats are around dogs? (of course with supervision)

- How much does bedding/toys/food/everything cost you? (those with lots of rats, what do you think it would cost for 1 or 2?)

- How long do rats generally live for?

- ANYTHING else you think I should know.


I just asked my dad as I was typing this, and he said he'd talk to my mother about it. The only thing i'm really worried aobut is how long he'd live. I'm not so sure how old he is, but if he's only going to live a little after I get him, I don't really think I want to go through that heartache.

My dad asked me basically the same questions i'm asking you all.

[guster girl]

I have had my rat alone for over a year now. I had her with another girl at first, but, Gwynnie passed away. Luli does fine on her own. As for vets, I've never had anything major happen with a rat, so, I don't know what the costs would be. I know when Gwynnie had her respiratory problem, she was put on meds and both rats had shots. I don't think it was more than $75 for everything, but, it was awhile ago. I don't recall ever hearing they need yearly shots or anything though. Bedding isn't expensive, and, if you have a cage with levels, you really only need to put the litter stuff at the bottom. And, they literally will nest in anything. :) As long as it's clean, I throw socks, shirts, towels, blankets, whatever in Luli's cage to nest in. Accessories can get pricey, just because they chew. I've never been able to keep hammocks or anything like made of canvas or nylon, because Luli devours it. I'm not sure on the food, I'm actually interested in the answers you may get. Someone recommended a rat site to me, and, I'll post it for you. Just for more opinions! :) I love the name of the rat, and, I really hope you get to keep him. Oh, and, I think they live a couple to 4 years, but, I could be wrong. And, my rat is around a dog and a cat, and, is fine with both.

That site for rats is www.goosemoose.com/rfc

[Kfamr]

Thanks a bunch guster girl, for the info and for the site. :D



I looked and found a vet that's only 8 minutes away, and they treats rats. :)

I found this site to be very helpful so far with my questions, ut I'd still love the opinions and advice from the good PT owners. :)
http://www.petratscanada.com/ratcare.htm

[guster girl]

Originally posted by Kfamr
I searched and found a vet that's only 8 minutes away, and they treats rats. :)

That's awesome! The vet I've been taking all of my pets to is simply fantastic. There is a lady that works there that is basically her assistant and she specializes in rats. She has over forty and rescues and rehomes rats constantly. She rehomed a couple of dumbo rats for me when I took them from a girl that didn't have time for them. They were so cute. :) I wanted to keep them myself, but, didn't have room as I was in between homes at the time.

[Kfamr]

I'm getting so excited :o

And I don't even know if he'll be mine yet. It's fun anyways learning more about them, so in the future I won't have to ask as many questions. :p :D

[guster girl]

Hey, and since you're excited and really seem to want to do the right thing, you should get a pair of rats if you're unable to get Archimedes. :) I know I'll never get just one rat, but, since Archimedes has been alone, he's probably ok with it. Like my Luli girl is! I'm excited for you!

[CathyBogart]

- Would it be necessary to get another rat to house with him, even if he's been housed alone?

If he's used to being by himself he may very well object to a cagemate. I know my boy Dexter did by the time I did the research to know he should have had a friend. >.< He seemed happy on his own though, and he lived almost to four!


- How much are vet appointments and such, and do they get any kind of expensive shots? Is a vet necessary? (Need to know because i'm not sure if the pup's vets do small animals too)

Normally rats don't need shots or anything like that. For my girls the checkup usually runs about $40, plus any extras. (and I go to an expensive clinic in an expensive area) The most common problem is respiratory infections, which aren't horribly difficult to treat. If there aren't any problems, a vet isn't really necessary. (In my experience, boys have less health problems than girls, esp. later in life!)


- Would it be okay to switch foods if i'm not happy with what they're feeding him?
( I'd like to feed them/him?: http://www.ratsrule.com/diet.html )

Suebee's!!! WONDERFUL rat diet! Definitely a good thing! Just transition him over a week or so if possible.



- What things do you think are necessary to keep in and out of their envornment?

No pine or cedar, and I'm always careful about what they manage to pull into their cage. (When they manage to get plastic bags it makes me really nervous.) Really, I give them just about anything to play with as long as I'm not worried that it might be toxic. My favorite toys to buy for them are parrot toys.


- Is it okay if rats are around dogs? (of course with supervision)

Yep! Wilbur is a royal Pain-in-the-you know what about the rats, but they're not really intimidated or stressed by him. Rats are pretty versatile, they can handle just about anything.


- How much does bedding/toys/food/everything cost you? (those with lots of rats, what do you think it would cost for 1 or 2?)

For my two, I'd say I spend about $30 a month on everything. Sometimes more because Chloe has chronic health problems, but if this boy has been living happily I wouldn't worry about it.


- How long do rats generally live for?

2-3 years.


- ANYTHING else you think I should know

They are NONSTOP FUN!! ^_^

[BitsyNaceyDog]

Would it be necessary to get another rat to house with him, even if he's been housed alone?
I wouldn't add a second rat. I agree with WolfChan, He would most likely reject it.

- How much are vet appointments and such, and do they get any kind of expensive shots? Is a vet necessary? (Need to know because i'm not sure if the pup's vets do small animals too)
To my knoledge they don't need any vaccinations. However it is inportant to have a good rat vet in case of an emergency.

- Would it be okay to switch foods if i'm not happy with what they're feeding him?
Absolutely. Also offer fresh fruit and vegetables (uncooked). Pasta (cooked or uncooked) is also a faverate as a treat.

- What things do you think are necessary to keep in and out of their envornment?

I like WolfChans response to that.

- Is it okay if rats are around dogs? (of course with supervision) I never have, but I would say yes. Your dogs are so well behaved they would fine around a rat. As for the rat I doubt he would mind, they are go getters and usually fear very little.

- How much does bedding/toys/food/everything cost you? (those with lots of rats, what do you think it would cost for 1 or 2?)
I really have no idea. Not too much.

- How long do rats generally live for?
3-4 years

- ANYTHING else you think I should know.
Know that rats are very prone to obesity, so be careful. An excersize wheel is a good idea, however I don't recomend a wire one, they could hurt their feet. The solid plastic ones are much more safe. I also like to use a chinchilla bath house for a bed for the rats, they like it, it stays warm inside (put bedding in it). As for bedding i suggest using Carefresh, it's really safe and softer then wood shavings or pelleted bedding.

I hope you get him. You will have so much fun with him. :)

[luckies4me]

- Would it be necessary to get another rat to house with him, even if he's been housed alone?

It depends on his age. If he is still fairly young, under 6 months it may be possible to introduce another younger ratty to him, but it would have to be a young male. If he is older than 6 months I would suggest not adding another rat simply because around that age males become very territorial and that's when they start to show their agression towards other rats and their dominant male side wants to show itself. This usually dies down at about a year of age.

- How much are vet appointments and such, and do they get any kind of expensive shots? Is a vet necessary? (Need to know because i'm not sure if the pup's vets do small animals too)

My vet exams which I try to do yearly on my older ratties run me at least $29 dollars. This is just a basic checkup checking for mites, lice, internal parasites, teeth, eyes, coat, body weight and lungs. If a rat gets sick it can get pretty spendy. If a rat has a respiratory problems and needs to be put on Baytri, Baytril is pretty spendy. Rats do not get vaccinations, which is very sad. We really need a Myco, SDA, Sendai and CARB vaccine and if we did our ratties would live much longer lives!


- Would it be okay to switch foods if i'm not happy with what they're feeding him?
( I'd like to feed them/him?: http://www.ratsrule.com/diet.html )

Yes, that is a great diet. Also include veggies and fruits and well as some treats. If you want to read my feeding article you can go here:

http://www15.brinkster.com/luckies4me/feeding.html


- What things do you think are necessary to keep in and out of their envornment?

Do not use pine or cedar bedding as it contains toxic phenols which can irritate the respiratory tract. I also do not recommend Carefresh as it has a tendency to harbor mites and it can be extremely dusty causing respiratory problems. I prefer Carefresh Ultra as it goes through a better process which removes more dust. Also DO NOT use Kaytee Soft Sorbent either. I prefer either Aspen shavings, Yesterday's News, or hemp. Wood stove shavings with no added chemicles also make a great litter. It's hardwood so it's very safe.

As far as toys I usually like the wooded parrot toys, igloos, ferret hidey tubes, hammocks, and parrot ropes. Try to get him a fairly nice sized cage. If you go to my site and go to the About Us page you can see pics of some of my cages. I also offer them old towels, of fleece to snuggle in. You can also offer them cardboard cereal boxes or newspaper to chew. The newspaper has to be printed with vegetable ink though.

- Is it okay if rats are around dogs? (of course with supervision)I had my rats around Morgan with no problems at all, and even the pup did well with him for the time he was here. My cats and rats play constantly and I've never had a problem. If for some reason an animal gets too rough with a rat, the rat will most difinitely let them know!

- How much does bedding/toys/food/everything cost you? (those with lots of rats, what do you think it would cost for 1 or 2?)Bedding can get spendy. A months worth of bedding can cost up to 20 dollars, then there's food etc. Toys and caging is usually a one time deal. Parrot toys do need to be replaced though, as well as hammocks. They are not cheap. I would say at least 50 dollars a month for everything.

- How long do rats generally live for?It depends on how well you take care of them, if they have Myco, catch a virus etc. Most rats though tend to live between 2 and 3 years, some even longer. :)

- ANYTHING else you think I should know.

Rats need a lot of interaction and stimulation. They are very social, loving creature and thrive on attention. Plan on spending at least 2 hours a day with your ratty. This can be time spent with him riding on your shoulder while you do things on the computer or chores around the house to cuddling on the bed with you and the dogs. :) Try not to mistake obese for squishy. All males rats have a certain amount of squishiness to them. If he starts to get rolls, then worry. :p Most males do not use wheels but you can try one. The only males I know that use wheels are those who are still babies. I would start an emergency vet fund just in case something should happen. You can never be too careful.

[Logan]

I hope this works out for you, KayAnn! I know you would be a perfect Rattie Mother!!! :D

[Desert Arabian]

Originally posted by Kfamr
- Would it be necessary to get another rat to house with him, even if he's been housed alone?

- How much are vet appointments and such, and do they get any kind of expensive shots? Is a vet necessary? (Need to know because i'm not sure if the pup's vets do small animals too)

- Would it be okay to switch foods if i'm not happy with what they're feeding him?
( I'd like to feed them/him?: http://www.ratsrule.com/diet.html )
- What things do you think are necessary to keep in and out of their envornment?

- Is it okay if rats are around dogs? (of course with supervision)

- How much does bedding/toys/food/everything cost you? (those with lots of rats, what do you think it would cost for 1 or 2?)

- How long do rats generally live for?

- ANYTHING else you think I should know.


No, do not get him a partner since he has lived alone for such a long time. The rats would most likely fight a lot and they wouldn't be able to be properly introduced.

Vet appointments at my vet office is $37 for the visit $15 for basic meds, $80 for x-rays, and they quoted $500 for tumor removal. Vet is not necessary unless the rat becomes ill or injured.

Yes, you can switch foods, you have to do it gradually so they get used to the new food and do not upset them.

Keep all plants out of there reach, just about all household plants are deadly to rats, keep electrical cords out of their reach, place heavy/tipable objects out of their reach so they do not fall on the rat.

Yes, a dog can be around a rat, you just have to make sure to keep an extremely sharp eye on them, one chomp and the rat could die- obviously.

Last year we spent a little over $2,000 on the rats. I can't remember the exact cost, I would have to look in Mircosoft Money, but I am at school. I spoil my rats extremely rotten...all that money was spent on suebee's mix, treats, new cages, toys, vet bills, etc. Keep in mind I have 7 ratties, so your 1 rattie would not run you nowhere near as much...hopefully! :p

Rats generally don't live over 3 years old. There are some cases where rats live longer, tho I have never personally heard of it. If you look around Rats Rule most ratties pass away when they are 2 years to 21/2 years old, once in a while you'll hear of a 3 year old. My oldest rattie passed away at 2 years 1 month old.

You would be a great rattie mother, Kay! I really hope you can get a little rodent friend!!

:D

Just wanted to add for info:

My rats are housed in a 4 story bookshelf I turned into a cage. I use rabbit pellets for bedding right now. They have many hide houses made by Super Pet. They also have a PVC tube and 2 super pet tubes. They also have two wooden houses/huts. They also have a wooden perch and a Comfy Perch. I am still in the process of putting a hammock in the cage. They get a scoop of Suebee's mix everyday and they have 32 oz. of water available for them everyday. They also have a cage up at the cottage which is very small it is made by Havahart. Their outdoor cage is a large rabbit hutch made by Ware. My ratties LOVE to eat: mealworms, duck, goose, venison, squirrel, beef, cooked/dry noodles, gerber baby food, bananas, cucumbers, strawberries, peas, grapes, catelope (sp), watermelon, carrots, horse treats, jumbones, nylabones, iams dog biscuits, etc.

[tikeyas_mom]

- Would it be necessary to get another rat to house with him, even if he's been housed alone? He can be introduced with another rat after it has been quarantined. How long has he lived alone for? Because an adult male rat is hard to intoduce to another younger rat without fighting..

- How much are vet appointments and such, and do they get any kind of expensive shots? Is a vet necessary? (Need to know because i'm not sure if the pup's vets do small animals too) I usually take mine 2 times a year, but more if they come down with an illness. They dont get shots like dogs and cats do.

- Would it be okay to switch foods if i'm not happy with what they're feeding him?I feed mine a balance of nutro lite dog food, fruits, veggies, grains, and oats.


- What things do you think are necessary to keep in and out of their envornment? you should have a water bottle, a food dish, a igloo (or a hide out of some sort) a hammock *toys too :p*

- Is it okay if rats are around dogs? (of course with supervision) Yes, as long as the dogs are ok witht he rats.

- How much does bedding/toys/food/everything cost you? umm Aspen is around 6-10$ here and i usualy just litter train my rats so bedding isnt used that often. you can line the cage with an old towl. Toys are cheep, you can even make your own. You can make a hammock out of an old cloth. Thats what I did.

- How long do rats generally live for? 2-3 years, generally.

- ANYTHING else you think I should know... you can litter train rats, and they should not be fed a diet of all hamster food. you can give them a wheel but make sure it is rat compatible.. good luck..
o and make sure you have a huge cage with many levels and make sure you play with the rat for at least an hour a day.

[green_chameleon_girl]

Trust me if I new stuff about rats I would tell you lol!! But I dont really hehe But im sure if you get the rat you will make an AWESOME rattie mom!!:D

[Kfamr]

Thanks everyone.


I met Archimedes yesterday. I don't think I want him because he's a grump. He's less than a year old, but he bites if you try to get him out of his cage. I sat by his cage all period in Biology. All he did was try to bite if anyone put their fingers near his cage.

I'd much rather find a good breeder and get a pair of baby ratties and allow them to get used to me as they grow and age.

I took a few pictures of him, but most didn't come out because I didn't want to use the flash.

Anyone know of any Rattie breeders in FL? :)

I attached a picture of him.

[luckies4me]

Try Bellarattas Nest. :)

[Kfamr]

Yeah, I saw that breeder's website, but I wasn't too sure where she's located.... I'll try E-mailing her. :)

[tikeyas_mom]

the only reason he is a grump is because he has been stuck in a small cage his whole life with hardly any human interaction. you should really consider rescuing him IMHO.

[Kfamr]

Originally posted by tikeyas_mom
the only reason he is a grump is because he has been stuck in a small cage his whole life with hardly any human interaction. you should really consider rescuing him IMHO.


Um, no.

His cage is 3 levels high. It's huge.

Andrew, the kid who had to get rid of him, took GREAT care of him.

[luckies4me]

Originally posted by tikeyas_mom
the only reason he is a grump is because he has been stuck in a small cage his whole life with hardly any human interaction. you should really consider rescuing him IMHO.

I would never recommend a rescue with agression problems to a first time rat mom. You want everyones first experience to be a nice as possible. Only very EXPERIENCED rat owners should take in agressive rats. These rats need a LOT of patience, time and more! They are not for everyone, especially first time rat owners.

[tikeyas_mom]

Originally posted by Kfamr
took GREAT care of him.

umm, is that pine bedding he is housed in??? :confused:

[Desert Arabian]

Originally posted by tikeyas_mom
umm, is that pine bedding he is housed in??? :confused:

Probably, but that doesn't mean the boy didn't take great care of him. He still probably interacted with him, got him proper medical care if it was needed, and fed him a good diet. Kay knows better than not to house a rat on pine or cedar, don't 'cha Kay...:p

Kay, he's probably grumpy from lack of human interaction and/or the interaction he does get is not proper- students handling him harshly, etc. There is a possability that once you got him home in a nice calm setting, let him get used to your voice and smell, he just might settle down. But you made the right decision in not taking him- for your first rat you want a good rat. If it was your second, third, or fourth rat you could (if you wanted to) take him and try to work with him. Getting your first rat from a breeder is an excellent decision. My first rats came from the pet store, I didn't just jump at the first one I saw though. At the time there were none in the shelter and there are no breeders around here- so I had no choice.

[Desert Arabian]

Here are some more rat breeders. Remember to look around at a bunch of different breeders, don't just jump at the first one you see. It's kinda like buying a car, you shop around for a bit then make your decision...

Knight's Tail Rattery, Jacksonville Florida
http://www.knightstailrattery.com/

ARG Rattery, Orange Park Florida
http://www.argrattery.com/
(I like the blinking ratties, lol)

Rock-N-Roll Rattery, Pembroke Pines Florida
http://dumborats.homestead.com/

*Edited to fix link*

[Kfamr]

Originally posted by tikeyas_mom
umm, is that pine bedding he is housed in??? :confused:


UMMM> I don't know.


The teacher put that stuff in there.

[Kfamr]

Originally posted by YellowLabLover

Kay, he's probably grumpy from lack of human interaction and/or the interaction he does get is not proper- students handling him harshly, etc.


No, he barely was even in the classroom. The teacher only allows certain people to handle the classroom animals. Andrew took good care of him, and handled him often.


And yes, when/if I get rats they will not be house in pine or cedar.


I do not want this rat, just like a first time dog owner wouldn't, and shouldn't adopt a "problem dog."

[Logan]

I think you are being very wise, Kay. I just hope that this rat will find the right home, and soon!!!! (if there were a emoticon for "worried", I'd use it). :D

[Desert Arabian]

Originally posted by Kfamr
No, he barely was even in the classroom. The teacher only allows certain people to handle the classroom animals. Andrew took good care of him, and handled him often.

Oh, well, that's nice! I wish my teachers were like your teacher. They don't care too deeply about the animals and could care less about who handles them/how they get treated- unless it's something really bad then they care.

That's really cool that Andrew took such nice care of the rattie, most of the guys at my school are the ones being mean to animals. :( Give Andrew a pat on the back for me! lol! :D

*Patiently waits for the day when Kay makes "I got a rat" thread*

[Kfamr]

Originally posted by YellowLabLover

*Patiently waits for the day when Kay makes "I got a rat" thread*



*Me Too* :p


Although I'd rather it be "Another puppy" thread. :p :D ;)

[GoldenRetrLuver]

Originally posted by Kfamr
Although I'd rather it be "Another puppy" thread. :p :D ;)

Ditto for that one. :p
Good luck with looking for a rattie, Kay! And the puppy, too! ;)

[slleipnir]

Goodluck with the rattie :) I use to have a lot of rodents when I was younger. They're a lot of fun :D

[luckies4me]

Originally posted by YellowLabLover
Here are some more rat breeders. Remember to look around at a bunch of different breeders, don't just jump at the first one you see. It's kinda like buying a car, you shop around for a bit then make your decision...

Knight's Tail Rattery, Jacksonville Florida
http://www.knightstailrattery.com/

ARG Rattery, Orange Park Florida
http://www.argrattery.com/
(I like the blinking ratties, lol)

Rock-N-Roll Rattery, Pembroke Pines Florida
http://dumborats.homestead.com/

*Edited to fix link*


While it's nice to look around in a Rattery's case I don't go that route and don't suggest others do either. I get recommendations from other breeders, and I will tell you now that Bella has the best rats in Florida, and has years of experience behind her belt. She is also the run who runs the Rat Guide. There are certain things you should look for when selecting a Rattery. How long have they been breeding? Where did they get their stock? Do they keep pedigrees? Are the majority of their rats from breeders? What are their ethics? Do they cull, breed petshop rats etc. It's not as simple as you think it is. ;) Rat people are VERY political, and if you chose the wrong rattery you are basically banned from rathood forever LOL! If you notice, those ratteries all have rats from Bella. I can point out things about each Rattery I do not like. Feeding, lack of info on animals in the rattery etc. I personally would not buy rats from someone just because they have cute pics on their site. The one breeders lack pedigree info, info on each rat and where they came from etc.


BTW, those blinking rats are from Bella.

[molucass]

Here is another very well known breeder, that produces wonderful quality rats, from what I have heard about them.

Tekka Maki Rodentry (http://www.tekkarats.com/)

They used to live in Illinois, but moved to Jacksonville, FL.

[luckies4me]

Yes, they too are a very good rattery. :)

[DJFyrewolf36]

Wish I were closer, I'd adopt the ratty!

I've pretty much grown up with rats and can handle an agressive one ;-) I hope the right person adopts him though, I'd hate to see a rat without a home :(

Good choice on not adopting him though. I agree with the people on here in that adopting an agressive rat for your first run at it is a bad idea. They can get nippy at times...