Rats!! I need a companion, cause I don't want to be alone

[king2005]

eew gross don't get a rat!!! they r so dumb. well they are kinda smart actrually but if i was u i'd get a ginneau pig. they are sooooo much cuter

ummm.. I've had several hundreds rats before. I LOVE rats! Mine were great, some were free rescues & a few were not people friendly as they weren't treated well, but they loved other rats & were happy. When I had to put my first rat to sleep I spent the $50.00 knowing it was the best for him & then cried & cried & cried when I got him back & cried more when I burried him.

Rats are like little quiet dogs & even better. They give kisses, tickle your ears, play with you, & will run to their cage, grab a baby & run back up the bed across the bed & drop the baby in your hands & then go get the rest of them. My hand raised rats knew their names & came when called.

I mostly need help with a cage & now that I know I can use a tote, I'm going that route as I can put lots of fun things in them..

Just one thing about the totes. Wont the rats chew through it?

& the reason why I'm not getting a G. Pig is because they are loud, take up too much space & their not my kind of a pet, as it too easy for them to fall & they can't crawl all over you.

[k9krazee]

Just one thing about the totes. Wont the rats chew through it?

They shouldn't be able to. Usually they are very thick plastic, I've kept my G. pig in one and he wasn't able to chew throught it...and if he couldn't I assume a rat wouldn't be able to, but I've never owned rats so I wouldn't know

Good luck!! I have always loved rats....too bad my mom thinks of them the same way as *iluvskipper* does

[CathyBogart]

I am sure that it's possible, but I never had a ratty chew through one. I've had mice and hamsters in them too and not had problems with them escaping.

[king2005]

I am sure that it's possible, but I never had a ratty chew through one. I've had mice and hamsters in them too and not had problems with them escaping.

What about jumping out? As I couldn't put a lid on it...

I'm really loving the tote idea, as it'll be sooo easy to clean as its light & if I drop it in the tub it wont break, unlike a glass tank

[Suki Wingy]

We're all entitled to our opinions but saying that a rat isn't right for you is sufficient. There's no need to say what you said and offend those who love rats.

And they're actually incredibly intelligent. I think of them as mini-dogs since they're so interactive with their owners and are so smart.

yup! My dad used to breed rats to feed his many snakes but he stopped because they were his "mini-dogs" (Feeds frosen or chicks now)

My dad also uses the giant tupperwear stuff for cages (drills lots of holes in them)

[king2005]

yup! My dad used to breed rats to feed his many snakes but he stopped because they were his "mini-dogs" (Feeds frosen or chicks now)

My dad also uses the giant tupperwear stuff for cages (drills lots of holes in them)

as in the lid?? Wouldn't that cause lung issues?
or are the holes in the sides of the totes??

I want pets but I don't want to make them ill.

[CathyBogart]

Here's how I did the lid on mine(for the rats, for the other critters I just drilled holes in the regular lid)...

I got some screen from the hardware store, and cut it so that there was about 4" extra on all sides. I got velcro strips from the hardware store also. I glued the velcro around the edge of the screen and on the bin so that the screen was stretched tight.

I know money's a bit tight right now (it is for me too -_- ) but I don't think the screen and velcro ran very much, alternately you could de-screen a door with metal screen in it.

[*iluvskipper*]

you could go to ebay.

[Alysser]

eew gross don't get a rat!!! they r so dumb. well they are kinda smart actrually but if i was u i'd get a ginneau pig. they are sooooo much cuter

I'm sorry but I have to say something. Here at PETtalk we love all PETS and animals and this includes rats. People are going to get angry when you say rude and uncalled for things such as this. If you don't like rats then don't post on a thread saying this. Rats are VERY good pets and companions IMO and many people enjoy them including me. How would you like it if I said "EW goldens are soooooooooooo gross." Of course, I don't believe that but put yourself in out shoes. Gineau pigs are cute, sure. But that doesn't mean you should get one. Just because they are cute. Gineau pigs require alot of care and so do rats. For future reference, NO ONE should just get a pet because they are cute.

[Suki Wingy]

as in the lid?? Wouldn't that cause lung issues?
or are the holes in the sides of the totes??

I want pets but I don't want to make them ill.

As it all over the side of them in rows.

[king2005]

Here's how I did the lid on mine(for the rats, for the other critters I just drilled holes in the regular lid)...

I got some screen from the hardware store, and cut it so that there was about 4" extra on all sides. I got velcro strips from the hardware store also. I glued the velcro around the edge of the screen and on the bin so that the screen was stretched tight.

I know money's a bit tight right now (it is for me too -_- ) but I don't think the screen and velcro ran very much, alternately you could de-screen a door with metal screen in it.

Neat idea
I'll have to save up for the rats, proper cages, & large bags of feed.. Once I have enough to last several months (I put large quanities of food into pails & then keep a smaller amount in smaller pails, cheaper in the long run) I'll pick up the rats

I was told by a friend that I can get rats at a feed store for $5.00! & they are all sorts of colours so I wont have to guess who is who hehe & they are 5 weeks old, so they will be easy to turn into pets & bond with

Cages = $50.00
Nutro = $50.00 (unless I can find the med. sized bags)
Seed = $10.00
Bedding = $20.00
Food Dish = $5.00
Water dish = $5.00
Toys = $5.00
Rats X 5 = $25.00

Total = 170.00 AHHHHHH!!!!

*Kicks self for not keeping her old rat stuff!!*

[king2005]

As it all over the side of them in rows.

I love that idea.. cause that means I can put them nice & low so air flow can get in & help move the ammonia away!!