Annie's Rodents
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| Radical Rats |
When you've finally decided that you want a pet rat, you should look at your future
potential pets carefully. You will also want to make sure the rat was raised in a
clean and healthy environment as this could affect his health in the future.
Here's a few things to look for:
Walk into the area where the rats are kept. Does it smell? Is the area clean?
There will probably be a slight odour, but if it smells like ammonia or has any
other bad odours, this person is probably not someone you want to get a rat from.
Are the cages large enough for the amount of animals in them? Are there toys?
Rats like to have a nice big cage with lots of toys to play with. Sometimes a mom
has a litter that hasn't been fully weaned yet and they may seem to be crowded,
but the cage should still be clean.
What kind of food are the rats being fed? Do they have fresh water? Does the
water bottle look clean?
Fresh food and clean, fresh water is essential for a healthy rat. Rats need a good
quality food to be healthy. Rats that are fed dog food are more prone to cancers
and aren't as active. Generic hamster seed mixes found in most
pet stores is also inappropriate food for rats. A water bottle with cloudy or murky
water is not healthy for rats.
Now look at the rats. Do they look active and eager to greet you when you
approach their cage? Or do they run and hide? Do their tails look nice and fat
or skinny?
A happy well-socialized rat will wait eagerly at the door of their cage, waiting and
begging to be let out, not hiding in fear in the furthest corner of the cage when you
approach. A healthy rat will have a nice clean tail, free of scabs and dirt. A nice fat
tail is a sign of a well fed, healthy rat. The fur on a healthy rat will shine. On
hairless or nude rats, their skin should be free of scars and scabs. A healthy rat
will be active and curious. Their ears will be clean and free of scabs and sores. If
you notice the rats scratching excessively, they might have mites.
Listen to their breathing.
If you hear any signs of wheezing or sneezing, don't take any rat from that breeder.
A healthy rat will breathe freely with no wheezing.
Okay, you've looked around and found a place that sells nice, friendly, healthy rats.
Now you've got to decide whether you want a male or female and one rat or two.
Rats are extremely social animals and do not do well on their own. They need the
company of their own kind in order to be mentally and socially healthy. Most good
rat breeders will rarely sell just one rat alone. So the answer for one rat or two is
really simple -- get two! Just be sure they are both the same sex or you will wind
up with LOTS of babies in a very short period of time.
Now, male or female? Well, that's really an individual choice. Most males are
great big couch potatoes for the most part, while most females tend to be more
active. What are you looking for in your pet? Would you like your rat to cuddle with
you while you watch your favorite TV show? Or would you like a rat that's more
active and playful? In the end, it really comes down to personal preference. Some
people praise the virtues of having girls, while others swear that males make the
best pets. I have found through experience that BOTH sexes make great pets.
So, you've found the rats of your dreams and are ready to take them home.
What are you going to keep them in?