Having Rats as Pets

Those videos are so cute. Who would have thought they eat yogurt. Marie,do you feed them a set amount each day? Can they over eat? I left pellets in the cage for our Guinea pigs all the time and gave them treats in between. Same with the hamsters. Some animals don't know when to stop.
 

Ruth n Jersey said:
Those videos are so cute. Who would have thought they eat yogurt. Marie,do you feed them a set amount each day? Can they over eat? I left pellets in the cage for our Guinea pigs all the time and gave them treats in between. Same with the hamsters. Some animals don't know when to stop.
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I usually leave their dry food in the cage all day. Since they are nocturnal, they do most of their eating at night. You do have to be careful with treats, and they sometimes do not know when to stop. Plus, they will store food for later. Yogurt is a good calcium source for them. For young rats, under 6 months, eggs are recommended for the protein. Some folks do supplement the diet with people food, like veggies, or pasta (really) for the variety. But when they do that, they feed less of the rat food. Fruit not so much because of the sugars, though mine love their bananas.
 
I like domestic rats. I had one when I was a kid. I understand that sometimes, for whatever reason, you might purchase one that bites. We have place near us that sells rats (as pets, not reptile food), and the lady who works there recommended getting two young males. She said sometimes you might get a biter, and if he doesn't stop, you can bring him back in for an exchange. Do you know why a young rat would bite the person that feeds them?
 

When I was around 4-5 years old, we were poor & lived in a small, run-down apartment. I loved it because I fed mice, rats & cockroaches. After a few weeks, I'd sit on the floor & 5 or 6 of them would jump in my lap & take food out of my hands. They never bit me. They learned when my mom & dad left & that's when they'd come out.

Once, I told my mom, "Let's live here forever. I love this apartment." She asked, "Why, it's terrible." I said, "It comes with its own pets." Her eyes got real big & she said, "What are you talking about?" I said "The rats are real nice; they let me pet them & feed them." Oooh, did she get mad!!
 
Came across this cute picture of two rats just adopted from a shelter, thought I'd post it here.

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Unlike the stereotypical woman, I find rodents rather cute. I worked with mice, rats, guinea pigs and hamsters when I was in the lab. I hated to administer things to them I knew would make them sick, or worse. I always got that duty, though, because none of the other female lab workers liked to handle the animals. Sometimes I catch mice in my humane trap and take them for a nice ride out in the country and release them.
 
This morning I lost the last of my rats, Max. He had not been doing well. Not eating, issues with his back legs (happens often in males). This morning he decided it was his time to go.
I have made the decision I will not be having more rats. It was always something Rick and I did together, now it is not the same. We have had 3 pairs of rats over the years.
I will also go completely pet-free for a while, maybe forever. We will see. I want to be able to just pack up and do a few days away once in a while, without worrying who will care for the animals.
I have dismantled the cage best I could. Rick (using some colorful language) was the one who put the thing together.

This is Max:

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Marie5656 said:
This morning I lost the last of my rats, Max. He had not been doing well. Not eating, issues with his back legs (happens often in males). This morning he decided it was his time to go.
I have made the decision I will not be having more rats. It was always something Rick and I did together, now it is not the same. We have had 3 pairs of rats over the years.
I will also go completely pet-free for a while, maybe forever. We will see. I want to be able to just pack up and do a few days away once in a while, without worrying who will care for the animals.
I have dismantled the cage best I could. Rick (using some colorful language) was the one who put the thing together.

This is Max:

View attachment 108568 View attachment 108569
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So sorry, Marie. My nephew & his wife have always had pet rats (from the labs where she has worked - even though it's verboten). The rats are so intelligent and affectionate, but have too short a life-span.

I hope you will be able to get away on a nice road trip, once it's safe to do so.
 
Marie5656 said:
This morning I lost the last of my rats, Max. He had not been doing well. Not eating, issues with his back legs (happens often in males). This morning he decided it was his time to go.
I have made the decision I will not be having more rats. It was always something Rick and I did together, now it is not the same. We have had 3 pairs of rats over the years.
I will also go completely pet-free for a while, maybe forever. We will see. I want to be able to just pack up and do a few days away once in a while, without worrying who will care for the animals.
I have dismantled the cage best I could. Rick (using some colorful language) was the one who put the thing together.

This is Max:

View attachment 108568 View attachment 108569
Click to expand...
Sorry for your loss..
 
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