Do ratties really make good pets?

[ballpythonluvr]

As some of you know, I moved out to the country in a house and I had to part with my beloved snakes due to not being allowed to have them because of the rules in my lease. I find myself rather lonely and empty since my I parted ways with my snakes. I would really like to get two female rats as pets. Now, my question is, should I get them as full grown adults or should I get younger rats? I know that they do better in pairs because they are really very social creatures. They would be pampered and spoiled and have a very good life. I just think baby rats are so cute and I would really love to get them as youngsters but I will go with the advice from others here if they tell me otherwise. Thanks for your time and your input.

[wolfy-hound]

Young rats are better. Unless you can handle the rats you're picking from and a older rat just seems perfect. Remember they have short lives so younger means more time with them.

Rats make awesome pets. They're almost the same as a dog with a ugly tail and tiny. I've known people who let them free roam a room while the person is there and they'll play and sleep on you and you can teach them tricks. They're very clean, although they do sometimes pee on you and of course, they'll leave little ratty raisens for you to clean up.

I highly recommend rats as pets to anyone unable to keep a cat or dog.

[crepers86]

I had three pet rats yes they make great pets I got mine young and raised them... however they can be distructivdee with plastic

[MrLang]

They're awesome. Get them freshly weaned and spend 20 min a day with them. They will be remarkably tame in no time and they're very smart and sociable. I can't believe how smart and eager for attention my rats are.

[TheSnakeGuy]

Rats are fantastic pets. I love putting them in people's hands at PetSmart and breaking the stereotypes that come with them. I've had a pair of male jumbo fancy rats before. I spoiled them and they were great pets. Back when I had them I was dirt poor, which worked out well because my rats ate whatever food I ate.

[TheSnakeGeek]

i say get them as small weaned ones. it's awesome how much personality they have in such a little package. we had a feeder rat that escaped death a couple times and became a pet. my roommates and i always got her out and played with her. one day she got loose and i woke up the next morning with her cuddled up in bed next to me. lol

[DooLittle]

I would get a youngster. If you handle them a lot they should be sweet as pie. We handle all our breeders and feeders, and they are all sweet and attention seeking. We have a few that my daughter has wanted to keep for strictly pets. They hang from the ceiling of their cage when you come home at night. Loons. :p. This is one of them, and she started dragging her out all the time when she was just a crawler.

Button's baby picture.


Here she is growing up


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[nimblykimbly]

I love rats as pets! I used to have a hooded rat. His name was Cheech. He was so smart and sweet. Just don't leave any pieces of cloth/clothing too close to their cage.... I found big holes in a couple of my shirts and realized that Cheech was 'utilizing' the fabric to make his nest. lol One time I actually watched him reach his little paw through the bars and streeeeeetch to grab a sock! I love rats and actually mice too.



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[sorraia]

As some of you know, I moved out to the country in a house and I had to part with my beloved snakes due to not being allowed to have them because of the rules in my lease. I find myself rather lonely and empty since my I parted ways with my snakes. I would really like to get two female rats as pets. Now, my question is, should I get them as full grown adults or should I get younger rats? I know that they do better in pairs because they are really very social creatures. They would be pampered and spoiled and have a very good life. I just think baby rats are so cute and I would really love to get them as youngsters but I will go with the advice from others here if they tell me otherwise. Thanks for your time and your input.

Adults make GREAT pets, just as younger rats do, but there's one very big difference: The babies will be with you longer. Unfortunately rats don't live very long, average is about 2 years. If you get babies, you'll have them for about that amount of time. if you get adults, you'll have them less (depending on how old they are). But as far as bonding and sociability, adults can be just as bonded with you and social as babies, depending on where they come from and how they were raised.

They really do make excellent pets. I bred pet rats for 10 years, and have really missed them since I stopped breeding.

[TJ_Burton]

One of my roomates had a couple pet rats. (one she bought from an expo to "save" it, and another I produced that she also felt needed to be saved)
They both came when you called them, no matter what they were doing in the room or how deep in the couch they decided to get themselves. They were gentle, seemingly affectionate, and social. All around great pets.