get the facts straight...CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP ME!?!

[RachLehcar]

i am deciding to get a rat. But before i do, i just want to make sure about some things:
are they really that simple to take care of?
do i clean their cages every other day?
is it true that their tail can get stuck in the metal wheel thing?
CAN ANYONE PLEASE HELP ME?

i might also get a gerbil and another hamster later on

[chinsrcuteies]

THey are pretty much like hammys just bigger and more socal.(Not to mention that they always have to be on therun inlease they are a blob!)Yes their tails can get stuck in metal so I suggest a plastic wheel.I have one and it works just fine. My sister and I clean OUr rats cage about once a week but you can do it more than that.And just a tip you will want to get two because they are very social animals. :sun:

[RachLehcar]

thankx that really helped a lot. But can i get 2 females together so i don't have to deal with a male getting the female pregnant?

[chinsrcuteies]

It is acually easyer to keep two males together than females.Females are more moody but you can keep two females together.Both sexes can be kept with there same sex

[andreaS15]

For more responces, aking in the Rat Specific forum would be reccomended.

i might also get a gerbil and another hamster later on
Just a note on gerbils - Gerbils are social creatures (like rats) and like to live in pairs, some that live alone get depressed and sick. Keeping them in same sex pairs is the best, Plus is so fun to watch them interact with each other.

[RachLehcar]

what i mean is, if i keep 2 female rats together will they kill eachother or will one get killed or do they ALWAYS get along fine.

[RachLehcar]

thanks a lot

[pferdfrau92]

NONONONO!!!! Rats are TOTALLY not like hamsters... Rats are very social and should be kept in pairs. Females are just as easy to take care of as males. Females are generally smaller, and more active. Males tend to "mark" their territory with drops of urine. I don't really suggest breeding rats because they can have as many as 20 babies (or more) at a time. I suggest cleaning the cage at least once a week. You don't really clean clean it unless you have an aquarium (NOT reccomneded. wire cages are WAY better.) With and aquarium you actually have to take everything out and scrub scrub scrub. With wire, all you have to do it empty the litter and put some clean litter in. Rats require at least 30 minutes of playtime out of their cage a day. A bare minimum wire cage is 20"x16"x16". Aquariums need to be at least 20 gallons. Most rats won't use a wheel. Some will when they are babies, but most grow out of it. I reccomend http://members.aol.com/htomlins/ before you get a rat. It's excellent. Good luck!

[Padfoot]

What I know about rats, they are social, need companion of another rat, need play daily. Are as smart as dogs, so need a chalengin environment to keep from getting bored. I have never had rats, so the little I know about them is what I've read around... A good website about them is:

http://www.curiosityrats.com/ (check "info" on the menu at the right)
http://www.ratsauce.com/

Gerbils need to be in pairs, the best cage for them is an aquarium, since they will chew up the plastic cages and chew on the bars of the metal ones, causing a rede nose. Try to get 2 gerbils that are in the same tank, since introductions can be tricky. Females have to be kept in pairs, while males can be kept in groups. 10 gallon tank is good for 2 gerbils, add 5 gallons per aditional gerbil you add. They like to dig, so be prepared to provide a lot of bedding. They like to chew, so anything plastic you put in their cage will get chewed up. Their tails can also get caught in metal mesh wheels. A good website to read about them is:

http://www.agsgerbils.org/Gerbil_Care_Handbook/index.html
http://www.gerbils.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/

Good luck finding the right pet for you!

[Cornflower]

Well... I have a pet hermit crab :snail: ... I think I know some rat care sites. Just look up things at www.google.com. Here are some sites I found: http://www.afrma.org/rminfo1.htm
http://mdmd.essortment.com/ratspetcare_rvto.htm
www.updated.com/browse/ index.php?p=%2FRecreation%2FPets%2FRodents%2FRats% 2F - 15k

I hope this is enough. If you need more information then go type in "pet rats" in the google search bar at www.google.com . I hope this helps!

:hamster2: :squirrel: :snail:

[JenHan disease]

well! i dont have a rat but i do know a thing or 2 about them thats for sure! hehe! well i know that u can keep females together fine! and same with males! u may also keep both sexes in the same cage and they will all get along fine! but u probably dont want to do that coz then u will have loads of babies!!!

[lockshockbarrel]

Very good rat forum-www.goosemoose.com/rfc

I second everything pferdfrau92 said, except the wheel. My rats love their wheels, but the only safe ones are Wodent Wheels.