I'm getting RATS!!!!

[Lucara]

I've decided to get 2 dumbo rats but I need some information on them. I know how the web can be with their "facts and info" so I thought I would ask the actual owners!!

I'm going to get 2 females, where should I get them from? Should I get them from show breeders, feeder breeders, pet stores?
What all should I get for them?
What is a healthy daily diet for them?
Do they use running wheels like mice do?
What kinds of toys should I get?
Is a 32"L, 3'T, 21"W cage large enough for two rats?
Do they need regular vet visits?

Any other info you want to throw in there would be greatly appreciated!!!

 

[amplexus]

For a start rats are most definately not ¨dumbo¨ ! Rodents are one one of the most inteligent groups of animals on the planet. Sorry , just had to jump in on their defence

 

[Lucara]

Lol I'm not sure if your actually serious or not. :?

 

[amplexus]

I´m dead serious I´m gonna get the god of rats to go and kick your behind

 

[Lucara]

Oookay, so does anyone have any helpful information on their care?

 

[tigger_my_T.]

umm dumbo is the breed of rat, hes not saying any thing mean.

 

[Mushroom Spore]

For a start rats are most definately not ¨dumbo¨ ! Rodents are one one of the most inteligent groups of animals on the planet. Sorry , just had to jump in on their defence

I hate to derail your lovely little righteous rage here, but "dumbo rat" is a breed type referring to the shape of the ear. Settle down, you're embarassing yourself.

OP: DO NOT get anything bred to be a feeder, those tend to be bred carelessly (genetic nightmare health-wise) and kept in terrible conditions and not socialized in the slightest. Pet stores aren't much better, but if you can find a small one where they breed their own that's a start. Private breeders with good reputations, or adopting from a rescue or something, would be the best option.

A former housemate of mine had three dumbo rats, so I know a little about their care but I don't remember everything.

Food: No seed-heavy diets, look for some kind of block or rat pellet type, you'll have to research which brands are considered the healthiest by other keepers though. Some people foods are okay, but again, research before you try anything too weird. The rats my housemate had loved bread crust as a treat.

Wheels: Yes, but you'll need to get a solid wheel instead of the wire ones. Wire wheels seem to be frowned on by most these days, as animals sometimes slip and their leg goes between the rungs causing injury while they're running. Also, if you like your sanity, look for one that doesn't squeak or rattle while in use. (The wider the wheel, the better, so that they aren't running with their spines bent backwards too much.)

Toys: Cardboard boxes! That was always a favorite, though they had to be replaced every so often once they got too chewed up. (And even really big boxes that don't fit inside the cage. We made a playground for them once out of a fridge box and some big pieces of cardboard, though they had to be supervised so they didn't wander out and get lost in the couch cushions. )

Cage size: ...maybe? It sounds pretty big, but I'm terrible at visualizing sizes. If it has more than one "level" in it, that helps too. Climbing toys and hammocks will also give you more usable space. And make sure it's wire! Glass or plastic tanks don't let air circulate, and rats pee a lot.

Vet: I don't know about regular checkups just because, but you should definitely get them looked at after you get them, and they can require some hefty vet bills if one of them gets myco or a respiratory infection or a tumor or something. (This is why you want to start off getting a healthy rat that's not an inbred genetic pet store nightmare, to cut down on your chances of these - especially the tumors.)

Bedding: Don't let the store sell you pine or cedar, they're toxic. I think my housemate used carefresh.

 

[vvx]

"Dumbo" rats refers to the ears having a lower placement on the head making them look more like dumbo. It's a term about ear placement that's been specially bred for, nothing about intelligence.

"where should I get them from?"

Almost everywhere has a pretty big Rat breeding hobby present. The pet-only breeders generally handle the rats often from birth and hopefully breed only rats that show no violent tendencies or major health problems. So by buying from a pet rat breeder you hopefully can get a friendlier healthier longer lived rat. Things someone who breeds for feeders really wouldn't care about. Personally I'd try to find one that's been around for a while, 10+ years if possible. That way they have had all that much longer to work on their lines, giving a better chance of cancer free healthy & friendly rats.

The cost of pet rat breeders is pretty much insignificant. $5-$10 rat is normal. They basically just price the rat a little above what Petco charges so as to avoid selling to people who want them for feeders.

"What all should I get for them?"
A big cage. It should seem huge/oversized to you. The dimensions from your post sound fine. Ferret cages are popular, but you have to be careful with bar spacing. The normal 1" spacing on ferret cages is very easy for rats to squeeze through.

With females I'd get them an exercise wheel. You need one of the approx 11" - 12" ones. I think there's a pretty nice silent spinner and of course "wodent wobust" is perhaps the most popular, but harder to find.

Need to have at least one hiding spot. Something like one of those plastic igloos. More hiding spots is good.

I'd say to get them a hammock as well. Don't spend too much on this, a piece of fleece with cheap edge finishing and some of those metal shower hooks pushed through the cloth to hang it works good. They'll chew it to replacement withing a few months anyway.

As for toys just about anything will work. You can easily put in some ferret stuff like those ferret tubes, various "chewing" things like a dog biscuit, etc... Even throwing in small cardboard boxes or paper bags will give them entertainment.

For food, the most popular rat food is Harlan Teklad lab blocks. Somewhat hard to find in pet stores but you can order from places online like http://www.kimsarkrescue.org/content/view/23/35/ Seed mixes and anything by Kaytee is looked down upon.

For vet visits you only need to worry about that as necessary. There's no shots/etc... available for them. A checkup is probably pointless unless you have reason to think they are sick/need something. You still might end up with what seems like "frequent" vet visits if you get rats that have frequent respiratory problems. The most common reason for a vet visit is a respiratory infection for which they'll give you some baytril. After that it's probably tumor removals if your rats develop tumors. It's best to find a rat knowledgeable rat, you might check with the local pet rat scene to see who they all go to.

 

[arachyd]

Feeder rats can be tamed as easily as breeder rats provided you get them when they are very young. That said, you still should seek out a breeder or a rescue. I've gotten feeder rats that surprised me with dumbo babies. There is a rumor/myth about dumbo rats having a genetic link to blindness. I can tell you from personal experience it is not a myth if you get them from anyone but a reputable breeder that has healthy, genetically sound dumbos. I could not breed the blindness from that bloodline in many, many generations over several years and eventually gave up. All the "normal" babies had good eyes and all the dumbo babies had solid white at the back of their eyes. It was definitely linked. If I had gotten them from a reputable breeder this would not have been an issue. One thing I noticed about them was that they seemed to be much more docile in temperament than my "regular" rats.

I never needed an exercise wheel for my rats. They are not usually recommended for rats because their tails get caught in the wheel support and the pieces that cross the diameter of the wheel. They do enjoy exercise. Rats are highly social and intelligent creatures and benefit most from frequent handling and playtime in a rat-proofed room where they can run and explore. An exercise wheel does not provide the mental stimulation they need to stay happy. Things like mazes, puzzle boxes with treats and new objects for them to climb are what they like.

 

[Gesticulator]

Congrats Lucara, on your venture into ratties....beware, they are as addicitng as tarantulas! I got my first 2 at the end of March and we all simply adore them. I chose to go with a breeder, as I assumed they would be healthier and better socialized than pet store or rescues.
I have since learned that rescues are also typically family raised (in foster homes) by people who really care about them. I have one resue as well, and he is just as healthy and charming as my breeder boys.
I would definitely and flatly say "no" to feeder bred rats as pets. I brought one home on impulse, and have since brought all to the vet to be treated for respiratory infections. It is not easy to really "quarantine" a new comer as they actually need separate air space to prevent transmission of infection. At my vets advice, I brought the little guy back to the pet store. I feel like atotal failure.
There are a few rat forums out there, and Goosemoose is my favorite. I have learned so much.
As for needs....the advice already posted was right on. They love hammocks! I am using lab blocks as a food staple and I fill in with fresh fruit, veggies and they LOVE yogurt!!! I purchased my cage from "Martin's Cages", but there are others to choose from. Martins is a reputable dealer and they say how many rats can live in each cage. The spacing is right and be sure to get powder coated wire.There are also online "cage calculators".
PM me if you want to chat more!
Here's my boys. Peek, Boo and Icey.

Peek(right) and Boo(left)...both Burmese DUMBO

Icey...standard ear brown hooded

 

[amplexus]

hahashahaha

now I feel a right dumbo

Never heard of those before "dumbo rats"

 

[OldHag]

Gesticulator, have you ever had the end of your rats tail pulled off by that wire cage? Ive had two rats and they BOTH have had the end of their tail gloved... I blamed the first one on my neice. But when it happened again, and the neice wasnt around and we found the skin stuck in the wire...

Poor ratties.

And yes! Get rats! they are wonderful! Mine is a double rex. She is the sweetest thing EVER!! Shes 3yrs old.. Im gunna miss her when shes gone

 

[Gesticulator]

No tail mishaps, thank goodness as it usually their paws protesting the door being closed.

Another thing to consider is that rats are very social, and it is always recommended to get them in pairs or trios.

 

[arachyd]

Gesticulator, I remember when you were first asking about rats. I'm glad you are happy with yours. They are beautiful! They are bright-eyed and have shiny coats. Rats can easily become an addiction and don't deserve the bad reputation they've been given by people who don't know them.

 

[Gesticulator]

They all thank you, arachyd. The two Burmese dumbos were from a breeder in NJ. The little rescue made himself right at home with them.
I think if I had rats before, I wouldn't have my dogs or cats!

 

[Lucara]

I heard that Lab blocks were the best food source for rats but they didnt have any at PetSmart so I got these instead. Will they work?? I'm hoping that a mixture of the two will make a completely healthy diet.

Kaylee - Forti-Diet
www.petsmart.com/produ...Id=2753452

Nutriphase Gold
www.petsmart.com/produ...Id=2753467


I just got back from splurdging on toys and things for my new babies!!! I'll post pics after I get the cage set up. =D

I'm getting 2 boys and their going to be black and white!! The guy I'm getting them from is going to send pictures in a few days as soon as he takes them. Their still nursing but I can pick them up in a little over a week!!! I CANT WAIT!!!!!

I'm doing a sort of nautical theme in their cage. They're boys so the carpet is blue and they have big toy boat and fish that they can hide, sleep, and play in =D. I'm going to make levels for inside of the cage with the plexiglass that used to cover the cage and we got indoor/outdoor carpeting to cover the plexiglass ledges and bottom of the cage. =D

 

[betuana]

Ratties!

Congrats on your rats! They are definitely addictive - I just got my 2 recent boys in January - a 20 hr round trip drive to a breeder that I was on a waitlist for for 8 months. What can I say, I'm nuts, and admit it! As I've learned more about them I've gotten picky about sources, etc, so I end up waiting forever and driving across several states....

My first few were pet store rats, they were certainly friendly after I spent some time with them, but often not as healthy as they could be, and they lived much shorter than they otherwise could've. I later got a pair of little girls from a good breeder, and they were the best! One dumbo and one standard ear, both honey cinnamon colored. They lived to be about 3 years old, and were the sweetest, most social little girls.

My current boys are both standard ears, but one is a black satin (extra shiny) coat, and the other is american blue (steel blue) colored. They are absolute dolls. Both the girls I previously ahd and the boys are actually pedigreed, and registered through the North American Rat Registry, and my boys are going to be in a rat show in June! Mostly its a chance for rat owners to hang out and interact, etc, but they get to compete, etc. Also a good chance to get to see all sorts of varieties of ratties! Its kinda ridiculous in some ways, but alot of fun too!

There are lots of places out there with information, and many clubs to join, Rat Society of America, American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association, etc. I'm in the Northern Illinois Rat Organization, which is who is hosting the show I'm attending. Many of these places also have links to breeders pages, etc. Sounds like you already found some little guys to get, so congrats on that! And good job getting 2 - rats do best with at least one buddy.

Martin's cages as previously mentioned are great cages. Lab blocks are the best type of food if you can find them, they can be ordered from places too. The problem with mixes is that pets can pick and choose what seeds they eat and may not get a balanced nutrition. There are places online you can order the lab blocks from if none of the local stores carry them...

http://ratguide.com/ has a lot of good info on care and health. Bunch of good info has already been given, but I'll reiterate some of it with my own summary:

Numbers: Always have at least 2, same gendered, ratties to keep each other company. Space permitting more isn't bad!

Gender: girls are often considered more active, boys are often considered more laid back. Both are fun, and the gender rules are very general - my boys haven't yet gotten the memo that they are supposed to be laid back!

Caging: http://www.rattycorner.com/odds/calc.shtml is a calculator that helps determine how big a cage you should have for each rat, but its only approximate. More space is never a bad thing with them (unlike with T's), and hammocks and shelves will add to floorspace, etc. Martin's cages, as previously mentioned, are EXCELLENT for ratties. Large aquariums can work, but should be cleaned more often because of less airflow. My boys live in a R-695 martin's cage.

Bedding: NO PINE OR CEDAR! These have been shown to cause respiratory and skin problems. Aspen shavings are ok, Carefresh, Kaytee, and other paper litters are also good. Mine are on a blend of mostly carefresh with a bit of aspen added in.

Food: Quality lab blocks are preferred, Oxbow, Harlan Tekklad, etc. Mixes should be used sparingly if at all because of a tendency for the ratties to pick and choose from the bowl and end up with an unbalanced diet.

Toys: Hammocks and other "ferret" toys are very popular with ratties, some rats like large wheels (12" diameter, normal hamster wheels are too small for adult ratties), and they'll also have fun with other things - paper "pinatas" with treats inside, cat balls, a digging box (filled with fabric or paper scraps, or coir, etc, treats hidden inside, pet grass growing in it, anything that might be entertaining and safe for them). Some rats will even go "bobbing for peas" in shallow pans of water (youtube has videos of this!), and some will go even further and actually choose to swim. Creativity and variety are certainly welcome, parrot toys also can be good. Just use common sense and care when picking things to make sure they stay safe!

And don't forget to play and interact! Ratties can be like miniature dogs, they can learn their names, commands, tricks, etc. They are also great snugglers and love to hang out with their people. Have fun, they are great pets!

Ok, that was long, but like I said, I'm something of a rat nut (and yet I have pet snakes...they only eat F/T though, thankfully!), so I had to jump in and jabber for a while!

Best of luck with your new furry friends!

My 2 girls:

My boys:

A pic of my boys with their littermates:

 

[Gesticulator]

What gorgeous little squishies you have, betuana!!! Very informative post as well.
Lucara, I have seen questionable reviews about Kaytee rat food. I order my Harland Teklad blocks from The Crafty Rat. Congrats on your new additons!

 

[Lucara]

yeah I've heard that Kaytee causes cancer in rats so I'm going to get those lab blocks. Thanks for the link! =D

I did that calculator on my cage and it says that it can house 7 rats so my 2 are going to be spoiled rotten Xp

 

[Neuroticax]

Kaytee and Nutraphase aren't on the good side of rat food. They are seed based foods, which are high is fat and aren't good for a rats diet.

There is a homemade rat food that is highly recommended, called Sue Bee's Mix. http://www.ratsrule.com/diet.html Along with Harland Teklad blocks, fresh fruit and veggies and you've got yourself some happy and healthy ratties.