In my experience, boy rats have been the friendliest (to people), but make sure you get a pair (preferably from the same litter or already cage mates), because they are very social and need a buddy, and it can be very difficult to introduce a new rat to a cage of males.
Pet store animals very frequently have respiratory issues, so be sure to quarantine any new pets for at least two weeks, and get them vet checked if you can.Is it ok to get a pet rat from pets at home? And what gender is easier to keep?
I haven't heard about Pets At Home but rats from pet shops aren't that bad! I got one and she's been wonderful! I asked my friend about genders and here's the thing; As babies they are about the same but as male rats get older they get calmer, and more laid back where female rats stay playful and hyper.
And addressing Fatima A, don't worry about your rats sneezing when you bring them home! Rats sneeze in new environments because they're getting used to the smell. If your rats are still sneezing after three or four days, and start making weird noises, I suggest you take them to the vet.Is it ok to get a pet rat from pets at home? And what gender is easier to keep?they both have there differences.
females "mark" things less and are really active and playful
guys "mark" everything and are more laid back but still very friendly
ive personally only owned girls...and i LOVE them, there playfulIs it ok to get a pet rat from pets at home? And what gender is easier to keep?
Do you have a petsmart near you??? Thats where i got my 3 from. They are sweethearts and are in great shape!!! Or a career center i got 1 of mine from there. So all together i have 4 rats!!Is it ok to get a pet rat from pets at home? And what gender is easier to keep?i bought my first 4 rats from pets at home. they turned out really nice. but it took me 6 months to tame one of them. but ive heard different things about where they get their small animals from.
pets at home have animals which often have diseasesIs it ok to get a pet rat from pets at home? And what gender is easier to keep?
i don't like pet shops but i couldn't find a breeder, i got 4 rats from pets at home, 1 was in the adoption bit at a few months old, she was a nipper but has grown out of it, 2-3 months back i got 3 tiny babies 6-8 weeks old, they are the best, they were super friendly and tame, i got females, they are lovely, males smell a little more but can be more layed back, my old 2 males were very lovable and calm, you should ask in the shop to see and pet the rat before you buy it so you know what its like with being held, PLEASE get 2 as they are very social, that way when your in bed it still has company, they might have a slight upper respiratory infection like mine did, it can be treated by the vets with some treatment but its not worked for mine so far other than a few sneezes they are perfectly healthy.
Pet stores are typically bad for a few reasons. The rats are never handled and so they usually take longer to tame and socialize. Sometimes employees aren't too delicate when they handle small rodents either. Most pet stores sell sick or pregnant rats. I'm not sure about Pets at Home, but Pet Smart isn't too bad if you have to use a pet store. (I got my 3 girls from Pet Smart, and so far the only issue was a slight respiratory infection in one) They were not timid and didn't seem to have been mishandled in the past.
Keep in mind that you shouldn't be getting only one rat. Rats are highly social and do best with a same-sex companion. If you can get 2 sibling rats, it really isn't any different then owning 1. A rat will become depressed, ill, and won't be as outgoing if it is housed all alone. Please get at least 2 :)
Gender depends on personal preference. Males are lazier, calmer, and typically more of a lap pet. Females are energetic, and love to run around and play with you. Males do tend to scent mark with their urine more. I have all females and I think they are great!Is it ok to get a pet rat from pets at home? And what gender is easier to keep?
In general animals from pet shops come from Breeder Farms where they are kept in very small containers. They females are pregnant even when already nursing a litter. These babies are not bred for health but profit. They are only handled when they are taken from mother to be put in a box to get shipped to the store. These animals are generally not as healthy or friendly as rats that you get from a reputable breeder. It would be best to either re-home from an shelter or contact a breeder and see if they have any litters due soon. You can contact the National Fancy Rats Society to ask for a list of breeders, most breeders do have a waiting list so you may have to wait for a wee while, but it is worth it to get a healthy %26amp; friendly rat. As others have said which gender you pick is a personal preference. Yes boys are more likely to wee/scent mark. I currently have 4 boys of which only one wee's alot the others rarely do it. Boys are more prone to being lazy and Girls are more active and vice versa.
A pet store is never a good place to buy a rat. They typically live shorter, more sickly lives than rats from a breeder, as they are the offspring of unhealthy, over bred rats with poor genetics. It can be hard to find a reputable breeder in most areas, so another option is to check at a shelter for a pair of rats in need of a good home, or you can look on websites like goosemoose.com or petfinder for someone who has to give up rats near you. One more thing - please get at least two same-sex rats to live together. The cost and maintenance required to care for them is virtually the same and they will live longer, healthier, happier lives if they have each other. Human interaction can never replace a constant ratty companion. Good luck finding your friends!
Edit
Oh, I forgot the other part of your question! Sorry about that. Neither gender is necessarily harder to care for than the other, they just act differently, so it depends on your personality. Females are very active, not content to sit still for a long period of time. Typically, they pee far less than males when running around or being held. Male rats pee on everything, marking things as their territory or something they like. I suppose you could see them as being less of a handful than girls other than that, though, since when they're loose they sort of just waddle around or sleep. They make good lap pets. So if you want a more laid-back pet, males are the way to go; if you'd rather some who are fun to watch and like to crawl on you (and don't pee all over the place), I suggest getting a couple of females.
i got my rats from a pet store, one of them was really sick, she kept sneezing for the 1st few days, but she is better now i think it was the diet they were feeding them there, so...i dont think its a good idea to get it from there but if thats the only option then i guess you will have to.
and i have 2 girls, they are very sweet but active, usually girls are, the boys are more relaxed and unactive, i am not sure which gender pees a lot, but with boys, they leave a "scent trail" which is like pee, everywhere they go, this is to mark their territory.
and also get 2 if you can, they are not expensive pets, it wont cost you much to keep 2, and its good for them because they are social animals and can get depressed. as much time as you might spend with your rat, it wont be enough compared to the company of another rat.
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