DD is getting pet rats- just a few questions!!

[tametortie]

My lovely DD has saved and saved and is getting her first pet rats- yay!!

We are doing lots of research as the litter we have picked from sh

I order food and bedding from ratrations.com, it works out as the cheapest option with 15 to feed and 3 cages to clean out (because mr grumpy won't let me bond him with the younger boys). We have 2 groups of boys and a group of girls with their neutered boyfriend. And 2 cats, a pair of rabbits, a Russian dwarf hamster and a fish tank.

Fancyratsforum.co.uk is a good place to learn more about rat care.

I would actually recommend a trio rather than a pair, I find they seem happiest in small groups. You will make sure to get more than one though won't you? They are so much happier and more confident and friendly if they have other rats for company.

I love your name madratlady

I would really like another one of each sex but DP feels that we can't really handle 6 rats at the moment, which he's probably right about :( Our intention was to spay the girls and move them in with the boys but after speaking to the vet we decided against it because the main reason was because of the tumours with the bonus of having a group living situation.

I'm amazed at how cheap ratrations is for other things as well as food, toys can end up being significantly cheaper from there.

We are finding 15 very hard work with a 3 month of old baby as well. They aren't always getting enough out of cage time and I think we'll let our numbers drop as we lose some of the oldies. I could never be without rats though. And we always rescue rather than buy.

Can you post a pic when you get them. I miss having rats. I used to give them baby food from my finger (they would lick it off) this had the added bonus of being a good way to get them to have antibiotics. I also loved making toys for them. An old sock filled with some interesting food and hung from the top of the cage is a firm favourite.
An empty tub filled to rat shoulder hight with warmish water and peas is fun to watch obviously supervised only. A couple of my rats hated the water do would just paddle the water with one paw to get the peas to float over.
Or get a paper bin fill it with loo rolls, scrunched up paper etc and a few treats then leave it in the room when the rats are out, don't forget to say 'don't go in this bin what ever you do' as you let them out. ;0)