Any advice?

[Griff1327]

Just like dogs/cats/kids... they bond with you if you have them from a younger age. If you get a baby and then raise it, it will see you as its parent. Research sugar glider bonding and do something similar and you will have an excellent buddy.

The respiratory problem is so so common. I personally don't find going to the vet and paying $70 (x2) to have them prescribe meds that don't work. You can go online and find the same meds with no need to see a vet.

The two story cage sounds like a good deal for now but you may want to eventually look into a ferret cage (with 1/4 inch bar spacing) or build your own enclosure (I can show you pictures of mine for reference. It cost me around $15 to make and looks better than any cage!).

 

[Near]

Just like dogs/cats/kids... they bond with you if you have them from a younger age. If you get a baby and then raise it, it will see you as its parent. Research sugar glider bonding and do something similar and you will have an excellent buddy.

The respiratory problem is so so common. I personally don't find going to the vet and paying $70 (x2) to have them prescribe meds that don't work. You can go online and find the same meds with no need to see a vet.

The two story cage sounds like a good deal for now but you may want to eventually look into a ferret cage (with 1/4 inch bar spacing) or build your own enclosure (I can show you pictures of mine for reference. It cost me around $15 to make and looks better than any cage!).

if you could show me your enclosure

 

[granuccibar]

hello, i have had rats for about a year and a half.
i have 15 right now.

my suggestion is to get a feeder rat at a LFS.
that's were i got some of my rats at, they are the best pet.
what i do is stick my hand in the cage and let them choose me.
that's how i got my three all time fav. rats. is by doing that.
it's really rewarding becouse you feel lucky to save/have such a great rat from being snake food.

i would not buy from petsmart or petco.
they usually just breed for looks not personality.

if you have any questions you can ask me

 

[granuccibar]

Yea, I plan to do that, but I'm just scared the rats may not be in healthy condition due to the conditions they have them in.

check them feel for lumps and listen to there heart.

 

[granuccibar]

i've gotten rats from petco to use as breeders. the only problom i had was they didn't breed! (so they got wacked) other than that they seemed rather healthy.

why would you say something like that?

 

[granuccibar]

if you have them from a younger age. If you get a baby and then raise it, it will see you as its parent.

depends on the rat.
every rat is different.

i would keep two females together.
so they have someone there when your not home.

 

[granuccibar]

ha here are all my "ex-feeder" rats

 

[katschamne]

I have never had an issue with our rats at work. I would say that over the past two years that we have had a few with respiratory problems but not very often. I think that we have had one in the past 6 months. Find out when they get their shipment in and come after that, if you are looking for a young rat. My friend has 5 "feeder" rats from Petco and haven't had an issue.

 

[spaulding]

why would you say something like that?

the reason i said it was to state that the rats i got from petco seemed to be in good health, answereing a question that the thread starter asked.

 

[syddakyd]

Originally Posted by spaulding
i've gotten rats from petco to use as breeders. the only problom i had was they didn't breed! (so they got wacked)



he was obviously referring to that