When your adopting your first rat, or your adopting another one here are the main things you look for while picking out the one you want to become your companion. Note: That i stated adopted and not purchased. Yes we do have to pay money for these pets but lets look at it compared to human beings you never say im going to buy me a child, you use adoption because its more of a repesct then anything else. Rats arn't objects there are our friends. Well here are some pointers on adopting your new pet!
Baby rats should be between 5-6 weeks old. Females can get pregnant as young as 5 weeks old, so you should adopt a baby that is kept in seperate cages, 1 cage with males and the other with females. Look for a rat that is rather excited and does not hide in the corner of the cage. Put your hand in the cage and let them come to you. Let them sniff you and get used to your presence. Alot of the times you won't have to choose them, they might just choose you. After you've chosen the one that you want, it is now time to check thorougly to make sure it is healthy.
Things to check for:
---Make sure the eyes are nice and bright
---The fur should be flat and close to the body
---Listen to the rats breathing making sure there is no weezing, clap sounds within the chest, and sneezing. (Sometimes rats sneeze cause of dust or surroundings doesn't neccesarily mean its sick, just use common sense)
---Check that there are no bumps or lumps on the body
---Check and make sure they do not have lice or fleas
One more thing:
If you go into a pet shop, and the employee doesn't seem interested in helping you or if they don't seem to know the answers to your questions and always reply with "umm let me ask someone who might know", then take your business elsewhere. If they don't know too much about rats then they probably don't know much about taking care of these animals.
It is known that the best place to adopt your new pet should be at an adoption agency or straight from the breeder, which they take good care of there pets and handle them with care. Also to mention at Erika's Rat Page we offer adoptions of healthy, tamed baby rats to the right home.
If all these things look to be good then happily take your new baby rat home!!!
"Should i adopt a boy rat or a girl rat?"
This question is always brought up right before you get your pet rat. Well pretty much the question is up to you. All i can do is give you some information about both sexes.
Male: Males rats are more calm and seem to be less active then female rats. Males are more territorial and more often very agressive towards protecting there space. They tend to mark there territory with urine or other such bathroom habits, around there cage and sometimes they might do it while your holding them.
Female: Female rats are more active and inquisitive. Also there are great explorers. They are more less to urine and leave dropping on you then male rats.
Both male and female rats have different qualities yet the same. As long as you give them the proper love and care they deserve then all of them will be friendly and tamed!!
|
