just learning reading asmuch as possible, males less prone to tumours arnt they, seem to find a lot of people saying most rats have died from them or something or other seem very health prone, i want 2 males though, they still easy to learn tricks?
Males tend to be much lazier, if you want to train trick, they girls are better.
With a good diet and good breeding, you can keep risk of tumours to a minimum.
Males tend to be cuddle monsters, very placid so long as they are from a good breeder.
Some poorly bred bucks can be prone to issues with hormones, meaning they can become aggressive, especially in adolescence.
Actually, boys or girls, I would seek out a good breeder rather than get pet shop ratties
(check out the NFRS page for breeders in your area)
Hope that helps a bit, rats are awesome, but be warned lol you can never just have 2 ;-)
i heard you can teach males plenty too , and iv looked for breeders not many around me one that is hasnt replied to me i work in a pet shop we have some lovely ones so iv heard theres some foods to give that actually reduce like tumours etc? im just worried id get some and the boys would become agressive or need splitting up etc?
I've got eight rats and I agree about handling them often and giving them lots of time out of their cage (which should be large, not the teeny cages that pet shops consider large enough for rats). I've had rats one and off - mainly on - for twenty years and most of mine have been rescues. I've also had breeder rats and can't say the health of those rats were any better. In fact, I suspect the last breeder I got rats from was more interested in making sure the rats she kept were suitable for showing than caring about whether the rats she sold to pet homes were properly socialised. Although, saying that, the only other breeder I got rats from was different. His rats were well socialised and one of them lived well over three years and another very nearly reached that milestone.
If any of your rats get mammary tumours it's possible for them to be removed by a vet. I'd never let a healthy rat be put to sleep because of a tumour unless there was a reason it couldn't be removed, and unfortunately that's happened a few times (the tumour being too close to the 'lady bits' or a rat having a history of respiratory infections, making an op too big a risk).
It sounds as if you're going to be starting off properly by having more than one rat. They're very sociable animals and need at least one other ratty friend. I like three as a minimum number, and as already's been said make sure they're the same sex. They can be neutered, but spaying is a BIG op for a female rat and there's also risks when it comes to castrating male rats. I've got two castrated boys in with my six girls, but they were in a rescue for nine months with no interest so it was either me getting them castrated so I could give them a home or they stay in the rescue even longer. I think, if they could speak they would both say I made the right decision ;-) If you got boys and one or more became hormonal then castration is an option if you have a competent vet. It's better to go down that route than separate them as the hormonal rat will be unhappy no matter if he's with others or alone.
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Handle them lots, give them plenty of time out of cage, they're like puppies that never grow up
ANything specific you need to know? x
With a good diet and good breeding, you can keep risk of tumours to a minimum.
Males tend to be cuddle monsters, very placid so long as they are from a good breeder.
Some poorly bred bucks can be prone to issues with hormones, meaning they can become aggressive, especially in adolescence.
Actually, boys or girls, I would seek out a good breeder rather than get pet shop ratties
(check out the NFRS page for breeders in your area)
Hope that helps a bit, rats are awesome, but be warned lol you can never just have 2 ;-)
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7g2rxtWu_FM
If any of your rats get mammary tumours it's possible for them to be removed by a vet. I'd never let a healthy rat be put to sleep because of a tumour unless there was a reason it couldn't be removed, and unfortunately that's happened a few times (the tumour being too close to the 'lady bits' or a rat having a history of respiratory infections, making an op too big a risk).
It sounds as if you're going to be starting off properly by having more than one rat. They're very sociable animals and need at least one other ratty friend. I like three as a minimum number, and as already's been said make sure they're the same sex. They can be neutered, but spaying is a BIG op for a female rat and there's also risks when it comes to castrating male rats. I've got two castrated boys in with my six girls, but they were in a rescue for nine months with no interest so it was either me getting them castrated so I could give them a home or they stay in the rescue even longer. I think, if they could speak they would both say I made the right decision ;-) If you got boys and one or more became hormonal then castration is an option if you have a competent vet. It's better to go down that route than separate them as the hormonal rat will be unhappy no matter if he's with others or alone.
You're welcome!