Hey don't worry about the targets, I shoot practical bb as well now!! (expect info about me and my bb shooting on the web soon!!)
 

Notice the Rat hanging off of my shoe, and I'm just about to squash Trek!!!

Please understand that it's just a few cut-out pictures of Trek and Rady and that no animals were harmed in the making of this picture!!!!!

Yes, I really do, do wheelies that high!

Okay,

I want to buy a rat. 

Where do I start?????

Let's start with the gender.

Female and male rats have very different personalities.  Let's talk about the male rat first:

Males prefer to have a cuddle than run around the bedroom. They can get territorial so you will have more chance of getting bitten.

On the other hand females prefer to run around and are generally much more hyper than males. Females are usually much smaller than males as well.

Rats are a good idea as a pet because they are a lot more intelligent than other things like guinea pigs etc. and if your rat bites you sometimes then it WILL have something wrong with it as they are very affectionate and will never bite.

It is a better idea to have a rat than a mouse because they are more intelligent, and one mouse cage smells as much as ten rat cages!

They are not vermin, they're always cleaning themselves!

 How many rats should I  have?

You should always have at least two or more rats.

What cage should I use?

An aquarium is (to me) a bad idea as there is not much ventilation, despite being easier to clean.

Cages on the other hand are better because of more ventilation, and the mesh is fun for them to climb on. You should never have the cage with mesh that goes just vertical. it has to be horizontal as well.

Always check that the cage is secure so no rat can escape, you would be surprised what holes they can get through!!!

The cage MUST have plenty of space for the rats, as being cramped is bad for them.  It is a good idea to put toys in the cage, (like little teddies, balls, hammocks etc.) but always make sure there is plenty of free space for them to run around in.

It is okay for a mesh wall, but the floor on which they walk on must be a flat surface, not mesh because otherwise it is bad for their feet.

Place the cage in an area where it is warm, but not too warm, maybe a bedroom or living room.

Bedding

A cheap solution for bedding is shredded paper.

It is warm, and when you put it in the cage it is great fun for them to burrow into it. In my cage, as you can see in the video on moulsham's page, if you look into straight up one of the ladders you can see there are tunnels made of paper.  You can get a shredder, electric or clockwork, from any good stockist.  It is extremely cheap because it is a useful way to get rid of private bank statements, trash mail, and old newspapers.

Once used, you just throw it away!

Clean the cage out at least every week, as often as possible.  The more you clean the cage, your rats will also be generally a lot more hygienic.  Watch out, pine, and cedar, (types of wood) based bedding is poisonous, so watch out.

Rat Transportation

So, you want to take your rat to your friend's house to show him/her off?  oh dear, What if he can't hold it in and he goes to the toilet? What do you do when you get tired of having him on your shoulder???

Well, I use a plastic box with a lid that clips on how a toolbox would.

I drilled some holes in it, so they can breathe, and then fill it with litter (I recommend "Catoilet", which says on the package it's suitable for rats, mouses, etc.)  If you go for a different kind of litter, then make sure it says on the package that it is suitable, because cedar, a type of wood, is poisonous for rats.

Food & Drink

For food, I go for Reggie rat food.
For Treats, (You can use them for when Training as a reward) I use Harry Hamster Treats.  You can get Reggie Rat Treats but I can never find them on the shelves of the supermarket.

For drink they have water.
 

CONTAINERS
For the food it is best to use a dish that hangs by a couple of pegs onto the mesh. China bowls that you place on the floor of the cage (food and water) can tip over.

You can get a drinking bottle from any pet shop. That also clips onto the mesh.
 

Finally, Remember, They are so clean you can let them run around your bedroom!!!

Click here for things to make for your rat to play with, etc.

If you have any questions You'd like to ask me about rats, Please Click here to Email me.  Note: Please do not change the subject line.