r/rat

Hey! I am planning to get three female rats from a breeder this fall, as I will get money from my confirmation and work. I have researched pretty much (but some stuff I would like to be explained open), and I have understood that females are more prone to tumours than males, but males have hormonal aggression. I would also appreciate if someone explained how much heat affects females.

I was wondering about the feeding, what kinds of foods and how often? Like what kind of mixture I should not buy and which nutrients are am must. i read somewhere that rats may like cat paste (ex. Smilla Multi-itamin cat-paste), but mostly for a treat.

Cages

I have been looking at multiple cages, but many of them turn out to be way too expensive or they dont deliver to my city/country (or the fees are ~200 euros). i live in Finland, so the delivery options aren't too open.

My top 2 options are TIAKI Critter Empire and TIAKI Villa, but I am definitely taking recommendations! I am aware that the grating spacing is a bit big, but if that comes to be a problem I can use some kind of wire/net to cover the cage. My budjet for the cage is preferably under 200 euros, as I am buying everything by myself and I feel like having some emergency money for the rats in case of a vet trip etc. I am also open for second-hand cages, as long as they are around North Ostrobothnia (expectations may be made).

Thank you before-hand for answering politely, but truthfully!

Her sisters are running around and shes been napping in my pocket for 2 hours

Here’s my new boy with my new setup. Still looking for a friend for him, but for now he is happy and safe

Just wanted to share my oldest girl nibbles! We got her April 20th 2023! We got her from a neighbor she was pregnant when we got her and her last daughter just passed away, but she is still fighting on! She has a growth on her belly but she doesn’t let that slow her down! We thought we were losing her last week as she got really lethargic and stopped eating and drinking but she then made a full recovery tho she isn’t as fast as she once was! I know her time is coming very soon and we’re all devastated! But she got so much love in her time here! Right now she sleeps in bed with me and my husband because she gets cold by herself!

hey guys
this is a hard post for me to make and a decision i have thought a lot about. my girl cynthia (2yrs old) is the last one left out of my chaos ): she had lost both her sisters in the span of 6-8months due to mammory tumors and old age. i am unable to get anymore friends for her right now because of financial difficulties and the fact i don’t have time/emotional strength to bond with any more rats after my losses. since i am unable to get her more friends i try to give her as much of my attention as i can (an hour plus outside the cage and plenty of love) but i know i will never replace her bond with her sisters. i am looking for someone i can stay in contact with so i can watch her grow but still give her the social life she needs. she has sm life left in her and i hate to see her slow because she is becoming depressed. it has been a week since her sister ivanna was put down and i can notice difference in her behavior already. she is does not have any outstanding health issues other than uri’s that have affected her lungs. she is sensitive to substrates so i use a low dust one and provide her with a dig box rather than cover the floor of the cage with it. i line the rest of the cage with fleece and tissue paper per the vet’s instructions to help prevent those pesky infections. she is the sweetest, most gentle girl you will ever meet. she is timid at first but once you put some work in she is super trusting and loving. she is curious as heck and loves to get into treat bags or chew on the curtain so definitely keep an eye out lol.
i will charge a reasonable rehoming fee to prevent any shady situations from happening.
i just want to give my girl what she needs even if that means not being the one to give it to her. here’s some pics of the cutie (:

Apparently mother is dirty and im in need of a bathing 🤣😬

My rat has a bump on his leg :( they are sending the sample in to see the results but oh my gosh I’m freaking out

I recently adopted two male rats, they are both wonderful and I love them so much. One of the boys (the boss one), can be a bit of a menace and he occasionally bites me. Not in a mean or aggressive way I don’t think. He gets the zoomies, or if I tell him not to do something he like play bites me.

They are both lovely and friendly, and run over to me and climb all over me, and get on fine with each other. But I haven’t been able to pick either of them up yet. They weren’t handled or taken care of particularly well in their last home, so I don’t want to rush them into being picked up. I’ve tried to pick him up before and he kind of half goes to bites me, but I genuinely think it’s bcus he thinks I’m giving him food, as he is always baffled, so I think that’s also due to him never being properly handled.

Any advice on how to stop him nipping at me, and on how to pick them up? I’ve seen lots of contrasting advice and tips, so anything is welcome please :) thanks

***attached a rat tax photo of him enjoying his birthday corn on the cob***

Do they lick me because I am salty, yummy or is it a sign of affection? They do it even when I haven't held a treat with these fingers. It's so cute.

hey guys! about 10 months ago i adopted an ex lab rat, he was almost a year old when i got him and was very skittish and a bit aggressive, i tried to get him a friend but unfortunately through all my efforts and all the advice i got he just wouldn’t take to another rat. since then he has been solo and getting so much attention from me and my boyfriend every day so he wouldn’t be lonely and would have the stimulation he needs. but now he is the sweetest thing in the whole world and i would like to try getting him a friend again and am just wondering if anyone has advice on older rats bonding with new friends? he will be 2 in july and is still skittish sometimes. this is him! his name is digit! he also has a tattoo on his tail i can post if people want to see

I always joke with my sister he looks like that meme "girl you walk like you on crack"

I recently discovered that rats make an almost farting sound when they're pet? I'm sure it's not actually farts because it's coming from the mouth.
It's not quite like bruxing too.

these are more photos on how the tumor progressively grew. the first photo is on the may 1st and the second photo was on the may 4th and the last one is yesterday may 19th. hopefully this also helps.