@@gamer_rabbit19 We have tryed ever since birth he has been like that he is very social to us but i think he doesnt know he is a rat🤣but he is happy and we have talked to a vet and they said sometimes that just the case for them.
I think when you get a rat you need to considerate it as much as you would do with a dog. For me it's like a small dog. It needs to go out of the cage as much as possible, needs attention, can learn many things. It's not a big hamster, it's much more than that.
My friend gave me a rat ( he was kept in a glass cage for most of his life) he was kept alone and they never did anything with them because they where scared of them. I’ve had em for almost 2 months, he’s got a friend and is much happier. He’s still trying to warm up to people but he’s doing so much better.
I'm living in a quite small town in Germany and we have a pet shop here. Not like a chain company. It's a store which is run by a sweet lady. You only can buy pets sometimes, only if here own pets get babies. You also can visit her pets. It's a very good pet shop😊
Michelle Blake it’s nice to know that there are pet stores like this but I hope that other people understand that not all pet shops are really good ones
I am guilty of so many of these and it makes me so sad. We did a rat project in my high school psychology class where we trained them to do tricks. We got to keep our rat at the end of the project if we wanted and but we were never given GOOD care information. I had no idea rats need a buddy. At one point I had 3 rats (2 females and 1 male) and they each had their own cages. Why? I HAVE NO IDEA WHY! I guess because in class all the rats were kept seperate in small cages. Now almost a decade later, I got rats again. This time I did my research and have 4 little girls in a huge cage that would be big enough for 9 (not getting 9 though!) I wish that teacher would make sure her students knew how to properly care for their rats. I have met a couple kids who have taken that class in recent years... both have only 1 rat.
My high school did a project just like that! I still have my rat, sadly she lives alone. Would it be worth it to get another rat? I know the process of introducing them takes awhile...
I just recently rescued two rats from a bad situation where a friend of mine’s sister literally abandoned them with her grandmother who has severe health problems and is unable to care for them, I feel so bad because they were in tiny hamster cages and are unable to be together because they are male and female (I’m not sure why she bought two different genders) I have to keep them separated for a while until I can schedule a vet appointment to get the male neutered, it’s only for a while but I still feel bad because they try to get to each other and sleep next to each other on the other side of the bars. I cannot believe the conditions that woman put her rats through.
This is really old and I apologize for how late this is to reply; but male rats have the ability to pull their testicles into their own body. So if your sister picked them up she MAY have thought the male was actually female. I had made that mistake a few times when I was breeding them for pets, and it's honestly something that's fairly easy to do.
Ironically, I did start off with two rats from the same tank when PetCo still sold them. One of them unfortunately passed away within one week of me having them so I was left with only Bailey. Bailey was a sweet, loving, and playful little girl so I tried my best to get her another play mate. I think I tried only twice. The first retry ended up falling ill too and the second retry ended up attacking Bailey, even after giving much needed time to get to know each other. The second retry ended up passing away at only about a year old from unknown circumstances. After that, I gave up and made more time for Bailey myself. She honestly wasn't bothered by being alone at all! She was a beautiful little girl who lived to the age of three with no tumors; a very long and unexpected life span for rats usually. Rest in peace my Bailey Babe
Here in Sweden the pet stores get their rats from breeders, sometimes they're even sold out because they get about 10 rats per week, so it is fine with buying from pet stores here! (just to inform the swedish folks)
I've wanted rats for years but my parents won't allow it :(. However, I agree with them because we travel over 3 months of the year so it simply wouldn't be fair on the rats.
indeed my rats get two hours of playtime everyday. I work nights so i take them out every morning and my partner does that every evening. They need fresh water and food everyday and they need a large cage which is tricky to take with you. So yea it would be a bad idea. Very good of you that you understand it!
In Holland you CANNOT buy one rat, you have to buy two. I heard it's illegal to purchase only one (in Holland) because it is no good for their health and well being. I haven't double checked the "illegal" part to see if it's true...however...I'd love for it to be that way everywhere bc they are social creatures and even with human companions , they still need a cage mate of their own kind. I love rats so MUCH, I currently own 12. I adopted two that have physical disabilities....one lost his back leg and my girl, named Pooky, has an impairment in her left shoulder. And they are so gentle, smart, and full of life, each one having their own distinct personalities. The only thing wrong with rats is their short lifespan. 😊 💖💞🐀💞💖
Kind of not a good idea, though. What if someone already had 2 rats, one died, and they can only afford 1 new rat and continue having 2. It is very wrong to enforce that rule for everyone because I myself had to return and replace 1 rat, meaning I had to buy 1 new cagemate for my OG rat.
It is not illegal, but if you go to a pet store and you don’t have rats, they strongly advise you to keep and buy them together, you can buy one if you have proof that you already have one/ multiple at home.
@@VictoriaRaechel I came to this channel because of you. :) I’m debating one wether to get a Hamster, Rat or Parakeet. But before I get them again (by again I mean I had three rats and they died after a good 3-ish years or so. And then I got a hamster poor thing (wait sorry not a thing) I had way to small of a cage🤦🏼♀️. It died after a year to a year and a half. I got another hamster and it died within like three days 🤦🏼♀️and I’m so mad at myself but I was only like eight then. Then we got more rats and we had to return them because they kept escaping and they literally chewed a whole through the cage. I never had a parakeet or a bird.) I feel so bad for all those animals who I possible mad suffer I’m trying to learn from my mistakes and instead of getting a pet the way I did when I was younger I’m actually researching what to do. You have very helpful information that if I decided I wanted a Hamster I would know what to do. I love your channel and sorry if you cringed hearing a the idiotic things I now face palm 🤦🏼♀️about. Thank you for coming to my ted talk.
a few questions, sorry if they’re frequently asked, i’m new here ❤️:) 1. what shall i do if one rat passes away and only one remains? i don’t want them to get upset but i don’t want to get any more rats to introduce as i’m not experienced enough. 2. what cage do you have? how expensive was it? where can you purchase it? 🤗💖
It's a tough one, if you do want to own more rats don't be worried about introducing them, you don't have to be experienced and there's people who can support you. I'd say if one of your rats passes away when the other is younger than two years old then you should definitely consider doing what's best for the rat, whether that's rehoming them to someone who has rats they can live with or getting more rats (unless you don't want to own them again) however if you rat is very elderly say 2+ years and is towards the end of their lifespan sometimes it's too stressful to put them through introductions (eg. If they have health conditions themselves) and a change of environment such as rehoming them would also be stressful so sometimes in that case although it's not ideal, the rat won't be alone for very long as it's towards the end of its life. And I have the rat and ferret cage from petplanet!
@Jay L How is that idiotic BS?? Animals from chain pet stores are often given horrible care and come from bad genetic lines, leading to shorter lifespans, higher chance of getting disease, and maybe poor temperament. Dishing out 20 extra bucks to get purebred rats from a good breeder (or adopting from the shelter) is not a big deal. The extra initial cost is nothing compared to the vet bills that come from dealing with an unhealthy rat. And if you are unwilling to pay a little more money to ensure that your pets have a good life, do you really deserve them?
I am an experienced rat owner/breeder and I really love your videos. They are very informative and the advice you give is spot on! I currently have 10 rats of my own and people think I am crazy but I love them so much, they are honestly the best pets that I have ever had. 😍
I got a single rat from my uncle, she was pregnant and gave birth three days after getting them. They were free roam in our house.after we gave up the mama and the rest of her litter we kept two of them for us and we ended up keeping them in a cage. This is really insightful cuz we're getting new ones now about 6 years after they passed.
Its okay if you got your pets from pet stores. Its not so much about making these mistakes as it is learning from them for the future and stopping the trend. Just go love your rats because they are amazing none the less
Think of it as rescuing the animals from the shop. I got my two boy guinea pigs from a pet shop, because in the country I live in, there are no guinea pig rescues. But, where are I live, its illegal to get them from mills, and they have to get them from a breeder.
Yeesss! Thank you! So many people downplay the harm caused by buying rats from pet shops, even the many of the people who advocate all the correct information about how they should be cared for afterwards. Rodent mills need to be addressed much more often in the rodent keeping communities. And even if you can't find a suuuper responsible, perfect breeder in your area (the most common excuse), you should still go for the best possible. Don't just give up and pretend there is no difference between a rodent mill and a backyard breeder who just had an accidental litter. At least the backyard breeder isn't purposely causing suffering to thousands of animals.
I would honestly talk about rodent / pet mills every day if I could, and if it stopped people from buying animals from there! The majority of rats (and other rodents) I see that are being rehomed or advertised on selling websites are usually all rats that were originally from pet shops, people get frustrated with them because they're terrified and won't warm up to them after months, and I get so many messages from people every week saying that they've tried everything to bond with their rats and nothing is working and wanting me to help, but when I ask 90% of them have been sourced from a pet store so it's no wonder so many issues arise. The majority of small pets needing to be rehomed could be prevented if people just stopped buying from pet stores and getting sick and unfriendly animals :( As terrible as backyard breeders also are, they're probably a lot more likely to have handled their rats and socialised them a lot more than those that come from a pet store. Unfortunately I think there are some people that will never listen, and just want a quick, easy impulse buy from a store and it breaks my heart :(
The Catmother You may have a point when it comes to more expensive animals like dogs, but do you honestly believe that one can make money by selling rats for $30, while still providing them with decent living conditions? A rat breeder needs at least two critter nations (one for males and one for females), and then they need to fill them with hides, bedding, and toys, none of which will last very long if they get chewed. Additionally, watching babies grow up is plenty rewarding for a breeder who loves their animals. Additionally, if you actually did some research on this, you'd find that most good breeders actually have waiting lists, and therefore have no need to sell their animals to pet shops. (Additionally, most good rat breeders want to make sure that their rats end up in good homes, and not as snake food, and would avoid selling to pet shops for that reason alone.) Yes, my first rats also came from pet shops, and I was also lucky to end up with wonderfully friendly, healthy little love bugs. However, that doesn't negate the horrible life their parents probably led. At the time, I didn't know about this, but now that I do, I feel that as a rat lover, I shouldn't knowingly contribute to such abuse, even if I would still get perfectly good pets out of it. Would you buy a dog from a puppy mill just because it would still love you? I hope not.
I don't know any reputable breeder who would sell their animals to a pet store, and have never heard of any I know of doing so. A GOOD breeder would much prefer to oversee the sale of their rats themselves, to ensure they're going to a good home, with proper care, and to also ensure their care whilst they're with them. A good breeder will also want to stay in contact with the person who takes their babies, and be a point of contact if anything goes wrong, and that point of contact probably wouldnt exist if a third party like a pet store was involved. I've tried to get rats from breeders before and been unsuccessful because they're in such high demand (which i guess is a good thing that a lot of people are going to them!) so I wouldn't necessarily say it is easier. I'm also close to a few people in the breeding 'world' and can confirm that each and every one of them just about break even with what they spend on their rats compared to what they would make from selling babies and some of them probably spend more money on it than they get back. Most breeders who are GOOD breeders will breed because its a hobby and a passion and also because they want to improve rats as a species, they do this by selectively breeding what rats they breed to make healthier friendly rats, and the cost of these babies are only really there in place to ensure that they go to a home that is genuine, and usually only really covers the cost of having raised them for 6-8 weeks before hand and providing additional things such as a maternity cage, bedding, food and sometimes vet bills for a large litter. Unfortunately, if a breeder is selling their animals to a pet store, it may well be an easier option for them, because the conditions that they're breeding their rats in are close to as bad as what some of the rodent mills look like and handing the rats over to a store is easier than having future owners view where they breed them (in breeding racks / tubs etc). As many good breeders there are, there's also Backyard breeders who mass breed rats without any consideration to health, temperment, and they may sell their animals to pet stores so I wouldn't rule it out completely! I'm glad to hear that your rats are healthy and friendly though, not everyone is that lucky!
I live in Eastern Europe and there are no responsible rodent breeders in my country. It just isn't a profession. All of my hamsters I have had were adopted from accidental litters, mostly people who bought a female from the pet shop that turned out to be pregnant. I would never get a rodent from a pet shop, but there is also no good option for me to support :(
Wow...the point about not buying rats from pet stores really got to me...i was about to buy rats from a pet store, but you just changed my mind. Thank you so much. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻💙💚🐀🐁
@@mrnoodlesthegreat The OP asked for a good breeder, can't really find one of those without a location, right? They weren't asking for a specific location which actually would have been creepy. They were probably asking for a general area such as a state/province or something
I have had multiple single rats in the past and I bought 2 recently and still have 1 single....I feel so bad now for my oldest! Thank you for your knowledge!
In Poland where I live the most popular information about how long should rats be playing outside the cage is at least TWO hours per day. For sure there are some days when you just cannot have them out any longer than half an hour but from my experience it's not enough for them to excercise outside the cage only half an hour a day on a regular basis.
Sunday I get my first ratties. I am binge watching your channel all day before I get them. Thank you for sharing all of your knowledge about rats, whether it is from research or from experience ( both good and bad )
I really really appreciate the content that you make and am so glad I found it at the right time. I didn’t know about the breeding mills nor did the person at the shop tell me I needed a companion as well for my little guy. I’ve always desired to have a pet of my own and my childhood best friend grew up with rats and they were always just the best so I took I leap but boy am I glad to now know the proper ways and especially make sure that he has a partner besides me in this life because we all deserve and desire to have interaction and contact with others. Thank you for also being thorough and making sure your points are getting across and having so many other videos that are insightful and helpful!
I got my first two ratties last week and got them from a pet store because there weren't any breeders near me. That was one of my mistakes because both of them had a respiratory infection and one had stomach issues right from the store :\
I don’t go to BIG petshops to buy my pocket pets, instead I go to a smaller pet store where I know the owner and where they are getting the pets from :)
I'm a first-time rat owner and I just adopted two young female rats from Petco less than a week ago. I've got them housed in a 40 gallon aquarium tank with a caged-in tank topper. I've built them several little "rat houses" out of bits of scrap wood from my dad's workshop; one is a little hut, the other is a multi-floored tower. The tank has about an inch of Carefresh bedding in it (white so I can tell where they do their business more easily), and they have a horizontal-ish wheel to run on. There's also a ramp as well as a clear tube leading up to the plastic floor of the tank-topper, where I have their food, water, and a few toys. The top is also where I pick them up from for out-of-cage time (about an hour at a time). They're still a little wary of me (understandable, I haven't had them for very long yet) and I only bring them out or try to handle them when they're in their upper area. I think I'm doing ok as a first-time rat dad, but my main question is this: in your opinion, will any glass tank not have enough ventilation, even if it has an open top like mine does?
@beebix247 IM FIRST TIME RAT OWNER I HAVE ONLY GOTTEN ONE FEMALE AND THINGS BEEN FINE I HAVE HER IN A BIN WITH A LID I DRILLED HOLES ON THE TOP SHES FINE I ALSO BOUGHT A BIG BALL FOR HER TO RUN AROUND IN I USE TO LEAVE HER LOOSE AFTER FEW WEEKS HER GETTING USED TO ME SHE LISTEN WHEN I CALL HER TO COME WHEN I LET HER RUN LOOSE IN THE YARD
I got my rats from a breeder and they aren’t as friendly as yours. They aren’t very cuddly and are still jumpy even though I’ve had them for over a year.
I didn’t know that you weren’t supposed to bathe them! I saw so many videos saying that you should. My boys have always hated baths so I always felt bad doing it. Now I’m glad they don’t have to go through that. Thank you.
Thank you for your useful contents. I live in Italy and unfortunately two days ago, I, not knowing the situation behind these kinds of shops, I bought 3 female rats. They're two/three months old and they sneeze a lot and one sounds like a squeaky toy, and it's scaring me so much. Today is Monday and I've got the vet appointment on Wednesday, so two more days... I'm so ashamed for buying them with my girlfriend. I'm trying to give them all the love I can, and ordered the Savic Zeno Empire 3 cage as a starter, and I know it's pretty big, and getting more and more accessories. For now they're in a big plastic tank with holes and never closed lid. I just make sure they don't have enough space to jump out the temporary cage with the lid, during the night. I know I should have left them there, I know I'll probably have ill animals or with worst luck animals passing away because of terrible breeding. What's done is done and what's left is bringing them to the vet and give them their new cage with their toys and their good food. I ordered Selective food which is suggested by many many people, and for now they're eating "complete", a brand called "bunny", some zucchini and kale and Malt paste just wetting my finger with it to make them eat it from my hand. They were bred for snakes, the seller told me, but I insisted I wanted to "save them". Of course these 3 won't die from neglection or being eaten, but I'm so sorry I gave money to the monster of animal selling. I hope my rats will make it on Wednesday for the vet visit! The sound they make is scary. Most of all the squeaky toy one.
I adopted a rat that cant actually live with other rats. she was abused before i got her and was used as a bait rat for other rats to attack. So when i got her i knew this was an issue and that she cant be with other rats as she will attack them. How can i help her?
maybe first put something with the scent of the other rats in her cage for a few weeks, then put the cages next to each other see how it goes this way she can first get used to your other rats scent and recognize it as safe. Then maybe leave them together in a place that isn’t either of their cages so on the ground keep them supervised at all time for a few minutes and see how it goes this way you can very slowly let them get used to each other
Thank you so much for making this video, I'm studying a course in companion animal care & services at the moment, and your video has been very helpful in understanding Rats, their needs, personalities and what enrichment they need. Thank you so much! Cheers Johnathon
i'm glad i came across this video. i know it wasn't your intention to make anyone feel bad but i've felt bad for awhile bc when i first got my first rat i didn't know you shouldn't get only one, i have since gotten 2 more but i haven't introduced them physically just yet, i'm a bit nervous about that
I’ve noticed you have a new rat cage and I am wondering if an updated rat cage/your/cleaning routine is coming? I would love to see that as I am always looking for ideas for my boys cage! 💕 love your videos!
Hello everyone! Before I ask what I came here for, I just want to say that Emi you are an amazing UA-camr and I'm glad you have made it this far. But now...I live in Tennessee, USA and I wanted to get 3 male baby rats, at least under 4 months if I can't get 6-7 week old one. I am willing to drive around Nashville, Murfreesboro, Franklin, Columbia, Spring Hill, Thompson's Station. And anywhere around that area. I am also willing to drive the top of Alabama. I really want to get rats but most areas do not have rats that are not from pet stores. :( :( :( :( :( I also do not want a hairless rat or albino rat. I love all kind of rats but the albino and the hairless freak me out. Also, none with red eyes please (i think that what albino means lol!) I really hope you can find me 3 male rats for under $40. PLEASE FIND ME SOME BABIES!
I did have a pair but one of them past away due a lump found in her kidney. So I would say two possibly important points were missed. 1. Check your rats daily or at least every other day for health issues such as lumps as these can become inoperable very fast. 2. If you can’t afford veterinary care for your rat, or any animal, you should not home one. It is irresponsible. Especially as rats would need to see an exotic specialist to ensure the best care.
When I got my first rat I didn’t know not to get them from a pet store. The poor darling had an absolutely horrible skin condition, but he still found time to show affections to me.... he passed away young because of this and I miss him every day. Please don’t support pet store breeding so rats get better and longer lives!!!!
I think this is so helpful because I think I am getting a pair of rats for my birthday and my dad had loads as a kid he turned his garage into a home for so Many rats that needed homes and he had is favourite she was called ki ki she was so well trained that if you put your hand down on command she would climb up you and he took it to his work but sadly she died and he was devastated
This video was super educational!! We rescued two baby rats a few days ago, to prevent them from a pretty nasty death. It was quite last minute, so the past couple of days we've had to do as much research as we possibly could to give them the best! After seeing this video, it helped me realize that we're definitely gonna need more tubes and hammocks. Thanks!
My little ratatat lived to be 6 years old. My others were also 4 to 5. I couldn't see how a rat would only live to be 2 years old. My oldest lived alone and I spent every waking day of my teenage years with her. When she got tumors we had them removed. She was the best little pet ever. Passed away in her sleep in her favorite blanket with me watching over her. I was a young kid and always had time to spend with her. If I wasn't there my mom was. She was never alone. She stayed out of her cage. She hated other rats. I tried to give her companions, she drew blood and we split them up. She hated the cats too. All she wanted was people. If was napping she also would be in the bed with me sleeping. I do not have the time to spend with a rat these days. But I sure do miss having a fluffy little buddy in my pockets and on my shoulder stealing my food.
I've just bought my 15yo 2rats we,ve had them a month n I'm in love. 💖We started litter training last night after watching another video of yours n it states to put their poo in litter tray n move it to corner they mostly use as toilet. Unfortunately this is their house corner so I swapped them over and when we woke up this morning they were sleeping in their litter tray urghhh not a good start 😂
when I was little me and my brother each got a rat and they loved eachother... Second day, my rat died.... (She had been sick for awhile in the store) story short... our rat lived alone :c
We found out rat abandoned at a train station in the Colorado winter. We had him for 10 months beefier he got another rat friend. He stayed happy and healthy with our cat. As well, he was free range. Our rat, now rats, are not kept in a cage. We have 1000 Sqft apartment and they are allowed to go anywhere that they want. Our second rat we adopted as a baby from a shelter. Chai, the albino that was our first sleeps with us in our bed and loves our kitty. Neither wife nor I work because of disability. He gets to be with us all of the time and he works as my Emotional Support Animal. He does great and now they both go everywhere. So, you can have just one, if you keep other FRIENDLY animals around and you let them in bed with you. We got a second cat and the all 4 get along. The rats learned to use the litter box so we have to keep low dust litter. Also, with free range rats you have to accept that all of your sheets and clothes are getting chewed and you are going to have poop in ALL of your shoes! And you constantly have to change sheets due to urine trails. Instead of being we found that old clothing cut up is great because you can despose it when done and they have a constant connection to you. They have an incredible sense of smell but, eye sight isn't great. Keeping their strong senses stimulated is important but, not messing with their faces, they can get intimidated if they don't know the smell of something they see. Feeding is also really important, do a video on the benefits of feeding rats fresh foods and yogurts rather than pellets. Pellets can contain alfalfa and other things they shouldn't have.
Same here, its so fun to watch their little personalities emerge as they get confidence in their surroundings, happy rats for sure are free ranging rats!
I use fleece blankets for my 4 handsome boys. They tuck themselves in, and love how soft they are. I replace the blankets about once per week, and have them out for walks all the time. I feed them oxbow food, and I'm working on getting a LOT of climbing gear for them. I have hammocks and a few other items hanging around but I feel like they need more. I give them plenty of chew sticks and plenty of kabobs to wear their teeth down. They seem to be happy but I'm always working to better their cage and quality of life.
Thank you so much for this video! I was debating on what pet I should get and I really wanted a rat so ive been doing some research. This helped me so much in realizing I definatly dont have the time or money right now. Hopefully in the future I can adopt rats and thanks to you I'll know how to do it the right way!
One of my rat babies loves to sleep in my shirt when I'm working >< its so cute! I'm currently trying to turn a part of my work area into a daytime vertical rat run so that the other one can have a little nested spot on it and be close to him brother whilst he sleeps in my clothes.
I like your videos as well as I like rats. You seem to know a lot about them. I was gonna buy two rats(I know so far they can not live alone) but I feel like I'm not fully prepared for them yet(anyway my my family isn't yet). I will be watching what you doing and maybe time comes when I finaly become an owner. All the best for You.
Marcin- try the Creek Valley Critters youtube vids! You will learn so much and be entertained for hours with her rodent adventures. So cute to watch with kids too. This vid is not what I'd call good. Lots of misinformation. (Rats need to be bathed! She says no? Why?) Rats love a good bath. They will popcorn all over when they are dry :)
I have a rat I saved that I love so much. She gave birth four days later and let me tell you that it has been a learning experience! I love the babies so much too. Three are staying in the same household(till I strike out on my own then it will be split between us two each-mama going w/ me obviously and my little dominate spot girl
Hey, I think that's the same cage I have! Definitely a good cage but any bars they walk on have to be covered with layers of fabric or something so it's not harsh on their feet (if that is the same cage I have, that is).
I'm finally able to buy a rat and I almost got one from a pet store but then I stumbled across a post of someone who was moving and needed to rehome there's! I've been patiently waiting and I'll finally be getting my two boys tomorrow
I have one male rat... got him as a birthday gift from my daughter when he was about a month old... he's now 2 years old, healthy and both of us are happy. I've watched many videos saying what you've said so I am not picking on you but I am saying he is my first and only pet rat I've ever had and we are both happy and problem free. :-)
Just because he has lived a full lifespan does not mean he is thriving and wouldn’t do better with the social company they’re meant to have. In future please don’t just purchase one rat and get two from the start ☺️
@@Emiology Update.... my best buddy died suddenly while sleeping all comfy 3 days ago. I came into the room and petted him as usual but he was lifeless. He was such a good boy... I am balling my eyes out even writing this. I feel so sad and melancholy each morning I wake up now I feel my comment caused this bad Karma for Lemme and I. I want you to know...when I am ready... I will get multiple rats., its sound advice. Might be tomorrow because this heartache really sucks and I need my rat kisses
Thank you so much for the "bluntness" of your video, especially regarding having more than one rat. It's ASTOUNDING how many times I've heard that someone could "only afford one rat." C'mon now, if you can afford 1 rat, you can afford 6 or 7 🤷🏽♂
I swear I once got 2 rats, but one was attacking the other one, and she made the other bleed, so I had to separate them, I felt bad for the other one because she was so nice and loved to be held. Rip though, I miss them
rat draws my rats do the same but we have not separated them. They will fight very aggressively and have cuts all over themselves. But other times they will cuddle and sleep together and it’s so sweet so I don’t want to separate them, am I making a mistake
This was a good video for me to find because I wanted to impose buy a rat and now I’m more informed and I wait until I can build a great home for them and make sure I get 2 I was only going to get one, I’m so glad I’m doing research on rats now before getting them.
I bought 2 rats, one rescued and one wasn’t an option to adopt. My rescued rat didn’t get along with his buddy and was simply aggressive towards him. Any tips? I really need help to figure out how to keep him
One of my local pet stores currently only has one rat and when I saw this I desperately wanted to adopt him to give him some mates. Sadly I don’t have the home for rats yet (not allowed) or else I would have. Can’t wait to adopt some
Oh I’m glad I did my rat right back in the day. I had a rat way back maybe 7 years ago. Use to keep her with me and played outside the cage constantly. She loved playing fetch. I ended up getting a second one a week later to keep her company. Unfortunately they played a lot while I was at school and my uncle who was staying with us heard them and threw a fuss. Lucky for me my sister took them in and I’d go play with them every few days. They lived a full 3 years but I miss them. Glad I did them right because I could never find info on how to care for rats back then.
I got my first rats from a friend of mine thats parents have a pet shop(I initially wanted to get hamsters but she told me how rats are better and dont bite).. they bred all the rats themselves and i got first pick of the litter and got to take my two boys home.. They were the most adorable pets, somehow nothing of mine got destroyed and they got along with my cat too😂😂.. im thinking about getting another pair after stumbling across your channel!!
I’m thinking about getting 2 rats soon is it okay if I diy my own 5 story book shelf? I know that you said they need wire cages because they love to climb but I was thinking I could just just some wood and make stair cases on the walls and I can get toy ladders and put them on the wall! Also I am going to diy the doors for the shelf I just wanted to make sure if they neeeeeeeeeed a wire cage or I can just do this
I got my rats from a petstore a couple months ago, and I'm having some issues with getting them to stop biting me. (I don't know if it's because they were poorly socialized or not, but it's bad.) Do you have any advice for dealing with that?
I’m getting new rats tomorrow and we were looking at pet stores luckily we didn’t find any before we bought 2 rats thank goodness I watched this video before we bought them
Well Brittant this is NOT a great video to watch for rats. She is wrong on a lot of things. Like not bathing them. Ive had rats for 35 years- always bathed them and they enjoy it after too.. they just popcorn allover :)
I would not recommend, wild rats can be vicious, but I also took in a father and son wild rats. My friend was breeding wild rats he caught for feeding his snakes. And these 2 were shockingly friendly with people! The father loved meeting new people and Jr lol became the biggest fattest cowardly gentle giant! Size of a squirrel! Loved his dad and only liked being held by me, scared of other people but NEVER bit anyone. Neither did. Father just like many others I had like a good dog just loved kids and meeting new people!
Mistake one: must have more than one
Me: glances over at my 6 rats
Me: ok we are starting strong
bruh same
0-0Wowie!That's so cool! My little one was a special behavioural case so he is housed alone but I can't wait to get more rats!!
My mom says AHHHH NO YOU GUAGH when she sees my rats 😂
@@freyae6883 that probably means you have to get your rat fixed.
@@gamer_rabbit19 We have tryed ever since birth he has been like that he is very social to us but i think he doesnt know he is a rat🤣but he is happy and we have talked to a vet and they said sometimes that just the case for them.
if you turn subtitles on, this is a video about pet rocks.
Graceo Cakeo 😂😂
for me, it was pet raps
My is heart????!!!! 😂
Graceo Cakeo Thats amazing 😂
Pet "rights"
mistake: not spending enough time with your rats
me: is watching this video with them
Same lmao
Haha me as well!
Same lmao
There are probably exceptions if you're adding just 1 to a communal cage.
I'm doing that to lol
Hanna Montana said it right, “Everyone makes mistakes,everyone has those days.”
That was in my head every time I was rewatching whilst editing haha
I think when you get a rat you need to considerate it as much as you would do with a dog. For me it's like a small dog. It needs to go out of the cage as much as possible, needs attention, can learn many things. It's not a big hamster, it's much more than that.
ABSOLUTELY.
i can do this, does it still mean i need2 rats?
@@hihungryimdad YES
Glass Subliminals Nah. But if you can, do it!!!! For at night and stuff
Hamsters are awesome too!
My friend gave me a rat ( he was kept in a glass cage for most of his life) he was kept alone and they never did anything with them because they where scared of them. I’ve had em for almost 2 months, he’s got a friend and is much happier. He’s still trying to warm up to people but he’s doing so much better.
They really do leave in the blink of an eye😢 but their memories are left with us for a life time❤️ missing my girls everyday!
meganthe ratlover so cute rat in the picture
Thats what i fear...i got 2 yesterday and already have the fear...but i dont want the fear to stand between our bond
I'm living in a quite small town in Germany and we have a pet shop here. Not like a chain company. It's a store which is run by a sweet lady. You only can buy pets sometimes, only if here own pets get babies. You also can visit her pets. It's a very good pet shop😊
Michelle Blake it’s nice to know that there are pet stores like this but I hope that other people understand that not all pet shops are really good ones
Sounds like this lady really loves animals!
What's the name of the shop. I'm planning to get two or three rat's on the near future :)
Same here! I live in a big town and all of the pet stores have really good breeders.
Oh, hätte nicht gedacht das ich einen anderen Deutschen hier finde XD
Also...hi :D
I am guilty of so many of these and it makes me so sad. We did a rat project in my high school psychology class where we trained them to do tricks. We got to keep our rat at the end of the project if we wanted and but we were never given GOOD care information. I had no idea rats need a buddy. At one point I had 3 rats (2 females and 1 male) and they each had their own cages. Why? I HAVE NO IDEA WHY! I guess because in class all the rats were kept seperate in small cages. Now almost a decade later, I got rats again. This time I did my research and have 4 little girls in a huge cage that would be big enough for 9 (not getting 9 though!) I wish that teacher would make sure her students knew how to properly care for their rats. I have met a couple kids who have taken that class in recent years... both have only 1 rat.
Yes unfortunately I still hear of schools still doing things like this with rats and I’m so confused on how they get away with it!
My high school did a project just like that! I still have my rat, sadly she lives alone. Would it be worth it to get another rat? I know the process of introducing them takes awhile...
Everyone makes mistakes you didn’t know One mistake won’t end the world
@@taylorlefever623 so, what did you do?
Taylor Lefeverr This probably late but if you didn’t already, yes it would be worth it to get a second rat.
I just recently rescued two rats from a bad situation where a friend of mine’s sister literally abandoned them with her grandmother who has severe health problems and is unable to care for them, I feel so bad because they were in tiny hamster cages and are unable to be together because they are male and female (I’m not sure why she bought two different genders) I have to keep them separated for a while until I can schedule a vet appointment to get the male neutered, it’s only for a while but I still feel bad because they try to get to each other and sleep next to each other on the other side of the bars. I cannot believe the conditions that woman put her rats through.
This is really old and I apologize for how late this is to reply; but male rats have the ability to pull their testicles into their own body. So if your sister picked them up she MAY have thought the male was actually female. I had made that mistake a few times when I was breeding them for pets, and it's honestly something that's fairly easy to do.
I just bought a rat and after watching this video I now realize I need to quit my job and put my human kids up for adoption. Thanks for the tips.
No need to quit your job 😂 if you haven’t already, getting them a friend so they’re not lonely is a good place to start 💕
😂💀
Emiology hello! Can you please help me I am getting 2 rats but should I get a cage and use cat litter for the bottom? Will it be the same or no..?
TeaTime please don’t use cat litter, rats have very very sensitive respiratory symptoms, you can use fleece but I prefer paper bedding
@@milktae9068 you can use some yesterday's news or back2nature
Ironically, I did start off with two rats from the same tank when PetCo still sold them. One of them unfortunately passed away within one week of me having them so I was left with only Bailey. Bailey was a sweet, loving, and playful little girl so I tried my best to get her another play mate. I think I tried only twice. The first retry ended up falling ill too and the second retry ended up attacking Bailey, even after giving much needed time to get to know each other. The second retry ended up passing away at only about a year old from unknown circumstances. After that, I gave up and made more time for Bailey myself. She honestly wasn't bothered by being alone at all! She was a beautiful little girl who lived to the age of three with no tumors; a very long and unexpected life span for rats usually. Rest in peace my Bailey Babe
I got two hoppers from aquarama but literally all of their rats had the sniffles and they ended up dying. I think their ferrets were sick too.
The ones I bought, I mean.
Here in Sweden the pet stores get their rats from breeders, sometimes they're even sold out because they get about 10 rats per week, so it is fine with buying from pet stores here! (just to inform the swedish folks)
gloomytaco same in finland too! in some other countires the whole pet store game is terrible
Same goes for Norway too!
Scandinavia seems like the place to be if you want a rat.
omg this is my other channel nonononokandnd i didnt realize my comment blew up
You have given me so much information I’m so excited to get my three boys .
Omg we want to get 3 boys too once we have bought a house in around a year! Sooo excited already and we are more than 12 months away from owning them
@@medearene6822 I hope you were able to get them!!
I've wanted rats for years but my parents won't allow it :(. However, I agree with them because we travel over 3 months of the year so it simply wouldn't be fair on the rats.
Lauren Mitchell 😢🥺😭🐀
indeed my rats get two hours of playtime everyday. I work nights so i take them out every morning and my partner does that every evening. They need fresh water and food everyday and they need a large cage which is tricky to take with you. So yea it would be a bad idea. Very good of you that you understand it!
My first rat lived 5 years. I treated him like my baby. His name was Kevin 😊
Aww! So sweet! :)
In Holland you CANNOT buy one rat, you have to buy two. I heard it's illegal to purchase only one (in Holland) because it is no good for their health and well being. I haven't double checked the "illegal" part to see if it's true...however...I'd love for it to be that way everywhere bc they are social creatures and even with human companions , they still need a cage mate of their own kind.
I love rats so MUCH, I currently own 12. I adopted two that have physical disabilities....one lost his back leg and my girl, named Pooky, has an impairment in her left shoulder. And they are so gentle, smart, and full of life, each one having their own distinct personalities. The only thing wrong with rats is their short lifespan. 😊 💖💞🐀💞💖
Kind of not a good idea, though. What if someone already had 2 rats, one died, and they can only afford 1 new rat and continue having 2. It is very wrong to enforce that rule for everyone because I myself had to return and replace 1 rat, meaning I had to buy 1 new cagemate for my OG rat.
Why is your rat being happy with another a bad thing?
@@jazzyangelflower3344 sorry, what? Confused.
@@jazzyangelflower3344 He can't buy second rat, cz you can't get them seperatly. He have to buy another two, so he will have 3.
It is not illegal, but if you go to a pet store and you don’t have rats, they strongly advise you to keep and buy them together, you can buy one if you have proof that you already have one/ multiple at home.
5:05 mlem mlem mlem
U R ALSO A GOOD UA-camR
@@user-wm1du1ko4j thank you! 🙊
Omg ilysm
@@VictoriaRaechel I came to this channel because of you. :)
I’m debating one wether to get a Hamster, Rat or Parakeet. But before I get them again (by again I mean I had three rats and they died after a good 3-ish years or so. And then I got a hamster poor thing (wait sorry not a thing) I had way to small of a cage🤦🏼♀️. It died after a year to a year and a half. I got another hamster and it died within like three days 🤦🏼♀️and I’m so mad at myself but I was only like eight then. Then we got more rats and we had to return them because they kept escaping and they literally chewed a whole through the cage. I never had a parakeet or a bird.) I feel so bad for all those animals who I possible mad suffer I’m trying to learn from my mistakes and instead of getting a pet the way I did when I was younger I’m actually researching what to do. You have very helpful information that if I decided I wanted a Hamster I would know what to do. I love your channel and sorry if you cringed hearing a the idiotic things I now face palm 🤦🏼♀️about. Thank you for coming to my ted talk.
Only 65 likes
*w h a t*
a few questions, sorry if they’re frequently asked, i’m new here ❤️:)
1. what shall i do if one rat passes away and only one remains? i don’t want them to get upset but i don’t want to get any more rats to introduce as i’m not experienced enough.
2. what cage do you have? how expensive was it? where can you purchase it?
🤗💖
It's a tough one, if you do want to own more rats don't be worried about introducing them, you don't have to be experienced and there's people who can support you. I'd say if one of your rats passes away when the other is younger than two years old then you should definitely consider doing what's best for the rat, whether that's rehoming them to someone who has rats they can live with or getting more rats (unless you don't want to own them again) however if you rat is very elderly say 2+ years and is towards the end of their lifespan sometimes it's too stressful to put them through introductions (eg. If they have health conditions themselves) and a change of environment such as rehoming them would also be stressful so sometimes in that case although it's not ideal, the rat won't be alone for very long as it's towards the end of its life.
And I have the rat and ferret cage from petplanet!
I wish rats could live more way more ;(( at least wish their average lifespan was 5 years
Yeah 3 years is SO short :(
@Jay L How is that idiotic BS?? Animals from chain pet stores are often given horrible care and come from bad genetic lines, leading to shorter lifespans, higher chance of getting disease, and maybe poor temperament. Dishing out 20 extra bucks to get purebred rats from a good breeder (or adopting from the shelter) is not a big deal. The extra initial cost is nothing compared to the vet bills that come from dealing with an unhealthy rat. And if you are unwilling to pay a little more money to ensure that your pets have a good life, do you really deserve them?
I am an experienced rat owner/breeder and I really love your videos. They are very informative and the advice you give is spot on! I currently have 10 rats of my own and people think I am crazy but I love them so much, they are honestly the best pets that I have ever had. 😍
I got a single rat from my uncle, she was pregnant and gave birth three days after getting them. They were free roam in our house.after we gave up the mama and the rest of her litter we kept two of them for us and we ended up keeping them in a cage. This is really insightful cuz we're getting new ones now about 6 years after they passed.
Oh got my rats from a pet shop, I know I shouldn’t have but they still have a really great bond with me anyway.
Thank you so much for all the tips i love watching your vids 💜 i also feel bad becauase i got my rats from a pet stores ☹
Its okay if you got your pets from pet stores. Its not so much about making these mistakes as it is learning from them for the future and stopping the trend. Just go love your rats because they are amazing none the less
Sams and I feel bad 😞
@@lynnettetaitano7687 thank you, i feel much better 😊
Think of it as rescuing the animals from the shop. I got my two boy guinea pigs from a pet shop, because in the country I live in, there are no guinea pig rescues. But, where are I live, its illegal to get them from mills, and they have to get them from a breeder.
Hi imee! I love your videos and my ratties! Thank you for making this video it will really help me
When you finally do get rats you realize how intensely social they are. It's who they are.
This is my first rat. Will go back for the second one so she’s not lonely!
Aaah I love your cute squishy babies 😍
I got new rats yesterday! We have some earlier experience and we're in love again. Thanks for al the tips! They really help!
Yeesss! Thank you! So many people downplay the harm caused by buying rats from pet shops, even the many of the people who advocate all the correct information about how they should be cared for afterwards. Rodent mills need to be addressed much more often in the rodent keeping communities.
And even if you can't find a suuuper responsible, perfect breeder in your area (the most common excuse), you should still go for the best possible. Don't just give up and pretend there is no difference between a rodent mill and a backyard breeder who just had an accidental litter. At least the backyard breeder isn't purposely causing suffering to thousands of animals.
I would honestly talk about rodent / pet mills every day if I could, and if it stopped people from buying animals from there! The majority of rats (and other rodents) I see that are being rehomed or advertised on selling websites are usually all rats that were originally from pet shops, people get frustrated with them because they're terrified and won't warm up to them after months, and I get so many messages from people every week saying that they've tried everything to bond with their rats and nothing is working and wanting me to help, but when I ask 90% of them have been sourced from a pet store so it's no wonder so many issues arise. The majority of small pets needing to be rehomed could be prevented if people just stopped buying from pet stores and getting sick and unfriendly animals :(
As terrible as backyard breeders also are, they're probably a lot more likely to have handled their rats and socialised them a lot more than those that come from a pet store. Unfortunately I think there are some people that will never listen, and just want a quick, easy impulse buy from a store and it breaks my heart :(
The Catmother You may have a point when it comes to more expensive animals like dogs, but do you honestly believe that one can make money by selling rats for $30, while still providing them with decent living conditions? A rat breeder needs at least two critter nations (one for males and one for females), and then they need to fill them with hides, bedding, and toys, none of which will last very long if they get chewed.
Additionally, watching babies grow up is plenty rewarding for a breeder who loves their animals.
Additionally, if you actually did some research on this, you'd find that most good breeders actually have waiting lists, and therefore have no need to sell their animals to pet shops. (Additionally, most good rat breeders want to make sure that their rats end up in good homes, and not as snake food, and would avoid selling to pet shops for that reason alone.)
Yes, my first rats also came from pet shops, and I was also lucky to end up with wonderfully friendly, healthy little love bugs. However, that doesn't negate the horrible life their parents probably led. At the time, I didn't know about this, but now that I do, I feel that as a rat lover, I shouldn't knowingly contribute to such abuse, even if I would still get perfectly good pets out of it.
Would you buy a dog from a puppy mill just because it would still love you? I hope not.
I don't know any reputable breeder who would sell their animals to a pet store, and have never heard of any I know of doing so. A GOOD breeder would much prefer to oversee the sale of their rats themselves, to ensure they're going to a good home, with proper care, and to also ensure their care whilst they're with them. A good breeder will also want to stay in contact with the person who takes their babies, and be a point of contact if anything goes wrong, and that point of contact probably wouldnt exist if a third party like a pet store was involved. I've tried to get rats from breeders before and been unsuccessful because they're in such high demand (which i guess is a good thing that a lot of people are going to them!) so I wouldn't necessarily say it is easier.
I'm also close to a few people in the breeding 'world' and can confirm that each and every one of them just about break even with what they spend on their rats compared to what they would make from selling babies and some of them probably spend more money on it than they get back. Most breeders who are GOOD breeders will breed because its a hobby and a passion and also because they want to improve rats as a species, they do this by selectively breeding what rats they breed to make healthier friendly rats, and the cost of these babies are only really there in place to ensure that they go to a home that is genuine, and usually only really covers the cost of having raised them for 6-8 weeks before hand and providing additional things such as a maternity cage, bedding, food and sometimes vet bills for a large litter.
Unfortunately, if a breeder is selling their animals to a pet store, it may well be an easier option for them, because the conditions that they're breeding their rats in are close to as bad as what some of the rodent mills look like and handing the rats over to a store is easier than having future owners view where they breed them (in breeding racks / tubs etc). As many good breeders there are, there's also Backyard breeders who mass breed rats without any consideration to health, temperment, and they may sell their animals to pet stores so I wouldn't rule it out completely!
I'm glad to hear that your rats are healthy and friendly though, not everyone is that lucky!
I live in Eastern Europe and there are no responsible rodent breeders in my country. It just isn't a profession. All of my hamsters I have had were adopted from accidental litters, mostly people who bought a female from the pet shop that turned out to be pregnant. I would never get a rodent from a pet shop, but there is also no good option for me to support :(
I don't think not buying pet rats from pet stores will aid in shutting down rat mills because stores also sell feeder rats for people who own snakes.
Wow...the point about not buying rats from pet stores really got to me...i was about to buy rats from a pet store, but you just changed my mind. Thank you so much. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻💙💚🐀🐁
Haha, I stole and washed my dog's fleece blanket and cut it up for my girls. Sorry Martha! 🐶-🐭🐀
Rip
thank you I'm getting rats soon and I''m learning everything from your channel💖 I would never have known about the bedding!!
I know your probably not going to see this but, can you tell me where you got your rats because i can't find a good breeder ^^"
Where do you live?
@@AlexanderWeixelbaumer wth. Creep
@@mrnoodlesthegreat The OP asked for a good breeder, can't really find one of those without a location, right?
They weren't asking for a specific location which actually would have been creepy. They were probably asking for a general area such as a state/province or something
@@mrnoodlesthegreat they wanted to know so just in case they knew any lol
Alexander Weixelbaumer I live in north eastern Ohio. Do u know any??
I have had multiple single rats in the past and I bought 2 recently and still have 1 single....I feel so bad now for my oldest! Thank you for your knowledge!
in one of my favorite books, the main character shoplifted her two rats. it was written in 2007. please let that sink in.
In Poland where I live the most popular information about how long should rats be playing outside the cage is at least TWO hours per day. For sure there are some days when you just cannot have them out any longer than half an hour but from my experience it's not enough for them to excercise outside the cage only half an hour a day on a regular basis.
Sunday I get my first ratties. I am binge watching your channel all day before I get them. Thank you for sharing all of your knowledge about rats, whether it is from research or from experience ( both good and bad )
I found these really cute rats at my shelter but my mom is making me wait till after the virus but I am gonna buy things before hand 😅
I really really appreciate the content that you make and am so glad I found it at the right time. I didn’t know about the breeding mills nor did the person at the shop tell me I needed a companion as well for my little guy. I’ve always desired to have a pet of my own and my childhood best friend grew up with rats and they were always just the best so I took I leap but boy am I glad to now know the proper ways and especially make sure that he has a partner besides me in this life because we all deserve and desire to have interaction and contact with others. Thank you for also being thorough and making sure your points are getting across and having so many other videos that are insightful and helpful!
My rat died :( im crying rn he was Like that 🐁;(
Im sorry :(. Hug
I got my first two ratties last week and got them from a pet store because there weren't any breeders near me. That was one of my mistakes because both of them had a respiratory infection and one had stomach issues right from the store :\
I don’t go to BIG petshops to buy my pocket pets, instead I go to a smaller pet store where I know the owner and where they are getting the pets from :)
I'm a first-time rat owner and I just adopted two young female rats from Petco less than a week ago. I've got them housed in a 40 gallon aquarium tank with a caged-in tank topper. I've built them several little "rat houses" out of bits of scrap wood from my dad's workshop; one is a little hut, the other is a multi-floored tower. The tank has about an inch of Carefresh bedding in it (white so I can tell where they do their business more easily), and they have a horizontal-ish wheel to run on. There's also a ramp as well as a clear tube leading up to the plastic floor of the tank-topper, where I have their food, water, and a few toys. The top is also where I pick them up from for out-of-cage time (about an hour at a time). They're still a little wary of me (understandable, I haven't had them for very long yet) and I only bring them out or try to handle them when they're in their upper area. I think I'm doing ok as a first-time rat dad, but my main question is this: in your opinion, will any glass tank not have enough ventilation, even if it has an open top like mine does?
@beebix247 IM FIRST TIME RAT OWNER I HAVE ONLY GOTTEN ONE FEMALE AND THINGS BEEN FINE I HAVE HER IN A BIN WITH A LID I DRILLED HOLES ON THE TOP SHES FINE I ALSO BOUGHT A BIG BALL FOR HER TO RUN AROUND IN I USE TO LEAVE HER LOOSE AFTER FEW WEEKS HER GETTING USED TO ME SHE LISTEN WHEN I CALL HER TO COME WHEN I LET HER RUN LOOSE IN THE YARD
I got my rats from a breeder and they aren’t as friendly as yours. They aren’t very cuddly and are still jumpy even though I’ve had them for over a year.
She has boys tho
I didn’t know that you weren’t supposed to bathe them! I saw so many videos saying that you should. My boys have always hated baths so I always felt bad doing it. Now I’m glad they don’t have to go through that. Thank you.
Adopting rats here soon. Been watching these videos over and over and they have been very helpful.
Thank you for your useful contents. I live in Italy and unfortunately two days ago, I, not knowing the situation behind these kinds of shops, I bought 3 female rats. They're two/three months old and they sneeze a lot and one sounds like a squeaky toy, and it's scaring me so much.
Today is Monday and I've got the vet appointment on Wednesday, so two more days... I'm so ashamed for buying them with my girlfriend. I'm trying to give them all the love I can, and ordered the Savic Zeno Empire 3 cage as a starter, and I know it's pretty big, and getting more and more accessories. For now they're in a big plastic tank with holes and never closed lid.
I just make sure they don't have enough space to jump out the temporary cage with the lid, during the night.
I know I should have left them there, I know I'll probably have ill animals or with worst luck animals passing away because of terrible breeding. What's done is done and what's left is bringing them to the vet and give them their new cage with their toys and their good food. I ordered Selective food which is suggested by many many people, and for now they're eating "complete", a brand called "bunny", some zucchini and kale and Malt paste just wetting my finger with it to make them eat it from my hand. They were bred for snakes, the seller told me, but I insisted I wanted to "save them". Of course these 3 won't die from neglection or being eaten, but I'm so sorry I gave money to the monster of animal selling. I hope my rats will make it on Wednesday for the vet visit! The sound they make is scary. Most of all the squeaky toy one.
just bought a rat manor cage from petco and im so happy. my 2 ratties were housed in a bin cage for a week until i finally buy a good and big home
I adopted a rat that cant actually live with other rats. she was abused before i got her and was used as a bait rat for other rats to attack. So when i got her i knew this was an issue and that she cant be with other rats as she will attack them. How can i help her?
and she is fixed, i adopted her as a fixed rat
maybe first put something with the scent of the other rats in her cage for a few weeks, then put the cages next to each other see how it goes this way she can first get used to your other rats scent and recognize it as safe. Then maybe leave them together in a place that isn’t either of their cages so on the ground keep them supervised at all time for a few minutes and see how it goes this way you can very slowly let them get used to each other
I just lost the last of my little ratties. I loved them all. Each had a unique and adorable personality. Wonderful little creatures.
Thank you so much for making this video, I'm studying a course in companion animal care & services at the moment, and your video has been very helpful in understanding Rats, their needs, personalities and what enrichment they need. Thank you so much! Cheers Johnathon
i'm glad i came across this video. i know it wasn't your intention to make anyone feel bad but i've felt bad for awhile bc when i first got my first rat i didn't know you shouldn't get only one, i have since gotten 2 more but i haven't introduced them physically just yet, i'm a bit nervous about that
I’ve noticed you have a new rat cage and I am wondering if an updated rat cage/your/cleaning routine is coming? I would love to see that as I am always looking for ideas for my boys cage! 💕 love your videos!
It’s coming soon! Just waiting on some new hammocks to be delivered 😍
Hello everyone! Before I ask what I came here for, I just want to say that Emi you are an amazing UA-camr and I'm glad you have made it this far. But now...I live in Tennessee, USA and I wanted to get 3 male baby rats, at least under 4 months if I can't get 6-7 week old one. I am willing to drive around Nashville, Murfreesboro, Franklin, Columbia, Spring Hill, Thompson's Station. And anywhere around that area. I am also willing to drive the top of Alabama. I really want to get rats but most areas do not have rats that are not from pet stores. :( :( :( :( :( I also do not want a hairless rat or albino rat. I love all kind of rats but the albino and the hairless freak me out. Also, none with red eyes please (i think that what albino means lol!)
I really hope you can find me 3 male rats for under $40.
PLEASE FIND ME SOME BABIES!
Thank you. Needed to hear this. I appreciate your approach, knowing that we all may have (I did) made mistakes out of ignorance in the past.
I did have a pair but one of them past away due a lump found in her kidney.
So I would say two possibly important points were missed.
1. Check your rats daily or at least every other day for health issues such as lumps as these can become inoperable very fast.
2. If you can’t afford veterinary care for your rat, or any animal, you should not home one. It is irresponsible. Especially as rats would need to see an exotic specialist to ensure the best care.
Very good advice Rainy!!! :)
Do you really think most people would take a sick rat to the vet? Geez
When I got my first rat I didn’t know not to get them from a pet store. The poor darling had an absolutely horrible skin condition, but he still found time to show affections to me.... he passed away young because of this and I miss him every day. Please don’t support pet store breeding so rats get better and longer lives!!!!
I think this is so helpful because I think I am getting a pair of rats for my birthday and my dad had loads as a kid he turned his garage into a home for so Many rats that needed homes and he had is favourite she was called ki ki she was so well trained that if you put your hand down on command she would climb up you and he took it to his work but sadly she died and he was devastated
This video was super educational!! We rescued two baby rats a few days ago, to prevent them from a pretty nasty death. It was quite last minute, so the past couple of days we've had to do as much research as we possibly could to give them the best! After seeing this video, it helped me realize that we're definitely gonna need more tubes and hammocks. Thanks!
Watch some others. I find some things she has said NOT true. Like not bathing them...that's just crazy to tell people NOT to bathe their rat....
@@ambriadaniels8786 oh I had no idea this person got a lot of stuff wrong. Luckily we know that we have to bathe our rats. Thanks for letting me know
My little ratatat lived to be 6 years old. My others were also 4 to 5. I couldn't see how a rat would only live to be 2 years old. My oldest lived alone and I spent every waking day of my teenage years with her. When she got tumors we had them removed. She was the best little pet ever. Passed away in her sleep in her favorite blanket with me watching over her. I was a young kid and always had time to spend with her. If I wasn't there my mom was. She was never alone. She stayed out of her cage. She hated other rats. I tried to give her companions, she drew blood and we split them up. She hated the cats too. All she wanted was people. If was napping she also would be in the bed with me sleeping. I do not have the time to spend with a rat these days. But I sure do miss having a fluffy little buddy in my pockets and on my shoulder stealing my food.
I've just bought my 15yo 2rats we,ve had them a month n I'm in love. 💖We started litter training last night after watching another video of yours n it states to put their poo in litter tray n move it to corner they mostly use as toilet. Unfortunately this is their house corner so I swapped them over and when we woke up this morning they were sleeping in their litter tray urghhh not a good start 😂
when I was little me and my brother each got a rat and they loved eachother...
Second day, my rat died....
(She had been sick for awhile in the store)
story short... our rat lived alone :c
We found out rat abandoned at a train station in the Colorado winter.
We had him for 10 months beefier he got another rat friend.
He stayed happy and healthy with our cat. As well, he was free range. Our rat, now rats, are not kept in a cage. We have 1000 Sqft apartment and they are allowed to go anywhere that they want.
Our second rat we adopted as a baby from a shelter.
Chai, the albino that was our first sleeps with us in our bed and loves our kitty. Neither wife nor I work because of disability. He gets to be with us all of the time and he works as my Emotional Support Animal. He does great and now they both go everywhere.
So, you can have just one, if you keep other FRIENDLY animals around and you let them in bed with you.
We got a second cat and the all 4 get along.
The rats learned to use the litter box so we have to keep low dust litter.
Also, with free range rats you have to accept that all of your sheets and clothes are getting chewed and you are going to have poop in ALL of your shoes!
And you constantly have to change sheets due to urine trails. Instead of being we found that old clothing cut up is great because you can despose it when done and they have a constant connection to you. They have an incredible sense of smell but, eye sight isn't great. Keeping their strong senses stimulated is important but, not messing with their faces, they can get intimidated if they don't know the smell of something they see.
Feeding is also really important, do a video on the benefits of feeding rats fresh foods and yogurts rather than pellets. Pellets can contain alfalfa and other things they shouldn't have.
Same here, its so fun to watch their little personalities emerge as they get confidence in their surroundings, happy rats for sure are free ranging rats!
I use fleece blankets for my 4 handsome boys. They tuck themselves in, and love how soft they are. I replace the blankets about once per week, and have them out for walks all the time. I feed them oxbow food, and I'm working on getting a LOT of climbing gear for them. I have hammocks and a few other items hanging around but I feel like they need more. I give them plenty of chew sticks and plenty of kabobs to wear their teeth down. They seem to be happy but I'm always working to better their cage and quality of life.
I don’t know why I’m here, I don’t even own rats.
Thank you! Learned so much from this. Haven't had rats in a long time and recently got two ratty babies.
Thank you so much for this video! I was debating on what pet I should get and I really wanted a rat so ive been doing some research. This helped me so much in realizing I definatly dont have the time or money right now. Hopefully in the future I can adopt rats and thanks to you I'll know how to do it the right way!
One of my rat babies loves to sleep in my shirt when I'm working >< its so cute! I'm currently trying to turn a part of my work area into a daytime vertical rat run so that the other one can have a little nested spot on it and be close to him brother whilst he sleeps in my clothes.
I getting two rats tomorrow :3
Same!😊
Hows it going you two :)???
My girls are mostly free range! They have definitely ruined some bags and shoes. But they are worth it! I love my girls. Such lovely animals :)
I'm so glad that I'm doing research on rats before I'm getting them, I'm also glad that there is a good, responsible rat breeder in my area
hi! did u get it yet?
I like your videos as well as I like rats. You seem to know a lot about them. I was gonna buy two rats(I know so far they can not live alone) but I feel like I'm not fully prepared for them yet(anyway my my family isn't yet). I will be watching what you doing and maybe time comes when I finaly become an owner.
All the best for You.
Marcin- try the Creek Valley Critters youtube vids! You will learn so much and be entertained for hours with her rodent adventures. So cute to watch with kids too. This vid is not what I'd call good. Lots of misinformation. (Rats need to be bathed! She says no? Why?) Rats love a good bath. They will popcorn all over when they are dry :)
I have a rat I saved that I love so much. She gave birth four days later and let me tell you that it has been a learning experience! I love the babies so much too. Three are staying in the same household(till I strike out on my own then it will be split between us two each-mama going w/ me obviously and my little dominate spot girl
Hey, I think that's the same cage I have! Definitely a good cage but any bars they walk on have to be covered with layers of fabric or something so it's not harsh on their feet (if that is the same cage I have, that is).
I'm finally able to buy a rat and I almost got one from a pet store but then I stumbled across a post of someone who was moving and needed to rehome there's! I've been patiently waiting and I'll finally be getting my two boys tomorrow
So if you only got 1 rat and its a little older can i still get another rat
I have one male rat... got him as a birthday gift from my daughter when he was about a month old... he's now 2 years old, healthy and both of us are happy. I've watched many videos saying what you've said so I am not picking on you but I am saying he is my first and only pet rat I've ever had and we are both happy and problem free. :-)
Just because he has lived a full lifespan does not mean he is thriving and wouldn’t do better with the social company they’re meant to have. In future please don’t just purchase one rat and get two from the start ☺️
@@Emiology Update.... my best buddy died suddenly while sleeping all comfy 3 days ago. I came into the room and petted him as usual but he was lifeless. He was such a good boy... I am balling my eyes out even writing this. I feel so sad and melancholy each morning I wake up now I feel my comment caused this bad Karma for Lemme and I. I want you to know...when I am ready... I will get multiple rats., its sound advice. Might be tomorrow because this heartache really sucks and I need my rat kisses
I'm thinking of getting some rats.this has been really informative and interesting. Thanks for posting.
Thank you so much for the "bluntness" of your video, especially regarding having more than one rat. It's ASTOUNDING how many times I've heard that someone could "only afford one rat." C'mon now, if you can afford 1 rat, you can afford 6 or 7 🤷🏽♂
I swear I once got 2 rats, but one was attacking the other one, and she made the other bleed, so I had to separate them, I felt bad for the other one because she was so nice and loved to be held. Rip though, I miss them
rat draws my rats do the same but we have not separated them. They will fight very aggressively and have cuts all over themselves. But other times they will cuddle and sleep together and it’s so sweet so I don’t want to separate them, am I making a mistake
Boy you SURE ARE!!! Making a mistake! Surprised you haven't found 1 dead by now! When they fight its up to WHO to protect them???? HUH??? YOU!!! UGH
This was a good video for me to find because I wanted to impose buy a rat and now I’m more informed and I wait until I can build a great home for them and make sure I get 2 I was only going to get one, I’m so glad I’m doing research on rats now before getting them.
I bought 2 rats, one rescued and one wasn’t an option to adopt. My rescued rat didn’t get along with his buddy and was simply aggressive towards him. Any tips? I really need help to figure out how to keep him
He needs to be neutered to reduce his hormones so he can live with other rats 🙂
Emiology okay I’ll look into it! I only want the best for them
These helped so much! Thank you 🙏🏻!
The pet store where i work at get their rats from refuges, also looked at by a vet before coming to us
I love watching my two boys sleep it makes my day 😍
It might just be because it’s 3am, but I legit started crying because it was so cute when the rat was holding your finger 🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺🥺
One of my local pet stores currently only has one rat and when I saw this I desperately wanted to adopt him to give him some mates. Sadly I don’t have the home for rats yet (not allowed) or else I would have. Can’t wait to adopt some
love your videos Imee! ♥️ great advice😊
Oh I’m glad I did my rat right back in the day. I had a rat way back maybe 7 years ago. Use to keep her with me and played outside the cage constantly. She loved playing fetch. I ended up getting a second one a week later to keep her company. Unfortunately they played a lot while I was at school and my uncle who was staying with us heard them and threw a fuss. Lucky for me my sister took them in and I’d go play with them every few days. They lived a full 3 years but I miss them. Glad I did them right because I could never find info on how to care for rats back then.
I got my first rats from a friend of mine thats parents have a pet shop(I initially wanted to get hamsters but she told me how rats are better and dont bite).. they bred all the rats themselves and i got first pick of the litter and got to take my two boys home.. They were the most adorable pets, somehow nothing of mine got destroyed and they got along with my cat too😂😂.. im thinking about getting another pair after stumbling across your channel!!
You kept 2 boys together and they didn't kill each other? Wow- lucky
Thank you, love your info and dedication!
Got one yesterday and new I should have grabbed another. So will be doing so tomorrow morning as well
Thank you soooo much my brother and I can’t wait to get our rats on Tuesday!!!! Xx:)
I’m thinking about getting 2 rats soon is it okay if I diy my own 5 story book shelf? I know that you said they need wire cages because they love to climb but I was thinking I could just just some wood and make stair cases on the walls and I can get toy ladders and put them on the wall! Also I am going to diy the doors for the shelf I just wanted to make sure if they neeeeeeeeeed a wire cage or I can just do this
I got my rats from a petstore a couple months ago, and I'm having some issues with getting them to stop biting me. (I don't know if it's because they were poorly socialized or not, but it's bad.) Do you have any advice for dealing with that?
Thank you for this video, I would really like to get rats from my parents this year, I absolutely adore rats
I’m getting new rats tomorrow and we were looking at pet stores luckily we didn’t find any before we bought 2 rats thank goodness I watched this video before we bought them
Well Brittant this is NOT a great video to watch for rats. She is wrong on a lot of things. Like not bathing them. Ive had rats for 35 years- always bathed them and they enjoy it after too.. they just popcorn allover :)
I would not recommend, wild rats can be vicious, but I also took in a father and son wild rats. My friend was breeding wild rats he caught for feeding his snakes. And these 2 were shockingly friendly with people! The father loved meeting new people and Jr lol became the biggest fattest cowardly gentle giant! Size of a squirrel! Loved his dad and only liked being held by me, scared of other people but NEVER bit anyone. Neither did. Father just like many others I had like a good dog just loved kids and meeting new people!
Never thought about the pet store things you mentioned. Good info thank you!