lifewithrats

So what are the secrets to picking a good pet rat? One: Know where to go. If you can, find a breeder. If you go to a rescue, pay special attention to the health of the rats you pick. If you go to a store, pay even closer attention. Often, stores mishandle the rats they sell. They plan to sell the rats mostly as feeders, and not as pets. Good signs are pet stores that are discriminate about what the animal is being sold for and those who sell frozen feeder animals.

The second trick for picking a good pet rat is to know what to look for. Understanding a few caution signs is key to picking a healthy rat. If a rat sneezes often, has a red discharge around her eyes or nose, or is too lethargic, you should probably move on. As far as behavior, if a rat bites or even nips aggressively, she is probably ill or needing serious behavioral training.

Prepare a good home for your rats before bringing them home. Know what to feed, what bedding to use, and what cage to have before picking your rat out. It can help to have a good small animal or exotics vet picked out. As cute as the rats at the pet store can be, it’s always wise to be prepared to own a pet rat before you buy a pet rat. Finally, don’t buy what is necessarily the cheapest or the most upgraded cage or accessories. Ask around, do some research, and then buy what you need.

The final trick to picking out a good pet rat is to train your animal well. Take the time to acclimate your new rat. Make sure she’s comfortable with you, and give her a few days to relax in your care before trying to handle her too much. Be patient when training your rat, and don’t push them to learn a trick or behavioral skill too quickly.

Follow the four steps of picking out a good rat: Know where to look, know what to look for, be prepared, and train your animal well. Before long you’ll have a pet rat who is a joy to be around and a great addition to your household.

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