Rats

My mum says no every time I ask for a rat. We were at the pet shop the other day getting some stuff for my gerbils and the guy that worked there overheard her saying she hated them, so he got it out of the cage and let me see it properly. She still said no even though it was adorable :(

I have some questions for rat people

I got two happy, healthy rats for my birthday in March.

Recently, they both passed away, with a sickness that they literally got within hours. I was playing with them both and they were fine and active. I went somewhere for about five hours, and when I came back home, one was dead and the other was in the process of dying (She was shaking, her eyes were watery and she kept falling over). It was an awful experience, to say the least. I was a crying sobbing mess.

I did some research online later about what could have possibly happened, and I read something about how pellet food can sometimes have parasites that can kill a rat quickly, and you should check food for them.

Does anyone know how to check food for parasites/bugs? Is it something you can see, because I didn't see anything? Or, do you have any other theories about what could have happened? I want more rats, but not until I know how to stop this from happening again.
http://i46.tinypic.com/29bdqwz.jpg
http://i50.tinypic.com/fejar4.jpg
They were so cute and so sweet.

^ That is so sad, I had tears in my eyes reading that. I couldn't imagine if something like that happened to my baby.
But I actually do have a lot of experience regarding parasites in food. I give Raddy a mixture of seeds and lab blocks, although he usually just eats the lab blocks since it's a balanced diet.
Anyway, one time the both the seed and the pellet mix I got him had parasites and all these little beetle like bugs were crawling around in it. I couldn't believe it.
I took it back to the pet shop to show them and they gave me a new lot but the same little bugs appeared.
Now if you knew me, you'd know I'm militant with the way I look after Rad so it wasn't anything I was doing that spawned the parasites.
ANYWAY, after the second time I had to throw the food out and get a new lot I asked the manager of the pet store why the food had parasites and he said it was to do with the way they're packaged and most of the food is months old.
The way you check for contaminated food is you look for white spots on the pellets. Apparently it's the same when checking for parasites in yeast.
I don't know if you'd be able to get this type of food where you are, but if you can, I'd recommend it. They're called 'Show Master Rat and Mouse Cubes'
They're amazing and I've never had a problem with them. Raddy has never been healthier either.
So yeah, congrats if you got through my novel!
PM me if you ever need to know anything about rats.

I have another theory about what could have happened to your rats too, Kurtni, but I'd need to know more about their general health, like, were they snuffling and sneezing at all? What else were you feeding them etc.
There are so many things that can go wrong with rats which is why I made sure I learned practically everything about them. Not to mention, even though I've treated my rat like he was my own child he has still gotten sick.
Like I said PM me if you want to know anything else. I'd love to be able to help you. Your rats were adorable.

Thank you for that first post, I feel better knowing what to look for now.

Little:

I have another theory about what could have happened to your rats too, Kurtni, but I'd need to know more about their general health, like, were they snuffling and sneezing at all? What else were you feeding them etc.
There are so many things that can go wrong with rats which is why I made sure I learned practically everything about them. Not to mention, even though I've treated my rat like he was my own child he has still gotten sick.
Like I said PM me if you want to know anything else. I'd love to be able to help you. Your rats were adorable.

They weren't sneezing or or anything, they weren't acting funny at all which was what was so odd.
I feed them mostly pellets because they would just pick through a mixed food and eat only their favorite stuff, but I gave them fresh food sometimes too, usually apples and carrots, sweet potatoes or whatever fruit I happened to be snacking on.

It sucks because rats can be fine one minute and then on death's door the next. I've had to take Raditz to the vet after hours a few times, like when he first was diagnosed with Micoplasma and when he got an ear infection. He was fine and healthy and then he couldn't stand.
Thank god he got better.

I'm still thinking it definitely would have had to do with their food, parasites would be the most obvious answer but if they ate any of these things, that could have caused it too.
Otherwise it could have been a stroke, I know someone whos rat had a stroke that took out it's back legs after it was suffering for a while. Very sad.

Nope, I never fed them any of those things. My boyfriend is the one who got them for me, and he got me a little book about rats and I practically memorized the food list. It wasn't hard because rats and turtles oddly enough have a similar diet. xD

I didn't even realize having strokes was a problem for rats

bateman:

My mum says no every time I ask for a rat. We were at the pet shop the other day getting some stuff for my gerbils and the guy that worked there overheard her saying she hated them, so he got it out of the cage and let me see it properly. She still said no even though it was adorable :(

A word of advice: If you do ever end up getting a rat, don't get one from a pet shop. They are usually sickly and poorly handled and from bad stock. Best bet is to get one from a breeder, it's not any more expensive than getting one from a pet shop and it'll actually be healthy.

Kurtni Von Teese:

Nope, I never fed them any of those things. My boyfriend is the one who got them for me, and he got me a little book about rats and I practically memorized the food list. It wasn't hard because rats and turtles oddly enough have a similar diet. xD

I didn't even realize having strokes was a problem for rats

Neither did I until I heard that person's story. Apparently strokes, heart attacks and kidney failure can be pretty common problems in rats. It really sucks.

In 28 months, Raddy has easily cost me well over $1500 in vet bills, food bills and just general things he needs. It's pretty crazy.

I have had a few friends with pet rats and all of them have been great affectionate little creatures.

I also had a friend who had hairless rats. I think they are a little creepy compared to the furry ones.

I never had any pet rats, but I did used to have some pet mice! Cuties.

Hi, just a question: Has anyone dealt with a post-op rat?
My Raddy just had a tumour removed on Friday morning and is now in recovery. I'm finding it really difficult to look after him as he needs 24 hour attention and no matter what I do, he keeps attacking his wound.

So it would be amazing if anyone has any experience in this area and could help me.
Please?

I have 3 rats: Maude, Millicent, and Mabel. They're the most loving, adorable creatures in the world.

I had a rat. I named him Yuki.
I also had 4 mice. ^-^ Leggo, Monopoly, Peanut and Squirt. <3

I've kept rats; my first rodent pet was a fancy mouse, cutest thing ever, his name was peeper. After him I had 2 albino roof rats, glitter and snowflake, about a foot long each, but now I have reptiles, so I have to knock out the rats I feed them with. The first few times was really traumatizing till my breeder showed me how to do it. Now I'm completely confident that the rats I supply as food enter the void without experiencing any pain or terror.

I've had my pet rat now since this past summer. Her name is Rosie :)
I don't know about anyone else with female rats, but it took me forever to get her to be really comfortable around me. What I mean is, she's so active and curious. Any time I'd try to pet her she would never hold still. Granted, she doesn't hold still much now anyway. I think I read somewhere that a lot of female rats are like this. Thoughts?

I will say that now I know the certain ways she likes to be scratched or rubbed :D

I love all my pets, but I have never been as close with an animal as I am with my rat, General Stonewall Jackson. She's the light of my life right now. I'm working on forming a closer bond with her new cage mate, Gumdrop.

I don't have a rat, but I'm planning on getting two soon. I just need to discuss it with my landlord, and then we'll see! I'm really excited!

@ Julie Black
My sister has 3 female rats and they're all like that. They never sit still. The only time I've had one sit still on me was when it was a tiny little thing and fell asleep in my pyjama pocket :3
They slow down with age, though. My sister puts them on her bed and they'll all run around and explore it, but never leave it.

I will never forget my first pet rat, Slash.
He was THE BEST EVER. He (we later found out he was a she, but he remained a boy in our eyes) was so affectionate and social, he went everywhere with me. Seriously, none of my later rats were that happy just sitting on my shoulder all day than that little fellow and he had no fear of strangers, he just accepted and bonded with everyone immediately.
Unfortunately, one time my little niece was holding him our cat attacked him and injured him so badly, he didn't survive the night. I cried a river.

After Slash, I had Piccolo.
He stole everything he could get his paws on and buried it deep down in his cage. He developed a tumor though(which I read is fairly common with in-breed rats) and died some time after that.
Now I have Ash, she's actually my friend's, but for some unknown reason, I'm still taking care of her. I don't mind though, she very sweet and gentle. She's all white and at first had a little gray spot on her back, which faded almost completely with time. Now she's getting dark hair all over her body, it's weird.
She's also gotten really, REALLY fat, so like when I hold her, her tummy hangs down of both sides of my hand, it's really funny.

But yeah, rats are awesome and very low-maintenance for a pet as cool as that.