These are answers based entirely on my own personal opinion (I’m not a vet or animal expert) and these answers will always be changing and updated as I gain more knowledge and find better resources. Please feel free to ask any questions. (Just a little FYI – I give adoption preference to people who ask questions and talk to me about their families and rats.) None of this is meant to be given as professional advice or to be used in the place of professional advice.
A: I’ve noticed that rats from breeders have an extremely calm demeanor (even the girls) and they live much longer than the pet store rats we've gotten. All out pet store rats have had deteriorating health by 1 1/2 years and not lived past 2 years. Our girl Bethena (from Spoiled Ratten Rattery) didn't start getting ill until about 2 3/4 years and lived to one month shy of 3 years. There are of course the more interesting markings that you can get through breeders which is a nice bonus. We've just noticed that when you get a pet store rat you are playing with fire. We've had sick rats, lice infected rats, and rats that mysteriously die two weeks after you get them. Most of this is from malnutrition, poor handling, and poor environment. All of which a responsible breeder can control. I once witnessed a cage handler tossing the rats from one cage to another. They were all stunned looking and a few had broken legs. To sum up, the biggest difference I’ve noticed is that responsible breeders have better care and handling practices.
A: I’m of the opinion that a dedicated and responsible rat breeder will reach out to other breeders and make strong connections. This can be done primarily on-line through forums and rat clubs; but more importantly, a dedicated and responsible breeder will be willing to spend the time and money to travel to other breeders and shows to make sure they are doing the right things.
A: It is very difficult for me to judge a rat’s color from a photograph. Any information you can provide about their parents’ color is helpful. There are several standards websites that can help you to determine on your own what your rat’s colors are. I’d recommend sites like http://ratsocietyofamerica.org/standards4.html http://www.niro-usa.org/standards.htm http://fancyrats.pbwiki.com/
A: The only time we trim our rat’s nails is if we are bringing them to a show that requires it. True, we suffer the occasional scratch, but most people can tough that out. The only time I would recommend trimming their nails is if you have young children or kids with allergic reactions to rat scratches. If you decide to trim their nails, I recommend this site http://www.dapper.com.au/articles.htm#clawclip for information on how to trim the nails. Just a note of caution to you if you choose to trim their nails - be gentle, patient, and don’t get overzealous.
A: Most pet rats are all the same rat species which is the Rattus norvegicus (Norway Rat or Brown Rat). These rats come in many different colors which can be found on most rat club’s Standards page. For example, http://ratsocietyofamerica.org/standards4.html http://www.niro-usa.org/standards.htm http://fancyrats.pbwiki.com/
A: In my personal experience, the temper of males and females differ quite a bit. Of course both sexes make great pets - its just personal preference. The males tend to be sleepier and lazier and cuddlier. I personally tend to favor males because we can just cuddle up on the couch together for hours. My husband finds them a little boring. He prefers females who are much more active and as they age, they really bond with a person. They like to play games and are constantly moving. Both sexes will form very strong bonds with their humans over time.
