Is my rat male or female?

We get this question a lot. If you don't know if your pet is male or female, please message us through Facebook and we can help you. We will need clear pictures of the rat's genitals.

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Do rats need a friend or can I get just one?

Rats are extremely social animals and need another ratty companion. Contrary to popular belief, getting your rat a friend will not hurt the bond between you and your rat. Rats can and will become depressed and anxious if they are housed alone, some have gotten sick, and some have passed away due to being alone.

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Why does my rat cage stink?

There are two causes for this, one factor is what bedding you are using, while the two causes are you are either not cleaning the cage often enough, or your cleaning it too often. If you clean the cage too often the rats will actually smell more. 

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What do we feed them?

Rats should be fed a stable lab block. We highly recommend Mazuri, Harlan Teklad(Native Earth), or Oxbow. You can also feed them a mixture of different foods along with the blocks, but its not needed, fatty and sugary foods should be avoided.

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Do they really need to go to the vet?

Rats, just like any other pet, need to go to the vet if they become sick. They may be small, but they still need medical attention if needed. Rats are prey animals, and for this reason can easily hide their illness or injury for a while, if you notice something is wrong take them to the vet ASAP. We can recommend some vets we trust here in Northern Utah.

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Do I need to bathe my rat? What do I use?

Rats don't need regular baths, but if they get stinky first try baby wipes. If they need a good cleaning use luke warm water, water only, or you can use mild no tear baby soap, mild kitten soap, or dawn dish soap.

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How do I bond with my rat? 

Rats can bond quite easily when they have a good temperament, which is what we strive for. We suggest leaving them to settle into their cage for around 24 hours. After that get them out and let them sit and watch tv with you, give them treats, etc, just remember to never force them.

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Can we pick it up by the tail?

This is extremely dangerous for the rat. The rats tail regulates their body temperature and helps them balance. The tail is part of their spine. Picking it up by the tail is extremely painful and can result in degloving the tail, which is where the skin of the tail slips and rips off, this can cause infection, and in the end that part of the tail will fall off. 

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Why cant they live in a tank?

Tanks are not good for rats. There is not enough ventilation in the tank, and it causes ammonia build up, and it can result in sickly rats. Not to mention a terrible smell.

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How do I get my rat not to smell?

Rats will always smell like rats, like any other animal they have a smell or musk. We put a tsp of vinegar in a gallon of water to help with smell, which does help a little. Keep in mind that if you clean the cage too often it will smell worse.

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How long do they live?

Quality rats will live between 2-4 years old. Pet store rats I expect not to make it past 2.

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Can rats do tricks?

Yes, in short, rats can do tricks. This will take a great bond, a motivated rat, and a ton of patience. Remember rats do not understand punishment. negative discipline will make them fearful and defensive towards you.

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Can they be litter trained? 

Yes, they can be litter trained. But every rat is different. My males are super messy and refuse to have a designated spot, while my females are quite clean and use their litter box most the time. Some rats may never get it, others may get it right away. It will take a lot of patients. Again, this is an area to remember that rats do not understand negative discipline, all it will do is make your rats fearful and defensive towards you.