[jando426]

I don't have any pet rats yet, but I'm working on it. My mom is being a pain about me getting one. I'm still working on it though. I told her she would barely ever see it and that I'll do everything for it from buying supplies and so on. Well I'll let everyone know when I have my rats. I'm planning on getting two females and name them Jinx and Luna but since my mom is uptight about them I'll probably have to settle for one

 

[Strike2]

Welcome and good luck.

 

[DonnaK]

Hi there, welcome to the forums.

Tell your mom that two rats are no more work or cost than one, and they are likely to be happier and healthier in a pair. Rats should never be kept alone. They are sociable creatures and can get depressed when they are lonely, no matter how many hours you spend with them.

 

[IceLore]

Hi and welcome to the forums!

Tell your mom that two rats are no more work or cost than one....

Two rats mean twice the amount of care, and twice the vet bills.... and twice the chance to worry when something goes wrong! Of course, they are worth it though.

 

[DonnaK]

Two rats mean twice the amount of care, and twice the vet bills.... and twice the chance to worry when something goes wrong! Of course, they are worth it though.

OK, you got me on the vets bills - though I've been lucky enough never to need a vet, yet *touches wood* - but how do you figure they take twice as much care? You feed them at the same time, clean them out at the same time, you can play with them at the same time...

 

[gen120]

hi and welcome!!

 

[IceLore]

Two rats mean twice the amount of care, and twice the vet bills.... and twice the chance to worry when something goes wrong! Of course, they are worth it though.

OK, you got me on the vets bills - though I've been lucky enough never to need a vet, yet *touches wood* - but how do you figure they take twice as much care? You feed them at the same time, clean them out at the same time, you can play with them at the same time...

Well yeah, you feed them at the same time, but it's double the amount of food, and you clean their cage at the same time, but it's more often, and you can have them out at the same time, but only one rats at a time can get individual attention.

Everything is double on the owner, but twice as easy on the rats. lol Funny on how that works.

 

[fallinstar]

hello n welcome

 

[Forensic]

Well yeah, you feed them at the same time, but it's double the amount of food, and you clean their cage at the same time, but it's more often, and you can have them out at the same time, but only one rats at a time can get individual attention.

Everything is double on the owner, but twice as easy on the rats. lol Funny on how that works.

Actually, I feed the same amount, I just throw out less. I don't have to clean any more often, but before they weren't litter box trained. As for attention, yes, that's double. And the vet bills, if necessary.

I think two, when healthy, are for all intents and purposes the same as one.

 

[twitch]

a happier rat will get sick less easily though so it could mean more vet bills with one unhappy rat then it would with two happy ones. i guess it evens out a bit on that end. as for cleaning, i don't do that any more often with the 7 i have now then when i had 2. with the right litter and the proper habits to begin with its not needed. the personal attention is divided a bit yes but they get attention from each other too and you do have two hands, one for each rat to get scritched by! *grins* i don't find the cost of food change much from 2-5. its a bit more after that and it was a lot when i went from 5-29 (that was absolutely nuts!).

basically the difference in monatary cost from one to two is negliable but the difference to the solitary rat is stupendous.

 

[Inesita]

Hello there, welcome

 

[DonnaK]

Yep, what Forensic and Twitch said

 

[Vixie]

Get any GOOD pet care book for rats and it will tell you to get two.

Show that to your mom.

And the cost difference(not including vet bills) is countable on one hand. Maybe a few extra dollars a month for one more bag of food. If you use towel bedding then you could save time and money and just throw them in the wash with your own clothes(what I do).

There are many money-saving but not happiness-compromising ways to keep rats.


Just be sure to get two and a cage with at LEAST 4 sq. feet. That is the minimum for happy rats.


In any case, welcome!

 

[jando426]

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL I GET MY RATS!!! (if ever :-\)