Awe I'm so sorry for your friend's loss

Hmm....I think a couple things to keep in mind when switching from hamsters to rats is that rats are more social, so she'll need to get more than 1, and they will need a lot more playtime outside of the cage. And they require a lot more cage space than a hamster, at least 2.5 cubic feet per rat, and more space is always better (you really can't have too big of a cage for rats)

Other things to be aware of are the fact that rats are prone to respiratory infection so try to stay away from any dusty or aromatic bedding (nothing scented, and no aeromatic wood chips like cedar or pine - Aspen and kiln dried pine can be OK, but I personally prefer fleece cage lining and fleece blankets for burrowing, which can be machine washed with mild detergent)

Also good to have on hand is a list of what foods are poisonous to rats. A lot of people assume that since rats scavenge in the wild that they can eat anything but that's unfortunately not true, and a domestic rat will eat anything you give them because they trust you. You can find good lists online, but one thing especially that comes to mind is NO poppy seeds. A rat who eats poppy seeds can become lethargic and die within hours, so be very careful with having anything with poppy seeds in the house.

A good lab block is usually the best base diet (mixes are often too high in fats and often contain dried corn, which can acquire a mildly toxic mold and should rally be avoided) I'd recommend Oxbow or Harlan Teklad rat food brands.
And occasional fresh vegetables like raw carrots, broccoli, and the occasional fresh apple piece or two can be great treats. Just don't overdo the fruits because they are high in sugar and can cause diarrhea. Gerber baby puffs also make great treats.

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anybody dressing up their rats for halloween?

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Pfft my rats would throw a fit if I tried :(

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Double e.e

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im debating on doing it. my boy might let me but the girls would never sit still enough. i just dont have a costume, though i do have stuff to make them reindeer harnesses for christmas !

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That's cute xD

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i do have little halloween lights im gonna be putting around the cage (not where they can chew) and they have halloween hammocks right now . I think their halloween fleece liner is all torn up though

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Awe lol

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also just wanted to say we have a little raffle up in our clan ! feel free to check it out

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Hi everyone! Im Darkvoodoo/MaryBeth.
I own a small rattery. I breed Russian blue, black, mink, black eyed Siamese, Burmese, silvermane, harley, velveteen, Essex, roan and more..Most are dumbo, but my Essex are standard ear. Have a line of dwarf as well

1. How many rats do you have, if any? 20ish if you dont count babies
2. Males vs Females, which do you prefer and why! Love them both, but lean towards males. They are more laid back.
3. Whats your cage setup (or dream setup)? I use critter nations! I have 2 doubles and a single. I douse bins for nursery tanks and breeding.
4. Favorite color/marking ? Dumbo vs Top-ear? Oh gosh, I love them all, but Im a sucker for blues.

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Welcome Voodoo!! Do you have photos? :)

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I added some to the photo thread just now

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Hello all :3 so happy to be here, let me say I have 3 beautiful rat girls I'll post a pic shortly :3

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cant wait to see them!

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(posted to the right thread :p)

The big girl is Matilda, the white one with grey on her face is Hermione and the grey one is Venus :3

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