I would like to introduce you to Maxine. Maxine has been part of my household now for 4 months (?). She is technically called a Blue Fancy Rat. I had read up on rats as pets and discovered one commone theme throughout all my research...they are smart and they don't bite.
I had hamsters (and everything else) as a kid and hamsters DO BITE. Maxine and her friend Gladys have not nipped me the first time. They are extremely loveable and they are smart. They love to be held and their antics are just plain fun to watch.
Their "toys" consist of anything (just about)! They love climbing. We gets lots of little cardboard boxes on my job and I take those and may little condos of them. Nothing fancy, just tape 2 or 3 together with holes they can crawl all through. Every new box to these girls is like having Christmas morning over and over and over again. Oatmeal container tunnels...Pringles tunnels...an old towel...and for sleeping and hiding purposes, I have hung a couple of dish towels from the top of their big cage. They love their "hammocks".
Not a very good photo, but here is one to show you the hammock and the cage. The cage is an old cockatiel cage. The wire needs to be kind of small so they can't squeeze out and pay special attention to places that could catch their little feet and break a leg. Anyone interested is more than welcome to comment and let me know you would like more information and I will provide more pics or any advice or encouragement I can. They are wonderful pets.Along with a staple of "rat food" from the local "spend your cash here pet store", mine have a little oatmeal (instant of course) everyday, some carrots (from a can) and for treats they enjoy cat food, fried chicken, potatoes (cooked - never raw), and Scooby Doo cereal (dry).
They're sweet guys...truly. I would be careful with little kids that do not understand being "easy" with small animals though - a drop or too hard a squeeze could be deadly for the ratsters.
