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Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / May 2006Is it OK to start with 3 rats instead of 2?
I am preparing for our first pet rats. We've almost completed setting up their Mac Daddy Pimp Palace for Rats tricked out completely with hammocks, lofts, tubes, etc. We were planning on getting two rats, but then my daughter asked me, "Mommy, what if when we go to get the rats, the store only has three? If we get two, then one will be left alone!" We have a really large three story cage, so we have the room, but I was wondering if two rats would beat up on the odd one out. If you get three rats together from the same cage, how do the social dynamics between them work out? Thanks in advance for any help with this question. I can't wait to get our little friends! >I am preparing for our first pet rats. We've almost completed setting >up their Mac Daddy Pimp Palace for Rats tricked out completely with [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >three rats together from the same cage, how do the social dynamics >between them work out? Three rats will get along just as well as two. Ever so often you do get a bully or a rat that just can't deal with other rats, but they're rare. --Theresa http://tiger_spot.mapache.org > I am preparing for our first pet rats. We've almost completed setting > up their Mac Daddy Pimp Palace for Rats tricked out completely with [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Thanks in advance for any help with this question. I can't wait to get > our little friends! Hi there, If the rats are all together when you get them then you will have no problems with them at all. The more the merrier as far as they are concerned. Rats are pack animals..:) When I first started out with Rats I bought 2 every week for 3 weeks until I had bought all the shop had of this litter...LOL You will find eventually they will work out who the Alpha Rat will be, usually around the time they are stroppy teenagers..:) All the best for whatever you choose. Regards Kate  SignatureToday I may meet with injustice, ignorance, denial, all of which are due entirely to the other's lack of knowledge of good and evil and the difference thereof. http://community.webshots.com/user/ollieogg I always think the more the merrier. I always usually buy 3 or 4. I have just had 4 new boys and then in june I will being having 3 more, 2 Agouti Dumbo's and 1 Blue Agouti Dumbo. If you have a big enough cage to house 3 or 4, GO FOR IT! SignatureJackie - Jorja and Texas <:_)~ and the Boys, Ronald, Scratch, Rupert and Wilbur. http://community.webshots.com/user/mullins9 > >> I am preparing for our first pet rats. We've almost completed setting [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > > Regards Kate > I am preparing for our first pet rats. We've almost completed setting > up their Mac Daddy Pimp Palace for Rats tricked out completely with [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > Thanks in advance for any help with this question. I can't wait to get > our little friends! I wish everyone were like you... preparing, learning, researching before getting their pets. If you have a good size cage, three is a great number. I personally don't like just two. Some rats love to cuddle while some like to go off on their own. So with three, the rat can go cuddle with the one that wants it. :) SignatureJoanne Owned by 20 rats. Webshots: http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70 ------------------------------------------------------- ~Ignorance is not innocence but sin. *Robert Browning* I checked out your pics and I'm in love with Puce! > I checked out your pics and I'm in love with Puce! Thanks! She's quite a sweetie too. SignatureJoanne Owned by 20 rats. Webshots: http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70 ------------------------------------------------------- ~Ignorance is not innocence but sin. *Robert Browning* > I wish everyone were like you... preparing, learning, researching before > getting their pets. > If you have a good size cage, three is a great number. I personally > don't like just two. Some rats love to cuddle while some like to go off > on their own. So with three, the rat can go cuddle with the one that > wants it. :) Three aiui can result in less squabbles than two & make subsequent introductions easier. As others have said they're social animals & naturally live in colonies. With three they can sort out a proper little social hierarchy. We were going to start with two, then on the recommendation of the breeder ended up with three... then five, then seven :) I think it also helps them cope with losses. If you plan on having a colony for many years the numbers will fluctuate by around two (assuming you always introduce in pairs) & having numbers drop to one or two can leave some very sad lonely rats when relationships change. As long as you have at least 2 cubic feet per rat, cage space wise, you should be fine. SignatureMichael m r o z a t u k g a t e w a y d o t n e t Thanks everyone for your help! I'll post when I get them. This is an adventure I'm starting with my daughter and we have my husband building a cage like the Grotto on the dapper rat site. He claims to not be very enthusiastic about our "rat thing" and yet he is spending a lot of time making a gorgeous cage. Actions speak louder than words, I guess. Kim > Thanks everyone for your help! I'll post when I get them. This is an > adventure I'm starting with my daughter and we have my husband building [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Kim LOL Kim I know what you mean about Hubby doing the best job..:) My Hubby built our Rat Mansion and it is wonderful. I didn't even know he was capable of building anything until he produced this..:) Pics are in my Webshots Albums. He also is not a great Rat Fan although if a Ratty needs urgent Vet attention (out of business hours) he will get us there without a word of complaint. Bless him. Regards Kate SignatureToday I may meet with injustice, ignorance, denial, all of which are due entirely to the other's lack of knowledge of good and evil and the difference thereof. http://community.webshots.com/user/ollieogg |
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