Choosing A Rat

There is no difference in behavior or temperament between the different varieties of rats. Some people will tell you that Siamese are more skittish, or Dumbos are more mellow, but the truth is that temperament depends on genetics and early socialization. If you have a nervous, nippy mother of any color, or babies that do not get handled and are in a chaotic environment where they cannot feel secure, then you will get nervous, nippy rats who need to be tamed before they can be properly enjoyed as pets. If you have a rat who was raised with love, handled daily, and whose parents are docile, tame and enjoy human company, then you will have babies who act the same, even if they are simple Pink-Eyed Whites.

If you are choosing your rat by hand from a number of other animals, here are some things to look for:

Bright, clear eyes with no discharge around the edges or in the corners. Rat phlegm is tinted red by the hadarian gland, and called porphyrin - signs of porphyrin staining are signs of ill health. The color of the eyes has no bearing whatsoever on the type of pet the rat will be.

A clean nose with a full bed of whiskers and no signs of porphyrin staining.

Clean, soft fur that is not clumpy, stained or hosting parasites. Different types of coat (rex, satin, standard, satin-rex) feel very different, but the coat should still feel clean and combing through it with your fingers should not yeild scabs, or little white nits clinging to the hair shafts. There should also be no strange lumps or bumps beneath the skin that would indicate an abcess or tumor.

A bright, curious personality. A rat, especially a baby, should be a little neophobic (afraid of new things) and may startle or run away when you first put your hand in with them, but they should come back immediately to explore you. The exploration should include sniffing, clicking, a few experimental (but gentle!) nibbles, and an interest in climbing up on your handand taking a look around. Shy, fearful rats will have to be tamed before you can enjoy them as pets.

Ideally, when you pick up your rat, they should become limp and relaxed in your hand and "tuck" their back feet.

Male or Female

There is a wide gulf of personality between the standard doe and buck. Bucks actually make better pets for most people, but experiences with other rodents where the males are more aggressive, and distaste for a rat's large set of testicles, often pushes people away. While breeding a doe who is as calm and laid-back as a buck is a goal for most breeders, there's no reason to shun a buck!

Females tend to be smaller, quicker, and have a racier body profile. They are busy little ladies, and are prone to getting into everything. They are voracious chewers and hoarders, and will often be the first ones out of the cage the moment you open the door. Sometimes they aren't coming out to see you, though, often they are more interested in exploring their environment and finding new things than hanging out with you!

Does tend to be cleaner, and have less odor than bucks do. Their fur remains soft throughout their lives. They will drop little pee-droplets as they explore to mark their territory, just like bucks will. Because a rat goes into estrus (heat) every 3-5 days, they can tend to get hormonal and disagreeable with their cagemates at that time, and will not be at all interested in cuddling with you until that time is over.

Does are more prone to mammary tumors than bucks are, especially if they are obese. They are smart, and are quicker to learn new tricks and adapt to new environments than bucks are.

Bucks are larger, heavier, and lazier than does are. Once they get over the 7 month hormone hump (where they can be a little pushy with cagemates) they tend to rate exploring and playing as lower priorities than sittingon a lap or hammock for hours. While they are curious and will explore a new environment with gusto, they will give up earlier than a girl rat, especially if they find a comfy spot or some food. They will dribble little droplets as they explore, in order to mark their territory.

A buck can be a great buddy, hanging out on a couch or in a lap for hours enjoying your company. If allowed to, they will chew and destroy like any doe would, but are less likely the older they get. Their fur coarsens the older they get, and they exude an orangy, waxy substance we call "buck grease" from their shoulders, which can stain their skin and fur there, but is easily controlled with petting or a bath in mild dish soap. Because bucks tend to have more of an odor than female rats (though it's not an entirely unpleasant onem) people with allergies may find does easier to manage.

Bucks will tend to become obese easier, because they are more sedentary and food-oriented.

It is very easy to tell a male rat from a female. At four weeks of age - too young to be parted from their mothers, in fact - the testicles of the male will drop. The testicles are of good size (about the size of a kidney bean in a small baby rat) and easy to see. If you buy a female rat of 6 weeks of age or more who is being housed with males, there is a very good chance she is pregnant. Carefully check the genders of any rats you are purchasing out of any sort of mixed container!

Both bucks and does will live quite happily in social groups, caged with 2 or more cagemates of their own gender. If you wish to keep a mixed colony and enjoy both sexes, you will need to have one gender neutered, as rats given the opportunity to mingle will breed and average a litter of 12 every 3 weeks, which is quite a bit more than the average pet owner wants!