About Jess Expertise I can answer questions about most species of rodents. I will answer any questions about health, husbandry and welfare. I can also give advise about behaviour problems, how to overcome these and ways of enriching the life of your pet. I can help with those wanting advice about house rabbits.
Experience I have experience with rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, gerbils, hamsters and chincillas.
Education/Credentials I am qualified in animal management, I work as a veterinary nurse.
Laura writes on 2006-07-17 02:00:14
I own 4 rats and they have never it me even when my fingers smelled like food. Guinea Pigs on the other hand did try to bite my fingers. Rats can learn many tricks including their names. Guinea pigs are generally considered dumb. I do not think they are but I consider rats the more intelligent ones. Rats will change there hours so they will want to be with you. Guinea Pigs will not. It is very sad that people do not take rats seriously. They are very intelligent and clean animals. Choose RATS, but remember they are social and need buddies!
Coly Kimbrook writes on 2006-08-07 23:20:58
Hi, I am 14 years old and I just got my new pets maybe a month ago and they are rats. I have two and so does my older sister. My sister has boys and I have girls and the boys do not smell worse than the girls and neither of them smell at all. In proven studies rats are the cleanest pocket pets of all and none of them smell at all. They are also the smartest and can learn tricks and their name. Whenever we put our fingers in they come up to the bars to be petted and never once has anyone been bitten by them and once they are used to you they aren't timid at all but look forward to being with you. Guinea pigs like to run in their cage and will kick their bedding all over the place, whereas there in virtually no mess with rats except for their droppings which are in a litter box. I believe that rats are awesome!
Jess writes on 2006-10-25 09:32:35
At the minute I have 14 rats and they do make great pets. Most pet rats are friendly but occassionally you get a poorly bred rat that it aggressive. I had to take a rat from my friend as it bit a chunk out of his wrist and then ate it, this rat was the pet of a young girl and he also bit her. You do hear horror stories like this but even your own pet rat can bite so you must be careful, mine bit me to the bone while being restrained at the vets. 3 years later my finger still is abnormal looking so you must be so careful with them as they can do serious damage when they are frightened or aggressive. Also another problem why I dont think rats are good pets for kids really is that most of them now a days have respiratory problems of some sort, especially if they come from a pet shop. Many kids cant afford vets bills and their parents are sometimes unwilling to pay as its "only a rat". Some of my rats have required weekly vet visits for their entire life which is expensive. Then theres the cost of lump removal, as many females will get mammary tumours. Most kids cant afford to keep them in a large cage which they need and with lots of toys and so many parents make the mistake of buying one rat, like with the agressive rat I have ended up with. Hes going to need castrating and that is also something that is a possibility when keeping rats as sometimes their hormones make them very aggressive. I got 6 baby rats and one of the females has myco, she had it from birth, she was struggling to breath and needed syringe fed as she wouldnt eat. She will probably need medication for life and she isnt growing like her litter mates. She weighs 75g and her littermates weigh 250g! Its very hard to watch which is why if rats are childrens pets, the parents should always be responsible for them.
