Is it true that fancy rats make good pets for keeping in the home? Can they actually get to recognise their handlers and is it true that they can respond to their names if handled early enough and often enough. Is there anything that can be done to ensure that they (a pair) don't have a litter, eg by buying two rats of the same sex for CERTAIN!! Is it best to have males or females, and do they smell even if kept clean? The plan is to keep them in a large aquarium so that they have plenty of space. Any other tips wecomed.

Hi, Trevone!

Q #1 You may want to read this informative, lively article (just click on the link): Rats as Pets

Q #2 According to http://www.rodentfancy.com, "Fancy rats are smart. They can learn to recognize their names and respond when called. They can be taught tricks."

Q #3 You may want to take a look at How Do I Tell a Male From a Female? and Can Two Male Rats Co-exist in One Cage?

Q #4 Whether to get a male (buck) or female (doe) is largely a matter of preference, but according to this website, "Females are usually more jumpy, while males prefer a life of leisure - on average. There are always exceptions. There is really no difference in tameness."

Q #5 As long as their environment (cage, aquarium, etc.) is kept clean, odor should not be a big problem, though bucks may have a slight smell. Fancy rats actually clean themselves frequently.

I thought you might also like to read this: What Kind of Cage is Best?

I hope this has helped to answer some of your questions. If not, please feel free to post back or e-mail me (to the right of my username there's an icon of a person next to an envelope - just click on it). Good luck!

[This message was edited by WolvesRule on 06-03-02 at 05:00 PM.]