When people fall in love with pet rats, it’s rarely just because of their adorable faces or soft coats. It’s because of who they are — their personalities, their quirks, their ability to bond deeply with humans. That’s why breeding for temperament is one of the most important things a responsible breeder can do.

I keep getting asked what I feed. Please note that I am answering that question, but I am not one of the people that believes how I do it is the only good way. I do believe that like humans, rats need a variety of food and feeding the same food all the time isn’t healthy. I feed blocks and have them available all the time. Then I use the Shunamite diet and feed them at least once a day with that with about 10 grams for each rat. I also provide fresh veggies with occasional treats. (Treats usually include some eggs and various fruits.) Note: babies and pregnant mothers should have about 15% protein and older adults should have closer to 12% protein. All the foods in the recipe are salt and sugar free.

 This post is going to be off topic and be about my health journey (some of), but before I start, I do not hold my rats to any part of my diet. They get rat blocks all the time and once a day they are fed the Shunamite Diet with the addition of fresh foods (eggs, fruits, veggies, etc.) If I was to become vegetarian tomorrow, I would not make my rats (well maybe the Harleys) or my dogs be vegetarian. However, the only thing in this house that is vegetarian is the tortoise. 😊

A care sheet with more basic information about rats

One question I get a lot is how do I pick which rat is for me? The first thing to know is that personality and good health are the most important part of picking out a rat. Signs of a sick rat are sneezing, bad sounding breathing, being too thin, hunched posture, being listless, discharge from the eyes or nose, diarrhea, being bloated, and wounds. A healthy rat should be active, have good weight, be curious and have a glossy coat. You want your rat to be curious and seem friendly.

If you're considering keeping a rat as a pet, it's important to understand their social behavior and preferences. Rats are highly social animals and should never be kept alone. They thrive in same-sex pairs or groups, so it's important to have at least two rats if you want to keep them as pets. However, the number of rats you should keep together depends on the size of their enclosure and their personalities. Some rats may do well in pairs, while others may prefer to live in larger groups.