If you’ve been considering a pet rat but find yourself wondering how much do pet rats cost or what entails pet rat care, you’ve found the right place. Purchasing a pet rat means committing to their needs and what you’ll have to spend on them in getting them as well as their upkeep.
But when you don’t know anything about pet rat care, you don’t have any idea of the commitment you may be making. That’s why I’m here to give you an intro to buying pet rats.
Here you can find information on how much do pet rats cost, pet rat care, and anything else relevant. So let’s get into what to know before buying a pet rat.
Cost Of The Rats
As with many other animal options for pets, how much pet rats cost is more bulked into the beginning costs. Buying a pet rat can mean spending anywhere from $10 to $30 per rat, and rats should be kept in at least pairs because they enjoy socialization. This spending is fairly low in comparison to other types of pets, but supplies also need to be considered in how much do pet rats cost.
Pet Rats Supplies
Your pet rats will need somewhere to live, so you’ll need to purchase a container or cage that works best for them. Wire cages are more recommended because they have better ventilation and allow your rats the ability to climb to explore. Your cage has to be at least 24 inches by 12 inches in dimensions on the bottom and it should be at least 12 inches tall.
Try to avoid ones that have wired levels to climb on or make sure you can cover up those wires to avoid foot damage, and make sure the spacing isn’t too wide between bars where your rat could try to escape or hurt itself accidentally. You’ll need bedding of some sort for the bottom, which can be shredded newspapers or pet store sold bedding for small animals.
Enrichment is always mentioned in any good intro to buying pet rats, but you can always collect some items as you go to lower upfront costs and just opt to get a single bed and toy at first. Next comes learning the specifics of pet rat care.
Pet Rats Food And Drink
Pet rat care involves making sure they have the right food as well as consistent access to water. You can give your rats water in a bowl if you wish (make sure the bowl is heavy enough to not be easily moved or tipped in case they get curious), but generally, it’s easy and inexpensive to get small animal water bottles for attaching to your cage. While how much do pet rats costs lies in a lot of factors, food is a recurring price. Do your research on what food brands are better for rats, and make sure to get pellet food rather than seed-kike foods. The whole pellets combine all the nutrients your pet rat needs into a compound. You can and should supplement their daily food with additions like fruits and veggies that are safe for them.
Interacting With Your Pet Rats
If how much do pet rats costs were your only thought or you wanted a general idea of pet rat care, that information can help you get some research and understanding on what you’ll be paying to get and have them as well as what will follow in care. Some other interesting information to keep in mind is how they interact with you. Rats can be trained when kept as pets for various tricks and interactive actions.
They’re able to recognize and bond with individual humans differently and are incredibly intelligent animals. Each rat develops its own behavior pattern and personality over time as well. So, you’re not just getting a boring animal that stays in its cage or doesn’t have much awareness of your presence when committing to a pet rat.
Whether you already have your mind made up, now do, or still have some decision making to think about before purchasing your pet; this information can help you figure out more behind the process. Knowing how much do pet rats cost means you can prepare for the money you’ll be spending on your pet rats and knowing pet rat care can help you give them the best quality of life while in your care.
If you make an informed decision on buying pet rats you can better care for them and ensure that they’ll live a longer and healthier life in your household. While it’s not everything you need to know, this intro to buying pet rats can be quite helpful for you.