Olimpia
Biologist & Ecologist
I have been looking for another pet rat for a friend after he lost his to old age a few weeks ago. He's been left with just one male and needed to find another one but he wasn't having luck at the local stores. So I went to a store I know in a different city while visiting friends and was given two adult male pet rats for free, who had been given to the store as feeder rats.
I'm giving them to their future owner in a couple days when I get back, but I have a couple questions since I know he's not one to do a lot of research.
- If I want to give them a bath (they have what looks like dander, they're white fur is yellow, and they were kept in semi-gross conditions), will ordinary ferret/rodent shampoo work or should I use something else for the dander?
- Since all three rats are male, after these 2 are quarantined, how should they be introduced? Is there aggression amongst male rats if it's not handled properly? I rather ask than be sorry, since their owner would most likely just throw them in together.
- How much space do 3 adult rats need? This is important because the cage he has now is too small for all three, I'm sure, but I need more than just my nagging voice to tell him that.
Thanks!
I'm giving them to their future owner in a couple days when I get back, but I have a couple questions since I know he's not one to do a lot of research.
- If I want to give them a bath (they have what looks like dander, they're white fur is yellow, and they were kept in semi-gross conditions), will ordinary ferret/rodent shampoo work or should I use something else for the dander?
- Since all three rats are male, after these 2 are quarantined, how should they be introduced? Is there aggression amongst male rats if it's not handled properly? I rather ask than be sorry, since their owner would most likely just throw them in together.
- How much space do 3 adult rats need? This is important because the cage he has now is too small for all three, I'm sure, but I need more than just my nagging voice to tell him that.
Thanks!