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AmityvilleHams · 07-15-2016, 11:31 AM

Domestic rats tend to be automatically social,however,unlike hamsters I would say they don't need quite as much time to settle in!3-4 days should be perfectly fine for rats,while hamsters would often need a week or more to settle in.Along that note,when you're choosing rats whether in a shelter or pet store or even from a breeder choose rats that are curious as they should be curious and alert as well as already very socially inclined.

While a pair is the minimum,odd numbers can often do even better and are much easier to work with if some rats end up falling out of the group.Something like 5 rats is great,since then you can split the group if they don't get along unlike a pair or trio where you'd have to find even more rats for them to be grouped with.

In terms of foods and treats it can be very similar,same with toys.However,unlike hamsters their layout should be catered towards arboreal animals as they are not terrestrial.In simple terms,they need levels and climbing toys and such where hamsters prefer ground space for the most part.

07-15-2016, 11:31 AM
AmityvilleHams PM Fluffy for custom title Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 4,545	Re: soon to be a rat owner. advice needed Domestic rats tend to be automatically social,however,unlike hamsters I would say they don't need quite as much time to settle in!3-4 days should be perfectly fine for rats,while hamsters would often need a week or more to settle in.Along that note,when you're choosing rats whether in a shelter or pet store or even from a breeder choose rats that are curious as they should be curious and alert as well as already very socially inclined. While a pair is the minimum,odd numbers can often do even better and are much easier to work with if some rats end up falling out of the group.Something like 5 rats is great,since then you can split the group if they don't get along unlike a pair or trio where you'd have to find even more rats for them to be grouped with. In terms of foods and treats it can be very similar,same with toys.However,unlike hamsters their layout should be catered towards arboreal animals as they are not terrestrial.In simple terms,they need levels and climbing toys and such where hamsters prefer ground space for the most part.