[Amethyst_ice]

I "started" with hamsters, and while I will always have a special place in my heart for them, rats are more suited to my lifestyle.

They are more interactive, an "any time of day" pet so no sat by cage at 2am tryign to coax them awake, bit more "bomb proof" and the fact you can have a group means you don't feel bad if you don't get them out for a few days as they have each other.

As Amity said, the initial set up is a bit costly but I got a decent quality cage 5 years ago at a higher price and only now is it needing a repaint. Where are you based (just country will do) as some pets have better pet industries with certain kinds fo pets than others