Rats are amazingly social and intelligent creatures. They honestly make amazing pets. But is a rat the best pet mammal? And is it the best pet mammal for you?
#clintsreptiles #rat #petrat
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One time when one of my rats wound up alone when his brother died to cancer, I got two baby rats to keep him company. Normally you need to introduce new rats slowly to avoid fights, but he adopted the little rats within less than a minute, and within two they were all napping in a big pile together. He really became a parent to them, really looked after them, but what really left me astounded was when he managed to live so long that he wasn't able to walk by himself, those little rats he adopted, now adults, actively looked after him, bringing him food and helping him move around. It took me by such surprise, and was probably the moment I truly fell in love with rats.
Be careful though; I just had a fatal incident when I tried to let my boy sniff a 7 week old newcomer :(
Damn man, shame on you for making me cry with this information!
I had a similar experience as a kid. One of my old ladies was blind and covered in tumors. I watched the other girls picking out the good pieces of food and bring them to the her. She was always included in activities - they would groom her, young ones would stay close to her while playing, and they all slept together. One of my other longest living females almost made it to 4 even though she had a neurological disability that affected her coordination (not painful - very similar to the wobbly cats). She would still try to help out even though she'd just bumble around and make a mess of everything (tripping over everyone, spilling things), and the others helped care for her and treated her as if nothing was wrong.
I've a similar story; my elderly male rat was left alone, so I got him a few pups. They were terrified, but after a long chase, he was eventually able to catch up & hold them until they weren't afraid. The four were inseparable from then on.
I had a similar experience, but rats are individuals. So although my older rat, Frasier, was welcoming and paternal to Grayson, when Grayson got older he was a loner and didn’t do well w/ other rats. Just a warning to anyone who made the mistake I did thinking every rat needs a companion.
Side note: this doesn't get talked about a lot, but rats can "boggle" their eyes in and out of their heads if they're especially happy or relaxed. It's not something to panic about! It definitely looks kinda freaky though, especially if you don't already know about it.
Especially when combined with bruxing(grinding teeth audibly)….bruxing and boggling makes rat people overjoyed, and non rat people freaked out rofl
People also freak out about their tails. They think they're going to feel like a snake or something. Personally, I love them because they are soft and ratties will curl them around your finger like tiny little opossums. It's adorable.
It's the most hilarious thing to watch lol
Its so freaky but its so wholesome the first time a new pet rat does that for you. Or like when they brux
@@mermaid_at_heart213 snakes are soft and smooth too
almost every single rat story here is absolutely heartwarming - and all written in the past tense. it really is a shame for such an amazing animal to live so short, isn't it..
Indeed, friend, but that leaves us more opportunities, to change more lives for the better - and vice versa.
Rats are disgusting, they spread diseases
@@annadamico1685 Like what? What diseases do domesticated rats spread to humans? Even Bubonic Plague is no longer being attribute to fleas on wild rats, any more! Educate yourself. 💕
@@m1ndymayhem Hmm, let me name just a few diseases... Hantavirus Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome Lassa Fever Leptospirosis Lujo Hemorrhagic Fever Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis (LCM) Monkeypox Omsk Hemorrhagic Fever Rat-Bite Fever Salmonellosis South American Arenaviruses Sylvatic Typhus Tularemia Anaplasmosis Angiostrongylus Babesiosis Borreliosis Colorado tick fever Cutaneous leishmaniasis Flea-borne (Murine) Typhus Hymenolepis diminuta La Crosse virus Lyme disease Moniliformis moniliformis Powassan virus Rickettsialpox Scrub typhus Tick-borne Relapsing Fever Tularemia
@@rustyshackleford543 Cmon friend. Im not disgusting
My rats have amazed me on multiple occasions. I had a rescue rat (he was found abandoned on a train) who was very hard to socialize with, he probably didn't have a proper childhood and was bred as snake food, so he didn't know how to react to my other rats' social cues. He had a bad experience meeting them first and was really afraid of them. I thought about giving up on socializing him but I didn't want him to be alone. Then, I noticed that the other rats had basically accepted him, even though he was still afraid, and hissed at the other rats, warning them that he would attack. However, my pack leader seemed to have noticed that the rescue rat was all bark but no bite. He walked up to the rescue, turned his back towards the rescue, and lay down next to him. The rescue would hiss and run away after a while but the pack leader followed, repeating the gesture. This non-threatening, accepting behavior let the rescue rat calm down and finally accept the other rats. I have never seen an animal behave like that towards another that was actively threatening them.
What led you to believe that rat was abandoned and not just a feral-born rat who found his way onto a train?
@@liambohl they are relatively easy to differentiate. Especially if they have another colouring than agouti. I mean have you ever seen a wild black hooded rat?
@@liambohl Other than the fact that he was a pink-eyed white rat also his demeanor. Pet rats are domesticated animals, there is a stark difference between tame animals and domesticated ones. Domesticated animals have been bred over multiple generations for specific traits which makes handling them easier, while they also rely on humans. Pet rats don't tend to fare well in the wild. He was skittish when I got him but warmed up to me really fast. He never tried biting me and let me handle him. I caught wild rats before, to resettle them away from my garden. I would never even try touching them, they are dangerous.
Humans
My rat didn't trust me at first and tended to bite and hide but then she had a stroke, I slept with her on my lap that night and petted her for hours. After that she was very cuddly her behavior changed drastically it was like I gained her trust, they really are smart.
If anything, Clint is underselling just how incredibly social they are. Story time! So one rat I had, he was a chubster, and he'd managed to chew a hole in his shoe box home a bit too high up. He tried to climb through the hole, and got stuck, see-sawing back and forth. And then he freaked the f*** out. Animals trapped like this can easily hurt themselves trying to break free, so this was a problem. I had a pair of scissors handy, but I didn't trust him to stay still long enough to cut him free. So, after a moment's thought... I stuck my finger in his mouth. Sure enough, he bit down, and his body relaxed. Snip-snip later, and he was free. He ran to the back of the cage, very shaken, and I went to wash my finger. So a couple minutes later, I come back, and try to talk to him. But when I reached for him, he ran away like he was scared. So I clicked at him and called his name, and he eventually climbed slowly up onto my hand... and then grabbed my bitten finger between his tiny little hands and started furiously licking the wound. *He remembered biting me and felt bad about it!* So I let him clean the wound, and then scritched him behind the ears, and we were cool again. Never in my life have I seen an animal so clearly express regret for an action. And what made it worse was that it wasn't his fault! I honestly felt a little bad because he felt bad, but I had no way of telling him it was all according to plan.
That was a a nice story.
They are incredible my girl Cherio always loved to play if I tossed a ball she would bring it right back for exercise every time she would ask for a treat she would spin in a circle. Just so intelligent.
Wow! I wonder if he thought you'd be mad at him and that's why he was so scared at first? I don't think it's cuz he was trapped since you didn't trap him or hurt him at all. They are so smart! Miss my rattie Elton. He came to his name and would ride around in my hoodie and go shopping! He really liked how I would show him things on the shelves without him having to leave the safety of the hood. 😎 He was a hooded rat too. 😆
Ok, you've just sold me. I've been a rat-averse for my entire life and now I think I would have rats if I wasn't already a committed cat person. (I suspect my cats would stress a rat out on purpose. This is also why I have a rosy boa, not a ball python; responsibility for a surprise pet rat is not a road I want to even think about going down.)
Ooh, I have a story like this! Brought home an oops! pregnant female rat from a shady pet store. When she had her pups, I was trying to pull out the bloody newspaper without getting too close to them. I must have because she nailed my finger, recognized me immediately, licked the wound and from then on, I was allowed to pet and hold them. Keep in mind, rat gestation is only like 22-28 days, so I'd known this rat less than a month. She was amazing and yeah, broke my heart when she died. I cannot keep rats anymore.
When my daughter was about four and was in public, she'd occasionally just shout to someone, "we have rats!". I'd always have to come in behind her and explain.
😂🤣
Mine still did that at 8 lol.
My first rats were a pair of males, they each lived 5 years, no cancer in them, I think I got incredibly lucky. By the end they were both blind, and unable to ride on my shoulder anymore, there's truth in their need for a friend as they both died within a week of each other, as if they were only hanging on for their friends sake.
Your memory is deceiving you about their age. Only about 5% of rats live to age three, let alone five. There is not a single reliable recorded case of a rat reaching five years.
@@jdb47gamesa simple google search proves you’re wrong, chill Dr. Rat
@@jdb47games The longest living rat in captivity lived to be 7 years old
Such claims are not properly verified, and should therefore be ignored.@@MoxJet629
The longest properly verified rat life is 3.8 years without abnormal feeding. There are other longer claims, but they are not properly verified. Don't believe 'a simple google search'.@@quixbix
On the pooping and peeing: in my experience, rats really don't like to relieve themselves outside of their cage, unless they're in an unfamiliar place and/or very stressed. Mine never pooped anywhere when I let them run around my room. They do "mark" with pee droplets here and there. But the only time I ever had a rat truly pee on me was when she'd spent too much time outside the cage and desperately had to go. She ran to me, started crawling on me and actually seemed distressed. I had no idea why...until she peed in my lap. She had the intelligence to try and communicate that she needed to go back to her cage, which was in another room. I felt so bad!
Yeah, I was confused too. The information sounded right but when I had rats they'd never poop or pee on me. I even took them to the cinema or shopping lol. My housemates had rats too and being peed on was rare and I don't remember being pooped on myself. They always waited until I gave them to someone else to cuddle >. >
Yep, same here. The odd rat raisin, or a few tiny marking drops? Sure. But I've never had my rats routinely empty their bladders on me or all out bowel-emptying, unless they're stressed or sick, and like you, they've generally made it very clear that they're not comfortable first. If you want to limit the mess, you can also train them to use a litter box outside of the cage - or give them access to their cage during their free-range time, so they can go back (both options have worked for me). Heck, I even had one rat who developed type 1 diabetes (super rare in rats thankfully) who I had to get urine samples from to test his blood sugar levels on the regular. Within a couple of days, I had him trained to go into a carrier with a raised mesh platform and pee so that I could get a clean sample and he didn't have to get pee all over himself in the process. You just have to spend a little time training them, and it greatly reduces the risks. And honestly, if you can't handle the odd, fully-formed, generally non-stinky rat raisin, then you sure as heck aren't going to be able to deal with picking up after a dog or emptying a cat litter box, either... or, in fact, any animal that produces faeces. Because you can NEVER guarantee that any animal won't accidentally excrete something on you, in some way.
Wow, this thread is what I needed! I used to have rats 30 yrs ago, and remember a stinking room... bc I was a punk, and they did not even have a cage, certainly because I had males and I remember them peeing wherever they walked... maybe bc they, even though father and son, did not like each other very much, kept to seperate corners of my room and only met each other around me, where they had to impress the other guy... never in me, though, that is so true. But now I do have a dog, and he usually does all business outside, I hesitate to add a rat to our little, all too small pack.
@@Weirdkauz yeah that... that's not how to keep rats, but I'm glad you recognise that now. But yeah, if you put two rats into a large area, they will often isolate and become territorial - which only worsens the marking and possessiveness over their person, as well as them being lonely and stressed. Definitely do not add A rat to your pack. Two, perhaps... but if so, I highly recommend doing the research first on proper care. But then again, rats aren't for everyone, either, and that's okay.
My first rat named Dewey was the best rat ever and technically my first "service animal." he was so sweet and so smart. My school was a private school, so they did let me bring him to school since they noticed he helped me focus and be calm in school. Dewey would sleep on my shoulder all day long. He got me up for school too. Mom would open his cage and get breakfast ready while Dewey would head for the stairs and up to my room and then climb up onto my bed and gently lick my face to wake me up. He was amazing and it's so sad that people think they are just dirty, nasty creatures. They are extremely intelligent. Basically a pocket sized dog.
Mine woke me up by licking my face, too. Then I may yawn, and end up with a mouthful of rat-head, getting my cheeks licked from the inside, trying not to swallow the rat whole through my giggles 🤣
That's amazing that you were able to go to school with him. Seems like you had an amazing friendship. I have to ask since I am interested in rats but the poop and pee got me worried. Did you have like a towel on your school desk for him to go? Do you need to accept droppings in your clothes if you carry him around?
@@Ricky-pr5wz I mean if you don't plan to have the rat on you for hours they don't tend to poop on you unless they're stressed or being forced to stay on you. I never had a situation with a pet rat pooping on me, except once when I tried to give the rat a syringe of medicine she didn't like. Pee on the other hand they will mark you everywhere lol even in their sleep. If you're not a fan of urine or having your clothes potentially chewed, I'd recommend you get an old hoodie for taking them out.
I had one that woke me up by sitting on my head
aww bless Dewey:) he sounds so sweet
"They steal your heart and break it into a million pieces two years later." Nothing could be a more accurate assessment of pet rats. I've had 5 throughout my life (2 as a kid and 3 in college), and they are the reason I started watching this channel. I wanted something small that is just as curious and personable AND wouldn't shatter my heart so quickly. My blue death-feigning beetles come pretty close, but simply nothing beats rats. 🥰
I couldn’t agree more. My heart, and the hearts of a few of my friends and family members were absolutely shattered when my rat Dobby passed away. For such a short life he had a giant heart and spirit. My coven ended up giving him a nice send off.
@@KurganGhidorah that is incredibly sweet! They truly are the best ❤️
oh boy I have been wanting to get some blue death-feigning beetles for a long time now! they are so neat! rats are amazing i have 4 at the moment. I had one when I was a child I was too young to realise that they need friends but he was my bestie!
@@clairebear787 yeah. My blues aren't terribly bright, but they each have their own distinct personality. So they are definitely fun to observe!
RIP Hax and Juicy. They lived four years, the little devils
It is also incredible how intelligent rats can be. Izy, my very first rat, was able to understand the word 'kitchen'. Whenever someone mentioned that they were going into the kitchen, she would run there in the hope of getting some treats (because, of course, 'kitchen' meant food was involved 😉)
I started watching your videos a few years ago on the notion that I would hopefully be adopting a reptile soon. After a while of research I had thought I narrowed it down enough to make a decision. As soon as that moment hit, my step-sister (who owns a ball python) offered me a rat that she refused to eat for a week or so. I said "Uh, no thanks" but she made me hold him anyways. A tiny little grey rat with ears too large for his head, she named him "Leftovers" since he certainly hadn't been eaten for dinner even though that was his original purpose. I sent a cheeky text to my partner asking if we needed a rat expecting a no but received an excited yes. He was the sweetest, kindest most loving and happy boy and I'm so so happy we decided to take little Lefty home with us. He recently passed and had many health complications towards the end, it was extremely hard for us. However, even though they don't live long like you said, they have so much capacity for love. I agree with your rating and am happy to say owning rats has forever changed my life in a way I could've never imagined. Thank you for this amazing video.
"leftover".......sooo freaking cute
Your step-sister refused to eat the rat? 🤣
@@keihan5 lol yes she and the snake both weren't hungry I guess lol
My rat Rosey would 'sing' whenever she was handled. At first I thought it was her complaining because just a gentle squeeze would be enough for her to vocalise. However she would instantly come back for more and would also sing happily from her nest whenever being groomed by her companion or as she wriggled up a sleeve. She was an incredibly brave, curious and interactive animal.
Ha ha, I only had one who regularly vocalized, but it was because he was afraid of everything! Bath time in the sink got the most squeaks, yet he somehow managed to always get in situations that required a bath! He was a Rex.
Rats vocalize a lot, it's just that it's usually too high-pitched for human ears to hear. Sounds like your Rosey figured out that she had to use a deeper pitch to talk to you!
Maybe she had a respiratory infection as a baby, that causes them to be much more audible as perfectly healthy adults. Bippo the Rat is a great example of this.
look up monitor live feedings if you really wanna hear them vocalize
It's not fair that such lovely, smart, emotional, *aware* animals live so short. They deserve decades. Need to breed them for slower fertility cycles and longer life!
Preach!
Would be complicated and could have unseen consequences. Just look at dog breeds.
they live fast full life. you know what happened to many dog breeds right because we wanted to change them
Yeah, to me the only downside to rats are their lifespan.
changing a creature's 'selection type' usually comes with significant problems. To give a rat decades you have to slow down it's metabolism, and as it's so small thermal regulation becomes exceedingly difficult when you do. The 'make a ton of babies, live fast and die young' lifestyle is in part related to the price of endothermy. Capybara's for instance, live 6 years in the wild, and can live twice that in captivity just by being big rats.
I am so happy to see people loving rats in a big way. I've kept rats since my mom brought two home over 14 years ago - it changed my life completely! I do want to say one of my boys broke the 3 year club, and joined the 4 and a half! Absolutely ancient by rat standards.
I had the fortune of having an ancient fossil boy that I had from a few months old live for 5 years and 4 months and as heartbreaking as it was, I was there with him until he left this world.
I’m very proud of y’all for taking care of your ancient rats so well!!
My first ratatoe, Benjamin, broke the 6 year club just before he passed. He was my best friend and the best cuddle buddy you could ever ask for. Here's hoping your little man makes it to 6 too. ❤
I currently have 7 male rats. In particular, Squiggy (yes, I had Lenny but he recently passed), is one of the most laid-back, loving rats I've had. He's my "heart rat." I put him down on my bed while I am relaxing, and he lies next to me contentedly. No matter how long he is there, he NEVER poops or pees, or tries to chew my sheets or clothing. Somehow he just *knows* not to. He was incredibly tame from the moment I purchased him from a pet store, and he was still just a baby. In fact, he was so calm that he simply rode home with me on the passenger seat of my car, very relaxed as I petted and talked to him. He is a light blue hooded with pink eyes, so he has very poor eyesight. Yet, when I call his name, he runs straight to me for snuggles, kisses, and pets. I love ALL my ratty boys, and I wouldn't trade them for the world. I just wish they had more time here on earth with us.
Awww
@@mony8112 You meant Awww?
@@laradavenport903 oh yeah
@@mony8112 I see.👀
@@mony8112 Just edit the comment then
I got insanely lucky with my rats; they were feeders, and two of them lived to be 3, while the third lived to be FIVE. I was blown away.
Simply not true though is it
i have a pet rat right now that’s about 2 months past his second year
@@alexb4185 From the two I had one lived almost 2 and the third almost 3 so 3 doesn't seem too far fetched.
@@alexb4185 Two is an average, with a good diet\exercise and good breeding longer is quite possible. My first one lived for almost 5, and his sons lived 3-4 and they generally had no significant health problems aside from a sniffle. Feeder bred rats tend to live shorter periods, while a pet fancy rat is going to live significantly longer but have smaller litters, at least in my experience.
Was the quality of life still decent in that final year? Mine generally lived about three years, this is back when we were still feeding them parrot mix and rural vets didn't treat them. But their last few months always seemed to drag out with tumors and respiratory illnesses. I'm very curious to see if we can accomplish a more cavy-like lifespan with fancy rats in the coming decades.
The heartbreak is right! They have such sweet little personalities and mine wouldn't poop outside of their cage so I would carry them around in my hoodie pocket.
MINE TOO!!! When I went to take her out she would go pee first so I would hold her for longer, because when he peed on me too much I would generally put her back to change lol
Mine did the same, and I didn't even train him to do that. He would ride on my shoulder the whole time I was home!
Yeah I can't own rats again *I* am not hardy enough. But I'm always happy to see a ratto pet.
I used the Mammal's weakness and rear-naked choked them both for a certain count then buried mine. And I'm a tree-hugger, don't eat mammals and almost a vegetarian. Well they made it 2 years and went painlessly at least.
Rats are exeptionally tasty too! Shockingly much meat on a relatively little body! Awesome animals!
I got 2 juvenile males. Not exaggerating..it took 40 minutes to crate train them both. Had them almost 3 years. Neither ever again peed or pooped outside their crate. As far as them wandering off in the house, it took a couple days for them to come to each of their names, and about two more to understand that when we said, "rats," it meant they should both come. So smart
As someone that uses multiple nailguns everyday for years and has owned rats, the nail gun analogy is fair on the surface. But a dog bites like a framing nailer, a rat is more like a crown stapler. For future reference. I've missed with both and thats how I can anecdotally compare them.
I would like an extensive list of comparisons between animals and construction equipment now
I also, would like that list 😂 rat bites hurt but they heal quickly if you keep them cleaned
is a rat bite very painful?
@@KingOfComedyXD yeah it sucks and it stings for a while but it’s not worse than a dog or a cat bite
While they bite quickly, more damage is usually done by the fear reaction of jerking the hand away. Rats rarely bite, so we don't expect it. In fact, in decades of owning rats, the only one that has ever bit me wasn't my own. It was a female with babies in class. I was instructed to remove them to clean their cage, and she didn't seem to appreciate the idea!
You also forgot to mention that rats giggle. Researchers slowed down the sounds that rats make when handlers tickled them to a frequency humans could hear and found that they giggle.
Yeah, they giggle, they babble and make crunching sounds with their teeth when they are happy and content, they spit when they want to impress and show dominance and of course they do those adorable little squeaks. Mine would also wait till I tickled them, then run up to the second level of their cage and return in a second (literally) and jump into my hand. Then stand there and wait until I tickled them again and repeat the whole thing. :D
@@phangirlable The whole dominance thing with rats is really funny to watch. Since rats always try to figure out their hierarchy. Or that "Aggressive patty cake" thing they do.
@@rosenrot234 aggressive patty cake is the best way to describe it!
@@haileyrodgers1679 Ikr? For those that don't have rats. Rats love to establish a pecking order. A common way they do this without hurting the other rat is they stand up on their back feet and kinda touch each others front paws.Usually this ends with the rats figuring out their place. Then they tend to do a little social grooming. But it still looks like they're playing patty cake and its adorbs
I had one that snored.
I had rats years ago, but I don't think I could do it again. They were amazing, but with their life span it felt like adopting a heartbreak. I miss them often though. Great video.
I would add that that's why they are a perfect starter pet because if people forget about them or neglect them or get bored, they know not to get any more! Pets and children aren't for them. Poor rats, always the test animals!
@@amandastakeonit7402 I thought that's why so many people got hamsters, similarly low live expectancy, seemingly low maintenance and their cheap.
remember, to you. they're a small part of your life, but to them, you were their entire world! The love you give them is all that matters. Love isn't a finite resource. Grief is just Love that lost it's home. Perhaps one day you can find the strength to make a new home for little critters that might need you. Take care of yourself.
@@Grabnok Gonna take that snippet. "grief is just love that's lost it's home"
@@Trekki200 Please don't remind me about that horrible twitter thread. God. Unfortunately, any mention of a hamster is gonna remind me. It's awful. Gonna post a description hopefully under a Read More. It was a thread of people who basically...just fucking forgot they had a hamster. One described how they had to clean their room and put the hamster into a side room or a closet, and then just FORGOT. Months later they found it's dried body in there. The whole thread was FILLED with these fucking awful stories. It's so horrid.
Something fun about pet rats is how many foods they’re allowed to have. The list of things they can’t eat is much shorter than the things they can. I loved being able to prepare meals for them! They had their pellets which was technically their main diet but I’d also add a bowl with a variety of different things and mix it up each day! Some examples of what I’d give them are carrot, celery, apple, pear, banana, beans, peas, corn, broccoli, strawberry, cucumber, leafy greens, boiled or scrambled egg, dry and/or cooked pasta, and I’d add a tiny sprinkling of low fat cheese to top it off. It’s been a long time since I had them so there was probably other stuff they got that I can’t remember. They were such special boys 🥰 also some of the treats they’d get was a little piece of dark chocolate (at least 70-80%), Cheerios which they adored, and other types of cereal like Nutri-grain and a couple lil rice bubbles or a chex piece, it was just so fun to be able to share everything with them. Other snacks too like sometimes they’d get a piece of popcorn or a bit of a chip, or I’d break off some of a nut/muesli bar, and they had their own treat cup with some almonds only for them. They loved rice pudding and baby food custard, and when they needed meds for URI’s instead of using dairy based stuff (which I was told would lessen the effect of their medication) I’d mix it with apple sauce/purée which they also enjoyed a lot. They’re one of the best pets at taking meds! I was recommended to give them a tiny dose of infant nurofen for pain relief and they didn’t even need it mixed with anything cause they liked the taste of it by itself 😂 There was one day they got a little piece of chocolate cake on someone’s birthday, since I didn’t know their actual birthdays I decided to let them celebrate then with some yummy cake. I adopted the five of them when they were already a year old, so I didn’t get very long with them, but I cherished the time I did. I miss them. Rest In Peace my beautiful boys: Pudding, Cookie, Bean, Chip and Spud ❤️
I love the little test bite he gave Clint and he jerked his hand away. 90% of the time the bite will not be a harsh one, maybe an indent in the skin. They are just checking you out, nibbling/tasting a person/object is how they 'see' you
The baby ones can nibble on your fingers. I’ve suspected they were teething with they did this…
Nibble-grooming, maybe? Rats use their teeth to comb each other's fur and remove loose hairs and parasites. :-)
@@sharondornhoff7563 that too I forgot about grooming.
My rats were never even test bitey. They are such perfect little angels.
Unless your our blue and he thinks you got snacc and you don't have snacc. x'D he got me once and felt bad about it so now he soft mouths and grooms where he got me on the daily ever since even though it wasn't that bad
My favorite rat scenario is where they taught the rats how to drive little cars and the rats just enjoyed driving them for fun.
I'd love to see videos about ALL the small mammals! Hedgehogs, guinea pigs, and mice are all animals I'd like to see in the future! :)
Hedgehogs are endangered and shouldn’t be kept as pets
@@theotheseaeagle whata the harm if they are captive bred
+1 for guinea pig. Also, rabbits!!
@@theotheseaeagle that really depends on the type of hedgehog and how you got it . If fancy hedgehog has been have been bred for close to 100 years for pet purposes then they are no longer the same genetic and can't actually be considered part of the wild population
I'd be interested on the statistics of the percentage of pet hedgehogs called Sonic personally
As the husband of a rat owning wife, everything you said was factual and well presented. They are super fun and funny to play with. Only draw back is the potentially expensive care if they get sick and getting a nice critter nation cage. Also they don't live long enough, poor little things
I love how when he talks about how social and adorable they are at 2:21 the one rat is gently holding the other rat's tail 😭
having owned both rats and hedgehogs I don't think a hedgehog will be giving rats a run for their money! less handleable (in general), more expensive, and more complex care requirements. Although the longer lifespan is definitely appealing. so glad to see this video! I always feel that rats don't get enough appreciation for how fantastic they are!
Agreed! They are adorable, but not nearly as personable and not forgiving at all if their habitat isn't perfect. Plus, they also need bugs in their diet.
Huh, whod've thought an animal that is like 90% spikes isn't very handleable, colour me surprised. (Hedgehogs are fucking adorable and i was taking the piss)
@@elizataylor1726 lol it's the shocker of the century!
I can agree with this. Hedgehogs arent good pets.
@@elizataylor1726 oddly enough the handleability issues aren't due to the spikes. It's due to the temperament and odds of biting.
Rats are surprisingly affectionate, wasnt expecting much from them after having hamsters as a kid and after 3 lovely years with my pet rats they really changed my perspective on them. very smart and gentile animals. just sad they dont live very long :( I havnt gotten another because of it.
omg fr the difference between rats and hamsters in terms of affection is night and day. all of my hamsters were so mean 😭 9/9 of my rats have been very affectionate and kind. and like all of my girls were from feeder bins so like idk lol
@@lilydrawsart5756 I'm convinced that rats should take the place of hamsters as a go to first pet for kids to learn how to take care of animals with. Teddy bear hamsters are probably the best hamster out there (much more friendly), but even they are a little mean and rats are just more entertaining.
@@ryantannar5301 so agree. Plus it can help around the stigma with rats, and give breeders more business. I first pet a rat at age 5 at a children's museum and it totally rocked my world.
They are soooo different from hamsters.
@@lilydrawsart5756 I've only ever bought feeders, and only had one die before 2 1/2 years. My 1st two were rejected meals in fact.
30 years ago I got a bunch of rats to feed to my many boas and pythons. This is rat was refused by all my snakes. Nobody would eat him. I ended up feeling like he was a special rat and kept him. We bonded so deeply. I had him for almost 3 years when he got a tumor on his neck and eventually died. I carried him on my shoulder all the time. I housed him in a very tall parakeet cage, made him a hammock and a hide box...he loved it all but he really loved me. I felt that from him all the time. What a great experience I had with him.
that's cool, too bad he didn't have a companion rat as they're very social
@@teklifeya thats an extremely sad story. especially since they are feeding live
I learned what it means to have a “heart rat” when I purchased my boy Galileo. He is so sweet and expressive it’s like having a tiny dog with little hands who stands on his back legs and reaches for me when he wants loves.
Once you bring your pet rats home and interact with them, any drawbacks to keeping them just melt away. They truly are amazing! Intelligent, personable, funny, and cuddly are the best words I can think of to describe them, and they all have distinct personalities! Thank you Clint for showing rats in a positive light!
Man, i still wish i could have kept my rats- Mans ended up having awful allergies to them :( at least i could keep them for almost a full year ;;
Nah bruh, im from the bronx in new york, this is a hell no.
@@blackleague212 well your location has nothing to do with it. If you're thinking of wild rats, just stop. Domesticated rats are NOT the same as wild ones...
@@ArisuOkami nah the pet rat is gonna smell his cousins running around wild, and he is gonna want out lmao also NYC rats get huge I seen a 9 pound rat once, it was the size of a small cat. It was heavy too, the homeless dudes got it and cooked it a few weeks ago I saw them in the park grilling it
@@blackleague212 this literally has nothing to do with wild rats in your area- or any area. Domesticated rats would at most FIGHT wild rats- they don't get a long. if you so dislike people enjoying a certain animal as an pet, how about you don't watch these kinds of videos? Also, So what if wild rats are big? NO ONE LITERALLY ASKED. Also, let the homeless eat and don't diss on them for eating what they can, when you just watch for your amusement and don't even try to help them.
We've had over a hundred rats many years ago (not at the same time). They are wonderful animals, but it their short lives is heartbreaking. They would learn their names, and when you would go to the enclosure and call a name, that particular rat would come to you! Cleanup wasn't fun, though!
I lost my five rats throughout this year and it was so sad but I know I'll get them again. Such amazing pets they are and the bond you build with them is insanely strong. My girls lived to be 3.5 but got tumors quickly towards the end :(
That happened to me last year! I got a rat who happened to be pregnant and she and all her babies had some disease so it was horribly slow watching them go one by one. I’m so sorry you had that happen to you ❤
@@marissaroloff5780 I’m sorry for you as well :( it’s awful! My rat was pregnant when I bought her too and I ended up keeping all the girls! 😂 looks like we had pretty similar experiences lol
@@azza21304 lol I feel like it’s a fairly common experience since they’re little menaces and make babies so quickly 😅 I just love them so much
I used to have a pretty large clan of rats, about 10-15 in two enclosures total. One for males and one for females.Every so often I'd breed another generation to compensate for their short lifespan. In all the time I had them I only got bitten once, and it was genuinely my own fault because I tried to handle a female who was also a new addition and pregnant. She was already scared and I forgot the best practices with a new rat, which is to give them some time to adjust and she naturally bit my finger because she was scared and nervous. Other than that rats are so docile if anyone says in earshot "I'm thinking about getting a small pet." I tell them to get a pair of rats.
Gambian Pouched Rats might be an interesting video. Longer life span and bigger size for those weirdos like me who love giant rats. Great vid as always Clint.
I would love to see this too! Especially because it might become topical if monkeypox continues to be a concern... pouched rat imports were originally banned in the US due to a monkeypox outbreak.
Plus: C. gambianus can be trained to identify landmines! Minus: imported pouched rats may also be rodent zero in the current monkeypox outbreak; this is a species to be really really careful about imports with.
A friend,on a trip to FL. to a breeder was going to get me one...Then monkey pox hit them and I changed my mind really fast.
@@dc_mischief I read breeders dumped them all after that and they are doing their thing in Florida.Forget where I read this.
But aren’t them less tame than domestic rats?
Their lifespan is the dealbreaker. When I lost my two as a kid it was awful. However I will forever be an advocate for rats and their amazing characteristics. I will also forever feel conflicted about feeding my snakes but it’s the circle of life but it never gets easier having a freezer full of these animals but snakes need to eat too. It doesn’t mean I dislike rats at all, they’re one of the best animals on the planet!
I agree! I love rats, and mice and yep have to feed them off to my animals, but I buy them frozen and don't think much beyond that. The alternative doesn't work, they both may suffer. Rats are brilliant and sweet and so funny. I miss having them, but I have ten reptiles and am considering two more but really think I have enough. We have a dog too but she's 12 and I worry that her last days might be near, but it's possible she could live six more years and I want to focus on her... and my snakes and lizards 💚
Yeah, the short lifespan of rats makes them a great first time pet for kids because it's not a super long time commitment, but it's also a major downside for those of us who want our furry companions to stick around longer.
You could feed them frozen jumbo mice.
@@PeteFredrickson I disagree though, rats are not a pet for you if you only want to commit for once lifespan. They shoukd live in mixed aged, rolling groups .
@@ashleyhayward2319 I know you're supposed to have at least 2 or more but I'm saying for kids you could just get them two of a similar age to start with. If they want more later more could be brought in of course but I think the short lifespans starting out with just two of a similar age would be a good way to start out in case the kid loses interest.
My friend was once out drinking with his friends, and in their intoxicated genius they've decided to buy a rat. In their local pet store they got a single feeding rat for a single € and took him with them. They were almost certain that the rat would run away from their loud and obnoxious behaviour within the night, but as time went on the rat didn't. In fact he got so used to them that my friend carried him on his shoulder instead of inside the box. The little guy would even keep calm and steady as the guys went around on bicycles, still sitting on my friends shoulder, looking around the town. He went on multiple drinking trips like this with my friend and his friend group, and everyone loved him, maybe a rat friend is better than a human friend, but what about half a dozen nocturnal humans? Yeah, he was pretty happy with them. Sadly, the lack of caution needed around the little guy would soon lead to his demise, as nobody was afraid he'd run away they would just let him wonder around them when they were out, and one time he wandered onto a nearby road and was run over by a car. It's a terribly sad ending to such a happy story, and my friend seems to be sad about it to this day. I sadly never met the rat, but the fact that he could socialize so well with the most obnoxious humans there are - intoxicated teens, proves that if you get a rat, even a feeder, it will most likely love you. Just maybe do get it a rat friend, this was during a summer break so the guy who owned the rat basically spent the whole day around him, and then whenever they went out they would spend the whole night with the rat as well, most people really don't have this time to offer.
Thst seems really irresponsible. The lack of caution leading to his death was 100% on your friend
Rip ratty boy :/
@@ven5646 a buncho drunken teens are basically the definition of irresponsible. I'd like to believe that the little rodent died happy before he could even realise what hit him. Probably better than a snake.
jesus that’s so irresponsible poor little guy. some people really should never be allowed to own pets 😞 depressing how careless and unintelligent humans are
@@Ava-nf2qqit’s not anyone’s fault it was just his time to go
Best thing my parents did for me growing up is get me pet rats. As Clint mentioned, they are easy to care for, social, and trainable. The perfect beginner pet! I had many growing up and still remember all their names, and, unfortunately, how they died :(. But even that, I feel was beneficial in a way. A small intro to the precious and fleeting nature of life. If you are a parent, and your kids are begging for a pet, I totally recommend starting them off with a pair of rats. Clint had to mention the biting because it does happen sometimes, but if you buy from a pet breeder, and teach your kids not to crush them, it’s about as likely as a dog biting. I for one was never bitten by a single one of my rats.
For what my anecdote is worth, out of the 5 rats I've owned I can count on one hand the number of times I've been pooped on. They mostly only do it when nervous or scared. The pee though...
I've been pooped on more times, but that's cause I had to socialize all my 6 rats. But after the 2 to 4 weeks there were no more poops.
It’s been 10 years since I’ve owned rats but i litter box trained mine. I got a drop of urine on me every once in awhile but that didn’t bother me. I’d let them free range in my bedroom the last half of the day when I’d get home from work and after a few weeks of litter box training, any time they’d have to poop, they’d run into their cage, go straight to the litter box, handle business, and then would run right back out. That’s a smart animal if you ask me
The weak bladder is an evolutionary advantage. They see the light spectrum we do and ultraviolet too. Urine glows in ultraviolet so easier to find their way back to the burrow/nest in the wild foraging in the dark like Hansel & Gretel with breadcrumbs.
I had a few rats as a kid, but none as special to me as my first, Zoe. She was the sweetest, most gentle animal. I used to love letting her lick peanut butter off my fingertip. Whenever I talk to people considering a rodent for a pet, I always advocate for rats. They are hands down the best rodent option for kids. You can keep your hamsters and gerbils.
As a kid we adopted a week-old feeder rat because, as you said, the ball python decided we need a new pet. We never had any behavior issues with him, and he had pretty good health considering we didn’t really know how to take best care of him.
My wife got 2 feeder rats. After about a week we noticed they were putting on weight. Turns out the store kept all the rats in same encosure so both were pregnant. Shortly we had 12 babies. But only one mother could produce milk. But the one that could stepped up and nursed all 12 babies. She was an amazing rat and became my favorite. Of all of the rats we wound up, she turned out to be the smartest, most adventuresome and most affectionate. If there is a such thing I'm sure she is a rat heaven because she surely deserves it. R.I.P Katie
something to add: an air purifer is a great idea since they're very sensitive for dust and low humidity. And it helps with their smell. Males smell way more but females can also be quite smelly. I've had 7 pet rats and they are just such incredible pets. The grief when they die is the same as dogs for me. I used to be a petstore manager and I would always recommend rats instead of rabbits, guinea pigs or hamsters for kids. The main reason I don't keep them now is because of the high vet bills and their smell and how much time they need. they're mini dogs with the same bills as a full size dog😅 I trained a few of them where they would know their name and were target trained so I could lure them anywhere. If I ever have kids, they'll definitely have rats.
I've owned rats for 5/6 years now and there are very few downsides to them. The poop and pee is something I am very used to now but the goodbyes are the worst. Still, I 100% agree with everything you said here; rats are hugely misunderstood animals and do make amazing pets.
A couple things that weren’t put in the video-rats make this chittering sound when they get really excited and they give kisses! They can learn a bunch of cool tricks, too. The first one I taught my girls Prudence and Ramona was to take food from my hands *gently*. Their favorite treats were corn on the cob, mango, and cocktail shrimp. My rats lived to be about 4 years old before they passed. I miss my little rodent puppies so so much 😢
I had 3 Dumbo boys through my college years of Animal Welfare Degrees. "They steal your heart and break it into a million pieces two years later." Is a perfect saying for pet Rats. They were my little boys. If I had a bad day at college or work, they would ALWAYS cheer me up. They never bit me, they never chewed through anything I didn't want them to chew, they were very playful, curious, gentle, loving, misunderstood creatures. It has been 10 years since they passed and I genuinely miss them to this day. I would get more but they just don't live long enough.
My class had a rat named pepper, she was so sweet and the whole school loved her. She was so smart and personable.
I had 2 wonderful female hairless rats. One lived about 2 and half years and the other was close to 4 when cancer took her. They were both social, intelligent animals who didn't poop and pee on people. They would begin to get anxious when they needed a potty break. I think if people watch for behavioral cues from their animals everyone is happier.
i had hairless female that had an amazing personality. She was an only rat too, and it didn't seem to affect her negatively. I would let her out of the cage every day for like an hour. Sadly she got a bunch of cancerous tumors somewhere between 2-3 years. I actually spent a bunch of money on her trying to extend her life but it didn't seem to help much.
@@seeingeyegodSorry for your loss. Cancer seems to be the big thing with them. I had a cat that got cancer around the same time and I've given all my pets bottled spring water since then. My snake even gets a weekly soak in it. It's heartbreaking to have a pet pass. 😢
Rats are the LOVE of my life. They are my absolute favorite pet I’ve ever kept and they hold such a huge place in my heart. They’re so so so sweet. They need cuddles and loves, I’ve only been bitten once in the years I’ve had them and it was entirely my fault. I adore them
One day I was curious about why my girls wrestled so often: over grooming each other, having stand-offs, pulling each other by the ears, etc. I knew the rule “no blood no foul” when it came to their wrestle playing already but I still wanted to know what they were thinking during. I found out that they literally just bother each other like siblings.. they piss each other off on purpose and think it’s entertaining. That’s my favorite rat fact.
Rats are amazing little pets! *Sorry for this story about my rats, just want to put it here to show you guys how loving those creatures are and how much they can probably feel your love* I once had a rat named Rico. When he was about 2 years old, he passed away. He was never a cuddly rat, but about a month or 2 before his life ended, he became more cuddly and accepted human contact more and more. I still clearly remember the day he passed away. The day before he passed away, I noticed him not being too well, he was slow and he looked like he lost a tad bit of weight. I kept a close eye on him and noticed he did not eat anymore, at that moment it was evening and the vet was already closed. So I cuddled with him for a few hours that night before I went to sleep, hoping he would make the night. He made it through the night, so I made a vet appointment as quick as possible, I thought he might have had some sort of infection, so did the vet. He got a shot of antibiotics and some fluids just to be sure. Later that day, I had to go to work and had my mom check on him every hour or so. He seemed to have perked up quite a bit and that was a relieve. Until I got home at night. When I went upstairs and checked on him, I noticed he was off. I picked him up and cuddled him, within a few minutes he went limp. I had put him on a blanket in the cage, where his brother was, I kept petting him, knowing it was the end. Within an hour of me checking up on him, he passed away. I do not know if he just pulled through the day waiting for me to get home on purpose, but it sure did feel like he did. It was such a weird but beautiful experience, it just felt liek he waited on me to get home, so he could pass away peacefully. Those little creatures are just amazing, they can feel your love and I am sure that they are capable of loving you as well. The heartbreak whenever one dies, will never get any easier and the possibility of one dying in your arms is close to 0, because most of the time you are the one who has to make the descision for them. Out of 7 rats who have passed, only Rico died on his own, without pain. The other 6 where either old, terribly sick or their quality of life wasn't fair anymore. Just a few days ago, I had to put down a rat again, Mozart. His body was just done, he did not want to die though. In the end, at the vet's office, his breathing had stopped, but his heart was still beating, the vet checked again on his heart and he suddenly started breathing again. I started petting him, the vet was kinda baffled by the fact that he started to breathe again. Though, as I was petting him, I spoke out loud "It is okay to go" and slowly his breathing faded again and his little heart stopped soon after. It was so hard to witness, but he passed away while being petted by me and I want to believe that my words somehow reached him, which made him know it was okay to pass on to the other rats in heaven, who were waiting on him to come to them.
♥️♥️♥️
One of my favorite things about the trio of rats I had a few years ago was that they were just really, really happy animals! Seriously, so cheerful all the time, which was just a delight to be around!
Yeah a lot of animals are loving but a lot of it comes from food. Rats just love you because they love you, so awesome
That “unless your Ball Python just decided that you should have a new pet” joke is too real. I tried to give my California Kingsnake a shockingly tough mouse, which fought back until my snake gave up. I’ve been feeding her frozen ever since and my mom kept the mouse as a pet for a year after that until it passed away.
I have had rats throughout my life and they are literally like a mix between a dog and cat. They’re so sweet and love attention. I rescued a young baby rat almost three years ago now, she was unsocialized and when I tried (several times) to introduce friends she was aggressive. She’s now almost three years old. She’s the sweetest little thing, has a few problems like giving love bites, but other than that she is perfect. She will crawl up my leg when I am sitting so she can curl up in my lap and I can cuddle with her in my bed for hours. QwQ so sad that she’s nearing 3 years. I will miss her dearly when she passes
Just for the record, rats do not poop "everywhere", they really only poop under two conditions: 1) They are in their cage, or 2) they are feeling nervous (like being in a strange place like the carrier on the way to the vet, or Clint's table there! :) )
Yeah, more the pee thing. Little animals have limited bladder control.
well, or 3) you just fed them. my boys never pooped in the tub when I was cleaning their cage, but if I gave them any treats they made it their job lmao
@@darcieclements4880 no they have excellent bladder control. They are scent marking, it's a choice.
@@drivers2037 they literally don't though
@@drivers2037 I've had 8 rats over the past 2 years and taken them out of their cage for free roam most days, and they pretty much never poop when out. Only happened when I tried to do introductions during free roam, and they nervous-pooped. No training, they just don't poop outside of their cage unless nervous.
Other mammals I'd like videos on: - Goats - Sugar Gliders - Hedgehogs - Pot-bellied Pigs - Exotic/"bad pet" mammals, like monkeys, big cats, etc. You did penguins, so why not?
I've had a myriad of pets in my life, and my pet rat was easily one of the best pets I have ever had, compassionate, loving, smart. Without a doubt one of the best. He started as a feeder for our pet snake, and when the snake started cuddling with the rat instead of trying to eat it, after three days, we kept him and named him Lucky.
I had 2 pet rats as a kid. I don't remember whether they came from a pet store or what, but whatever their origin, they both lived for an incredible 7 years! I used to love letting them loose into my doll house. One would always run through and knock all the furniture around and the other would always follow after, pushing things back into place or at least up against the wall, as if tidying up after its messy friend. Great pets!
What do you have to gain for lying about this on the internet in a random KZhead comment section? Rats can not live that long. They just can't. I've yet to see a single piece of evidence otherwise. It's always some person just claiming their rat lived for like 3 times the lifespan of an average rat with nothing to back it up. Are you sure you had rats?
@@ryno4ever433 Wow, guess I struck a nerve or something. I'm not lying. I was a kid and it was a long time ago, so maybe I've got it wrong. But I do remember my parents and teachers talking about how incredibly long they lived. My mother in particular was annoyed that they lasted so long. She'd thought they'd be short-lived pets. Yes, they were definitely rats. I've had many different pets in my life and clearly know the difference. Maybe relax a little and not attack random people on the internet who innocently say something you don't agree with?
That’s incredible. Not just the long lives they had, but the fact that one would essentially clean up after the other. Must’ve been so cute to watch the little pocket puppies. They were probably bred to be pets, not feeders, since living that long means they didn’t have a lot of (if any) genetic diseases from inbreeding. Either way, seven years is impressive, and I’m glad that they were able to be by your side for that long. Rats are such underrated pets (especially here in New York - or anywhere with a big city, really), so it’s great to see people with a positive attitude towards them. Sorry for the long comment, I tend to write essays instead of sentences. But, yeah. Thank you, internet stranger, for making my day with this adorable story.
'an incredible 7 years'...incredible only in the proper sense of the word. You are surely misremembering. The longest claimed life of a rattus norvegicus is seven years, but like many longevity claims, it is not properly verified. We have owned about 50 rats, and none has ever reached its third birthday, and half don't even reach their second.
You 100% misremembered how long they lived.
I went traveling for three weeks and left my two rats with a baby sitter. When I finally came back I figured I would greet them with a bowl filled with all sorts of their favorite treats. Both of them briefly sniffed the treats, ignored the treats and just leapt straight on me! Rats are INSANELY food motivated but, at that moment, me being back was the most important thing to them.
Do chinchillas! You get the intelligence and handlability of rats, but much longer longevity (in exchange for more difficult housing) and they don't need to be in pairs. (though it's still good)
From my experience chinchillas are a lot less social and handleable than rats. The bonus of rats is they enjoy your company and affection. Chinchillas don't want to be held and are much more comparable to a cat than a dog in personality. Still awesome pets. I enjoyed mine but I feel like they were higher maintenance and less social than my rats. Not really a good beginner mammal. Plus they are expensive.
Chinchillas are so cute and the dust bath are hilarious on the plus side. They also don’t have to live in pairs, chinchillas don’t need fresh food or any meat, and they live longer. Both chins and rats are great for people who like to stay awake at night.
Intelligence wise, potentially (potentially not as well, hard a gauge) but when it comes to handlability - its not even close, rats win there. I can carry my rats around anywhere whenever I want, I can put them on my shoulder all day while I work, I can make them dance for hours, I can put them in a hoodie pocket while i go to a grocery store. Even sometimes ill bring them in the shower with me (they actually like running around with light water splashes) Granted Chinchillas are cool animals, you can not handle Chinchillas like that, rats are easily 10x better to handle and more complacent in general.
@@briannalaughman6754 yeah exactly. Plus chinchillas are wayyy more naughty. Like they intentionally break rules whenever they can, or at least mine does. All rats I've kept were incredibly well behaved, even without direct supervision
another thing to keep in mind is dust, rats are prone to respiratory issues so make sure the bedding you get them isn't dusty and keep the enclosure clean as well as around it. it's also recommended to give them some time free roaming daily, at least an hour or two.
As a teen, my sister got a rat, after mom grudgingly agreed to it. Within days we were all in love with it, including my mom. Like so many rats, she loved climbing behind your neck in a hoodie and going out with you. An absolute delight of a pet. Ever since, whenever anyone has told me of their plans to get pet rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, or mice for their kids, I urge them to look into rats instead. Of all of them, rats are the only ones who truly _like_ human interaction, and they’re way more robust than hamsters and gerbils (both of which can fall or jump to their deaths from a hand or shoulder, whereas a rat will simply hold on).
Bought a ball python that came with a free live rat. Ended up getting into pet rats soon after.
Haha I expected this to go a different direction! I love this short story 🥰
@@amandastakeonit7402 Well the first rat turned out to be an absolute prick so he ended up being fed off and I kept the other rats as pets.
For other rodents: I'd love to see guinea pigs or hamsters! Guinea pigs shouldn't be housed alone, either, and both need much larger enclosures than what is marketed towards them in America. Both are fantastic pets with unique personalities if given the right sort of setup, and it breaks my heart that they're seen as "pocket pets" because of their small nature, and are thus often not taken care of properly. Hamsters are lucky if they get half of the minimum cage size in America and guinea pigs are often lucky if they get a friend. I'd like a betta fish video! They're also an often mistreated animal and the more educational care guides, the more chances there are for more of these wonderful fish, full of personality and not at all difficult to keep in an adequate setup, to go to homes where they won't be condemned to a life of misery!
My BETTA lives in a 60 gallon aquarium by himself!
Generally guinea pigs do better in pairs, but my last one was a real psycho, he had to be kept alone for the sake of the other piggies……
I think most people think Rabbits are dumb!, but they are not far from it, I used to keep many breeds but my favourite was the Himalayans, also used to have British Giants, Flemish Belgium hares many colours of rex and a few more over a hundred plus rabbit's but my fav Himalayan called Steve, I used to just pat my chest and he would always run up and sit on my knee to watch TV, would also fetch answer his name when called etc and just follow me around and yes they can be potty trained too, he lived for 6 yrs missed him days later I threw the wife out! :)
@@oldhamcowboy1902 I knew someone who had a trained rabbit, it was even (mostly) litter trained. I forget the breed, but it was on the smaller side and had short roundish ears.
Omg, the betta tanks. I firmly believe the absolute bare minimum should be 10 gallons to keep a betta properly. My last betta, a female named Ruby, lived in a 30g and was a total character. She was absolutely *huge* and made it to about 6 years old. They're so curious and intelligent, and they really respond to enrichment. Keeping them in a tiny bowl is just wrong.
I bought two rats because of this video. Lol. Was considering buying them for a while then this video came up and i was so sure. They're 6 months now. Sisters and they have complete different personalities. Smart little darlings. One is shy and timid while the other one is very sociable and playful
I had 2 rats when I was younger (Melvin & Biggie Cheese) and they got along great with our pittie, Lucious. The biggest negatives of pet rats are their short lifespans imo. One of my first real heartache moments was watching Lucious cry and whimper by their empty cage after they passed. They both decided to go within 3 hours of each other. They only made it 3 and a half years and that's actually on the high end of average for a rat.
I don't think I would try to say their tails cannot be dropped voluntarily.... degloving is a defense of theirs. It is considerably more horrifying than a lizard losing its tail. Lol
I don't think that is something they can intentionally do, but perhaps its a sort of built in defense against being caught by the tail.
@@seeingeyegod I don't think they can do it without pressure. Which is something that is nice I guess. But anyone has experienced it would put it up there in the extreme horror category. And definitely, I would note it when saying they cannot drop their tail like a lizard.... because... horror!! Lol.
@@seeingeyegod and to specify. Yes, I don't think they can just walk out of it, and they won't lose it accidentally while shedding like a cresty but even picking up one that isn't scared of you by the tail is a big danger. You are correct in that it is a built in defense. When they get grabbed by it, it is close to detachable. (The horror)
It's not something they do voluntarily. It's just an injury that can happen.
@@animalobsessed1 yea, that kinda what I meant by they can't walk out of it. Lol.
I once had a rat that was smart enough to open his own cage, ran up the stairs, and found a perch where he waited patiently for one of the hoomans to feed him
As a former rat keeper of three, thank you for shedding some positive light on these often misunderstood, absolutely wonderful animals. One thing of note is while they can eat a lot of different people food, you do very much limit sweets! My girls were so cuddly, kissy, and always happy to see me. They’re very much like dogs in both the social and trainable departments, and they’re just so dang cuddly!!!! I miss my ratties all the time and often consider getting another trio. (I kept three because of the whole dying of lonliness thing.. if you get two, thats good, but when one inevitably passes before the other … so three was a good number for us!) And they're very clean about themselves, contradicting what people are normally inclined to believe. In my experience, they clean themselves more than most cats I’ve known (which is a lot!). Anyway, thank you Clint! Rats deserve all the love!
Were they potty trained ?
I didn’t have to train them for it, but they naturally will choose an area of their cage to use as a bathroom, usually a corner, and they never peed outside of the cage. A couple times I’d find a little poop pellet if they were playing on the floor or couch, but they never pooped on me.
i lost my rat today and i will never forget what clint said. they are the best god damn pets you can have and will break your heart just as easily. i never thought i would cry this much. i love you, ett
The best, sweetest and most gentle rat I have owned was a feeder that my brother's ball python rejected. She was amazing! I didnt want any more rats after she passed because i was so heartbroken but here i am 6 months later with 4 new girls, one of whom was pregnant when i got her. She had 5 boys and 6 girls in her litter and they are the most precious things ever!
@Samantha Blair. That’s awesome! They make wonderful little pets 💕
@Philosophical Opossum Wow, you're so edgy
The rat is one of the best pets I've ever had. Right after cats and dogs. An excellent pet for kids or people who live in small apartments. Mice are nice too and cheaper but rats are better for a lot of reasons. Great video as always!
Had rats as well but recently rehomed them, they are awesome, I heard mice tend to be flighty
If rats lived as long as cats or dogs, they'd be my #1 favorite pet.
@@lawrencehamilton7021 why rehome them
@@lawrencehamilton7021 Yeah mice can be handled but they're not as friendly and social as rats, they can be flighty like you said and are also more likely to bite. While both are small and should be handled with care, mice are smaller too and therefore it's easier to accidentally hurt them. Rats are also more intelligent and more easily trained than mice. Finally, their lifespan is slightly longer, 2-3 years, compared to mice, 1-2 years. So yeah, rats are definitely better than mice.
@@stevepwn work way too much and almost never had time to give them the attention they deserved, (rats want as much attention from you as a dog)
Yes finally someone talking about how good pets rats make. They are so sweet. One time I got drunk and petted my rat and forgot to close her cage door. I realized it in the morning and when I went to check on her she was just chilling in her igloo house. I think she really liked her cage because it was nice and big, I think it was for chinchillas. Oh now I feel bad my rat lived alone but she lived 3 years.
When I worked in a zoo, I had my first introduction to rats. We had a whole building full of them, along with mice and bunnies (I hate bunnies). At first, I was ambivalent to the rats. I was told how many to get and I would get them. As time went one, I started to see some rats differently. Some were incredibly friendly and even affectionate. Those would not get pulled to be food. I started teaching certain rats to play soccer, basketball and mazes. That became a exhibition for a while! Eventually, I found it very hard to pull rats for feeding time. Bunnies were much easier to pull for feeding as they came in many different sizes and, to me, had no personality. Mice are mice and are so short lived, I didn't get to know any of them. The zoo head didn't mind using bunnies and mice for a while, but the animals that were being fed these critters got bored of them and I had to go back to using rats as feeders. Thank goodness we started having chicks and could use those for a while. I became to biggest softy when it came to rats and had to recuse myself from feeding duties when it came to the live animals. Cutting up fruits and veggies is much easier on the mind and heart 💝
My best friend had a feeder rat that ended up not being eaten. She's still alive at nearly four years old now but we don't expect her to last much longer since she is really showing signs of her age.
I too had a feeder girl who lasted 4 years. So did her daughter (our BP rejected two rats a row)
So now you can feed her to the reptiles
The oldest rat I know of made it to seven. She was fixed and never got cancer. Seems like the cancer issue is the main factor in rat death. Her owner was deviated because she never had another rat with that lifespan or good health.
I'm sure that at 4 years old you can make the decision to let her go. At that age she will be suffering immensely.
I had one I got when he was a baby, and he made it to 4-5 years old. He went from brown to literally gray all over.
My first pet rat was possibly my best experience with pet keeping ever. She was amazing. The only downside was that she only lived 3 years. And yes. I got her because my ball python decided I was getting a new pet lol
Your python was just "I like your vibe, I'm going to do you a solid" to the rat lol
Ball python: “hmm. You know, rodent, you’re kinda cute.” Rat: “plz don’t eat me.” Python: “yeah, imma keep you. I’m not that hungry, anyway.” Rat: * confused * Snake: “Wanna be friends?” Rat: “Okay?” And that’s how it happened. At least, how I imagine it
Very few people understand why they’re my favorite pet mammals ❤️
That short lifespan is definitely the biggest drawback of rats and is what made us stop getting them. It's too hard to lose them so soon. 😢
I'm mostly a dog and fish Guy but I wound up adopting a rat once. She was so sweet. I definitely wish she could have lived longer. But she eventually slowed down until she stopped. RIP Girly.
Rats need to be kept in a pair of 2 or more or they get depressed and lonely and don't live as long
Rats seem like such sweethearts. I knew a girl with a pet rat that would ride on her shoulders. Friendly little guy.
Honestly even wild mice can make good pets after they get used to you. Deer mice are adorable and excellent hunters. I had a pair of two I caught with a light on the road at night out in the woods. After just about a month, they were hanging out and talking to me with their facial expressions, then I was spoiling them with the best treats, then they just trusted me and let me handle them, they trusted me enough to let me bathe them without freaking out. All I had to do was make a couple tiny squeeks and they would wake out of bed and line up on their log to see what I wanted. Really really cool pets, watching them do backflips to catch moths and play together like a couple kids were some really magic moments. Amazing level of intelligence.
I love rats. I had 3 in high school and they had free roam of my room with a large enclosure for bedtime. Unfortunately I developed a horrible allergy to them 2 years in. They were elderly and tumored at that point so I wasn't going to rehome them. I had to get multiple allergy meds and see an allergist regularly to get through their last few months. Worth it though. I wish I could get more but I know I can't with my allergy.
This story, as is often the cast with stories about pets, is very sweet and sad! ☺️
Everyone sharing rat stories ! I've had 7 total. My first ricecake was a PTSD albino who was suppose to be snake food but the snake didn't eat her. So I adopted her from my uncle's friend. She had a biting problem at first but working with her within a year she was better and we got her companions She had to be put down to do mammory tumor but I'm happy I adopted her she opened my eyes and heart to my other rats.
I had a single rat named Blondie. She was smarter than any dog or cat, mine lived to almost 5. She developed tumors and I had to have her put to sleep. I felt terrible, she kept climbing up my arm and hiding under my hair on my neck. Despite her wirey tail and scratchy feet, she was the sweetest little girl ever. I cried when I had her put to sleep. She was a learning experience and a joy to have around. I learned "Not everything is as you hear it will be." She loved me and loved attention, kissies and belly rubs. She even giggled when I tickled her tummy. This was year ago, and I still smile when I think back on her.
i could NOT handle having such a charismatic pet. i sometimes get sad knowing that my grumpy bearded dragon will die in about 15 more years and the idea that i one day may loose my python after 30 years of bonding just destroys me knowing i would loose an animal that would activily come up and cuddle in just about two years is just too much for me
I teach animal care and rats are always my go to suggestion for families looking to get kids a small pet. Hamsters and gerbils always seem to be the go to but are far too fast, skittish and bitey for smaller children while rats will WANT to actively play and be handled. Out of all the animals we have in our unit the rats always steal hearts.
I'd love to see rabbits covered, I've heard people who have had great success with "house rabbits" but I'd love to know more about caring for them so they thrive!
We had a New Zealand giant buck that was house broken to his cage, where you could open it up and he’d run around the house. We’d just put a super light coat of hot sauce (that would dry) on cords near the floor to break/discourage him from chewing on them, especially around the entertainment center.
I am curious, too, how Clint would rate rabbits as pets. I have raised rabbits, though, and I know where I would dock points! Rabbits as a species don't make very good pets, but certain individual rabbits can make awesome pets. House rabbits need a room that is SUPER rabbit-proofed, because they will chew through any and every cord/wire and will chew the legs of furniture, dig holes in couch cushions, tear up carpeting and baseboards. Similarly to rats, they also dribble urine and drop a little turd every few minutes. Unlike rats, they can't take a fall and won't be able to cling if they get themselves into a dangerously elevated position (though they are curious enough to try). A bite from an angry rabbit can cost you a finger if you are unlucky. Intact females can get very hormonal/moody. Intact males mark themselves and their territory with abundant urine that stains their fur. Rabbits generally shouldn't be bathed or submerged in water. They get most of their points for being cute and quiet with an easy diet.
Rabbits can be very affectionate ,They are can be taught tricks , litter train, and know their name and love routines and even walk on a leash. I love our rabbit but I still feel rats are the absolute smartest and most affectionate pet there is.
I’ve had several friends in college with house rabbits. Ashley smuggled her lop Felicity into her dorm, and she was litter trained. Deb adopted an abandoned lop and brought it to her house, whereupon he decided the cats were his bitch and he ate their food.
@@Lieutenant_Dude rabbits are definitely tougher than people think. My grandfather’s family raised rabbits during WWII when meat was scarce, and they also had a New Zealand Giant buck who they would occasionally let out and their dog, who was 60-ish lbs, would chase him and whenever he got close the buck would jump and spin kick the dog in his muzzle.
"Even if they get lost they're likely to walk up to people" can confirm. I had one rat escape from her playpen and I found her 5 minutes later on top of her cage, she just let me scoop her back up.
My lovely rat Bella (who was a feeder that I saved from the evil pet store I worked at) is actually good at pooping in her house and she never goes on me, I just noticed that when he mentioned that, lol. I’m so proud of her! The only thing I did was when she was a baby I would put her back in her house as soon as she pooped or peed and I think she figured it out! They are such wonderful, intelligent and loving creatures!
I love the "Rodents poop or pee once every 7 mins, snakes, on the other hand, poop out one rodent every 7 days" LMAO!!!
Id like to add that while 2 is definitely the minimum requirement of rats, 3+ rats is magnificent because they do have really amazing hierarchy systems! I also wanted to say that lineage of the pet rats i breed, have not shown any signs of cancerous growths for the past 5 years of working with them! So yes not all rats are created equal! If you want pet rats that have a general longer life expectancy with not as many risks for illnesses, you should definitely research and find very experienced breeders who can answer your many questions confidently!
yeah I heard their high cancer rate is a result of rats getting bred for cancer research and their offspring getting mixed in with pet rats down the line (or just released into the wild and added to the gene pool that way). No idea how accurate this is.
I've had a reoccurring problem with absolutely cantankerous alphas. Do you have any tips for getting your alpha rat to chill out?
@@RisqueBisquet my siblings have had this same problem. They are very social, but the males once they reach adulthood can turn on their buddy as the alpha, leading to a bunch of fighting. My sister has had to separate both her rats enclosures because one of them kept getting cuts and bruises. You can try neutering, but beware. They need to see an experienced veterinarian for that and there's always the risk your alpha will die on the operating room or in recovery. There may also be the option for a hormonal implant that can help with their behavior. Also, sometimes alphas may do best living on their own enclosure, and that's ok since they do not wish for a buddy.
Where does your ratters reside by ?
I'm in washington state, I'm sorry my life has been very busy recently sorry I haven't been able to reply to anyone!
I had a three year old rat named Twilight. She was so kind, she would give anyone kisses when they held her. I miss her a lot but she will always be in my heart. Also, I have a four year old male rat I adopted. He's very healthy and surprisingly very active. He lives with his bestie that we adopted as well and two younger rats we adopted later. They get along without fighting and love to cuddle.
Is your four year old rat still with you?
@@kevintrang6447 Yes, he's five now.
@@AkaneElf That's amazing!
@@kevintrang6447 Yeah, I'm glad he's been with me for so long.
I completely forgot about this channel! I used to watch all your videos, what a great find again! All thes best!
Another thing that isn't talked about much is the "head sway". Especially lighter eyed rats, but also dark eyed ones can't see so well, and will sway their heads from side to side. Think of it when you're looking out of a screen. If you sway your head from side to side, you'll see a complete picture but if you sit still, it's harder to. The reason I bring this up is that I payed a pretty penny in an unnecessary emergency vet bill, thinking my first had a brain injury. I've seen the behavior in dogs and cats with head injuries and was worried.
The head sway seems to go hand in hand with the nose going into overdrive!
I ended up getting a female who would be declaired legally blind if given an eye exam.. she also didnt like men so she would bite me.. and let me just say this rat could find a vain better than any nurse. one time i was sent home from urgent care with a bottle of liquid stitches.. ended up having to re home her a month later.
@@toddkoons790 that's unusual as hell, did you adopt her very young? And did you have other rats? Either she learned to be scared of men scents or she was a lone pet, and they're really not right in the head after being separate from other rats after awhile. Also if you adopted her from a pet store, they're often inbred to absurd proportions because there's no need to worry about genetics; they're just food. 🥺 a lot of people want to rescue them from that fate but honestly i feel like it's nicer to just let the death be quick, cause the way it affects their bodies and minds is sad. Then again, sometimes a pet store rat can make a (rat) lifelong companion with no problems.
@@heathertaylor8904 I got her and her sister as rescues, there is a great rat rescue in my city. The rescue is run by mainly run by women so her having an issue with men wasn't discovered until i had her. We did notice that her aggression went in a 5 day cycle so we thought it might have been due to her heat cycle and got her spayed.. didn't help that much. she just didn't like my scent. Besides her there were 3 other female rats in that group. Samus (the biter) Zelda (the biter's sister) Nihm and Cern (two rescued long evens rats from when a local college was accidently sent pregnant females. )
@@toddkoons790 aw.. it's sad when that happens. Well at least you knew what you were doing and did all the right things by her that you could. You have any chaos potatoes right now?
Their life expectancy is literally the only reason why it’s hard for me to have a pet rat. I love them so much but the heartbreak of them passing away so quickly is really hard to deal with. 😢
Funny you mentioned keeping feeder rats from our snakes not eating it lol, that's exactly how we got one of our pet rats. Ball Python decided he wasn't hungry that day, so we kept Harry and he was a phenomenal pet, you could just put your arm into his cage and he would run up your arm to sit on your shoulder.
Thank you for this beautiful video. It's sometimes so hard to get people to understand just how great these little guys are!
I had two pet rats years ago, and they were some of the sweetest companion animals I've ever had. Such a heartbreak pet though in the longevity department.