How to have pet rats
How I did it: It all started when I was working on a children's story about rats beginning in November 2008. It was while I was reading up on rat behavior that I became enamored with the idea of owning rats as pets.
I spent the next several months doing research. The best information was online, since most of the pet rat books at the library are skimpy and badly outdated. However, Debbie Ducommun's rat care book is one of the best out there.
After my husband got me a large Critter Nation cage and helped me put together a smaller cage for transportation, I was ready to adopt. I didn't want to buy from a pet store, but I knew of no breeders in my area, so I posted an ad on Craigslist saying I wanted to adopt 3 or 4 rats.
A breeder got in touch with me, and I adopted some male rats from him. That's how I came to have three squeaky friends.
Lessons & tips: Do your research first. Rats might be cheap up front, but they have specific needs in order to happy, comfortable, and healthy. Make sure you get more than one rat (they're social animals), and ensure that they have a big enough cage. NEVER use cedar or pine shavings.
Resources: http://www.ratforum.com/
http://www.rattycorner.com/odds/calc.shtml
http://www.altpet.net/rodents/rats/ratfaq.html
"Rats: Practical, Accurate Advice from the Expert" by Debbie Ducommun
