- Rats are filthy animals
- Rats carry bubonic plague (actually they really had nothing to do with it, bubonic plague was considered airborne since rats were not abundant during the main outbreak and the second time fleas actually carried it and fleas can live on any animal including humans.
-Rats make horrible pets and bite, quite the contrary they make some of the best most affectionate pets around with the least likely hood to bite out of all rodents and pocket pets. Also easily tamed, trained, and even litter box trained. Can walk on leashes, and not only enjoy but crave human affection.
- You can keep two male mice together.
Not tru, male mice are highly territorial and will kill each other but on the other hand you should always keep females in clans of three.
- Rats can live alone
Wrong, rats lives have been proven to be shorter when they live alone and they are more prone to becoming sick die to loneliness and depression. Rats need other rats, they are highly social creatures who in the wild function in large family packs of up to 100 and more rats called mischeifes.
-You can pick a mouse or rat up by the tail
NO, NEVER, their skin actually sluffs off when you do that and they can lose their tail or die from infections.
- Pet rodents do not require vets.
Yes they do, they also require large cages and daily care. Rats may even need monthly tail washing and nail clippings or teeth clippings if they grow too long. All rodents are prone to URI which they will DIE of if not taken to a vet and treated.
- Hamster can be kept together
NO, hamsters are solitary creatures and when hamsters are housed together there is always risk of them killing each other.
-Rats smell bad
Actually rats don't smell at all, if the cage is kept clean and they don't sit in their own filth they have no smell what so ever. Once you smell rat urine it means your cage is filthy.
-Rats pee on everything
NOT TRUE, only unaltered males pee extensivly to mark out their territory. Neutered males and females who are potty trained seldom ever pee outside the litter box.
- Albino rodents have poor eyesight.
All rodents have poor eyesight and albino's are no different to any other rodent within it's breed.
- Mice are too skittish to be pets.
Mice are only skittish because they were not properly tamed. Anyone can tell you a properly tamed mouse you spend time with looks forward to being with you and will crawl into your hand on it's own will to be closer to you.
- Male and female rodents can live together.
NEVER, not even breeders let their rodents live together because they are prolific breeders. With mice and rats right after delivery a female will go back into heat and can be breed instantly. They can have litters up to 20 and the pups mature at 4 weeks which means 2 rodents can easily became 200 in a matter of months.
- You can keep two rodent species together like mice with hamsters.
NEVER, these creatures are not meant to live together and will hurt each other. It's very rare two rodent species can co exist without a fatality or injury.
- Rescued wild rodents can live with domestic rodents.
Putting aside for a second the parasites and disease they may carry you are risking your pet. Wild rodents are nothing like the domestic ones. It's like saying your dog can live in a wolf pack. Those wolves will eat your dog for lunch because they are born to hunt and survive. The same is true with even rodents. Rodents are the small wolves of the earth. Any wild rodent can and WILL kill your pet.
Wild rodents can breed with domestic ones.
They can which is why you should always keep your females in a secure cage that no male rats or mice from the wild can climb into. Babies born from a wild crossbreeding can be bitters and flighty if not properly socialized and spayed or neutered.
Rats are vegetarians.
No they are omnivores and more importantly they DO have a prey drive. In the wild rats hunt reptiles, birds, fish, mammals, and insects. Keep your pet fish, birds, and lizard tanks out of a rats reach because they can and will find a way to get them and you can't be upset when your $300 bird becomes an expensive treat. Also rats with higher prey drives may attack pet rabbits, Guinea pigs, cats, and dogs so rats should always be socialized with as many animals possible at a young age and in a very safe and monitored environment.
- You can rat proof a home for pet rats.
Impossible, there is no such thing as rat proofed. They are smarter than you and you have to accept it. they will find a way around your 'proofing' just give them a week and they will show you who's really got brains. The best you can do is 'rat proof' your home and cross your fingers they don't care.