Pet rat help
me and my sister just got some pet rats and we want to know how to train them and if you can wash them. if you can wash them then tell me how plz!
Answers:If by 'train' you mean actual tricks and not just litter training try simple things like teaching it its name, or to climb a ladder (both done by giving them a treat when they come to you or climb up). Remember to always use possitive reinforcement (don't just say "good", give them a treat) even if they don't do whatever you want them to right. Don't get mad if the rat doesn't want to do something.
They can be bathed. Just fill a sink or tub with a bit of lukewarm water and add a rat. You can use natural soap with no perfumes or kitten shampoo to gently lather. Their tail can be brushed with a soft baby toothbrush with soap on it. Be sure water does not get into the rat's ears!
Hovever, females are very clean on their own and do not need any baths. Males get oily coats on their back, though, so they can be washed. Tails aren't in need of washing for either gender, but this is done before rat shows. I don't bath any of my rats at all, but mine still like to swim around the bath tub and play in water.
I have 2 rats and I don't know how to train them, but I wash them. I put them in my sink and use the water sprayer in the sink spraying warm water on them. I would use pet shampoo sold in pet stores for them. Then I wrap them in towel until they are dry. It lowers the risk of them catching pnemonia. (Also they usually try to leap out of the sink because they don't like water much.)
With my rats, I fill run my bathroom sink, hold them under the stream without getting their head wet. Then I use a TINY TINY bit of dog shampoo and make sure I rinse that out super well, then I dry them off with a towel, super careful not to hurt them then let them run around my room till they're dried.