How much do rats cost? + How to convince parents?

One female with cage and bedding (tips on good bedding/cages/places to buy would be VERY helpful)


Of course I WILL read about rats before getting one.


I won an art thing not too long ago so i'm selling it and do some other jobs to get money. I was wondering how much I need to get to start off okay.How much do rats cost? + How to convince parents?
Sometimes, there is a pet that you really want and you will do anything to get it, but your parents won't cooperate. Sometimes you get lucky and they eventually let you get it without too much fuss, but sometimes they just get stubborn.


[edit] Steps





1. Do your research first. When you go to the library, get books. At home, read or research on the computer. Even go ask friends who own or have previously owned the pet about how to care for it (if the oppertunity comes along, take care of it for them while they're on vacation.) .Research the pet in question in great detail before you even approach your parents, so you know all of the facts. If you find out something about the pet that you don't like, e.g. eats live food, lives for 30 years, needs lots of outdoor space, then don't hesitate to check out other similar animals to find the perfect pet for you.


2. Make sure to check into state laws if you are considering an exotic pet. For example, it is illegal to keep a skunk as a pet in Tennessee, so even though you may be able to buy one or might know someone who has one, it's probably not a good idea.


3. When you know what you want and have all of the facts, approach your parents. In a calm, diplomatic way tell them about the animal, and tell them some important facts about it. When you are done, they will most likely ask you some questions. Answer them honestly, being sure to suggest solutions to any problems they see. If they say yes, then yippee! You probably don't need to read any more. If they say no, ask them to just think about it.


4. Keep researching! When you find out new, interesting facts, be sure to tell your parents, to keep the subject in the back of everyone's mind. Never mention the desire you have or say 'wink wink' or 'hint hint'. However, if they get mad and tell you to stop, stay low on the subject and keep your mouth shut for a few days.


5. With your information, make a care chart for the animal, with catagories listing what care they need daily, weekly, monthly, yearly, etc... Show this to your parents. This tells them that you are willing to do the work, and you're not letting go easily. If they seem hesitant, ask them what problems they have with you getting the pet. Answer honestly, and show them that you are responsible and willing to see all sides of an issue, even if you don't want to.


6. Just keep this up for as long as it takes for them to give in, or for you to get tired of the pet. This generally works for me (unless my parents have a really solid, impossible-to-get-around reason why not). Good luck!








[edit] Tips





* Never, ever shout or whine. This shows your parents that you are too immature to care for a pet.


* Make sure that you see their side of the story, and try to convince them why your side is better!


* If you are really motivated, you can write a persuasive essay outlining all of your reasoning. This really impresses parents.


* If you have done anything good like good grades or helping around the house make sure to mention that as a plus!


* Sometimes your parents get really annoyed, so stop asking and continue to tell them about this animal and start showing how responsible you are. After awhile, ask them again.


* You could always try asking for a pet on your birthday since it is *YOUR* birthday. Ask them gently and like mentioned before, don't forget to add in a few great things about the pet!How much do rats cost? + How to convince parents?
rats cost between 5-10 dollars getting one from a breeder like myself is better then getting one from a petstore! you can buy a cage with lid from walmart for a total of no more then 20 dollars that is for a 10 gallon tank and lid (tanks are better then cages and alot cheaper) a huge bag of PINE (only use pine) bedding is only 6 dollars at walmart and all the otherstuff, food bowl, water bottle cost about 5 bucks......you dont need to BUY toys they love homemade stuff old boxes toilet paper rolls etc!!! Tell you parents to check out my RATS myspace page....it is very educational and may help you convince them to getting one!!!











extra::::


I DO NOT RECCOMEND CAGES BECAUSE TO OFTEN THEY GET PROBLEMS WITH THERE FEET , TAILS GETTING STUCK!!! AND A TANK IS EASIER TO CLEAN THEY DO GET ENOUGH VENTILATION AS LONG AS THE LID HAS MANY OPENED AREAS!!!
talk 2 them...
first of all rats should not be kept in tanks..... there is not enough venilation and as to how much they cost it totally depends on where you get it if you get it from a pet store it costs only like $10 but i would not recomend it many pets bought from pet stores are sick when you get them but of course the pet store will not tell you that all they want to do is see as many rats as posible my recomendation would be to get a rat from a rescue that way the foster parent can tell you about an individual rat and see if it right for youand by getting it from a rescue you are helping the rat by not getting it from the pet store although you might think by gettign him/her from the pet store that you are saveing them but rilly you arn't each time an animal is bought from a pet store another one just replaces it and if people keep buying from them they will never stop... and many rats from rescues don't cost much money if any money at all i would recomend the website www.petfinder.com you can find all different kinds of rats that need homes and it will be easy to find the right one for you just make sure when you do get one you keep it in a cage big enough for it to run around, play and get excersize (remember rats are a big responsibity they need at least for hours of human interaction a day and lots of play time and money shouldn't be a concern when you are talking about the life and care of and animal.)
Here's what I spent first round


My favorite brand of cages is superpet.


I've upgraded since then, but the first cage I bought was this:


http://www.petco.com/product/10638/Super鈥?/a>


About $57 plus S%26amp;H I ordered off line and it came in perfect condition.


- They also like paces to hide in so I bought Pet Igloos, see through but tinted so they still have privacy. I bought the biggest one for $9 but the Medium for $6 is good.


However a good hideaway is $5-15 over $10 is oushing it and over $15 your getting ripped off.


- Food bowl should be ceramic,THICK plastic, or steel.


$4 tops should be spent on this.


- Water bottle I spent $8 on mine, it's 12oz glass with a plastic lid but also a silver cap to go over it and steel drinking nozzle.


Something like this is your best way to go because they will chew,plastic and rubber.


-No rat i've ever had used a wheel or run-about ball so for entertainment spend $2 on a couple jingle bell cat toys.


-Bedding, I used careFRESH. 50litre for $20-25 it's cheaper then buying a $10-15 dollar bag now and then. Pine and Cedar are bad for rats. However if money is tight my rats love torn pieces of paper towel.


-For food I buy Nutriphase at Petsmart. It's $9 a 5lbs. bag. I've tried 'big' brands like oxbowl and Reggie Rat but they like this best and I don't have any weight/nourishment problems. Of course any store bought rat food should have veggies and fruit available once every 2 days. Giving more than this gave my rats diarrhea.


I know a lot of people will be against it but I get all my stuff from petco/petsmart.


-The rat itself I bought from Petsmart, very healthy and easy to tame. However with stores like petco and Petsmart I think it's credibility depends on each individual store so look around and use your own judgment on if you think it's respectable enough to buy from. Mine were $14 each but they sell blue and Dumbo.





so list:


Rat: $14


Cage: $57


Food: $9


Food Dish: $2.99


Water Bottle: $8


Bedding $20-$25


[Or $3 on a roll of paper towel.0


Hideaway Place: $6-15


Be prepared to spend about $123.00


Also you should work your way up to some money for vet incase they get sick. A check-up for me cost $25 per rat so it should be somewhere around there





PERMISSION:


The only way to go about this is to ask them. It depends how you ask them. You don't want to sound whiny or spoiled. When they say no don't raise your voice or get really upset gentle keep pressing them. Also tell them the schedule you'd have for caring for the rat. A cage cleaning once a week, refresh food every 1-2 days [don't throw it out but pour back into the bag shake to mix then pour it back in the bowl.


Check their water once a day. And of course some attention. Rats do not smell unless you let their cage become horrible to were the constant cleaning they do [literally more than cats] isn't enough to keep them clean. If your going to keep them in your room tell them that they are so quite and odorless they won't even know they are there except if/when you bring them out to play or walk around with them on your shoulder. Have patience, it took me a month to convincing my mom to let me get 1 rat then when I told her it needed a buddy it took another couple of weeks of telling her 2 rats is any more hassling then 1. It may take longer for you since me and my mom have a weird relationship, I can be aggressive and argue back and she accepts my hardheadedness as my personality.. But with most parents calm and mature is their language. If they say no, instead of going 'please,please,please'; [unless thats how you typically get your way] say something, ';well can you at least think about it a little please?'; this is a lot less annoying and gives a reason for you to try again. If worse comes to worse lay off it for a month and then in a causal conversation if they are willing to change their mine if they say no still then sadly your out of luck.
honey, you don't want rats, that is the most absolute disgusting thing i have ever heard of