Advice on lone rat at store - no other rats available!

[leighstreet]

I have a question and I don't know the best section to post this in. I was at the pet store earlier and I dared to venture down the small rodent section for the first time in a while (I lost my girls earlier this year and its just too sad/hard for me to go down the isle) and........... of course there's a gorgeous rat boy housed alone that immediately caught my attention. He was SO dirty! But seemed so sweet....and of course I fell in love.

The problem: All of the breeders in town or anywhere near me have no available babies or are shut down due the pandemic at the moment. So I'd have no way of acquiring this lone boy a companion which I know is an absolute must.

I feel so bad for this boy being alone and covered in dirt. But would it be cruel to take him knowing it could be a long while before he gets a brother? I don't want to contribute to any rat's lack of wellbeing in isolation. I still have all the supplies and cage from the girls, and I miss rats in my life so much.

Am I acting on impulse too much?

 

[lilspaz68]

As long as he truly is sweet then it's better you take him home and him be alone and cared for then alone with an uncertain fate. Just make sure he's not alone because he's hormonally aggressive. How old is he?

 

[leighstreet]

As long as he truly is sweet then it's better you take him home and him be alone and cared for then alone with an uncertain fate. Just make sure he's not alone because he's hormonally aggressive. How old is he?

I'm not entirely sure but he was about medium sized, so maybe around 6 months possibly? Didn't seem fully grown for a boy but wasn't small.

 

[lilspaz68]

People usually want babies not a single big make. Make sure you can handle him,his fur doesn't puff up, his body tighten etc when you hold him (beyond some nervousness of course) then take him home.

 

[leighstreet]

People usually want babies not a single big make. Make sure you can handle him,his fur doesn't puff up, his body tighten etc when you hold him (beyond some nervousness of course) then take him home.

I've actually really been wanting to try rescuing older rats lately so this will be a great opportunity if he works out well. Thank you! I'll update you later.