Attention, Guinea pig and rat!?

[CavyCraziness]

Yesterday, i got a rat named Rex. He's an adult male, really loving. I've had two guinea pigs, females, named Sage and Charlotte. Im stuck between the attention. Since the animal breeds hate each other, I don't know if I'm supposed to wash my hands in between petting them. It's all confusing. Do I have to wash my hands in - between petting them? I also have 11 pets total, I know rats are supposed to be in pairs, so I'm thinking about giving my fish away to a friend. I can't spend all this time with 432423 animals.. I know it sounds selfish, but they deserve whats best. Could anyone give me tips, I'm bugging out. Thanks.

[GuineaPigs530]

You should wash your hands because if you don't, they might not trust you anymore because you have the other pets scent. I'm not sure about giving your pet away? A fish.. If you give a pet away you don't get any money. So that's won't do any good.

[Scintie]

You should wash your hands because if you don't, they might not trust you anymore because you have the other pets scent. I'm not sure about giving your pet away? A fish.. If you give a pet away you don't get any money. So that's won't do any good.

What? If you give a pet away you don't get any money? Since when are pets objects to be sold? A good pet owner doesn't care about the money. I apologize if I misunderstood your post but it sounds like you are telling him to sell the pet.

[CavyCraziness]

You should wash your hands because if you don't, they might not trust you anymore because you have the other pets scent. I'm not sure about giving your pet away? A fish.. If you give a pet away you don't get any money. So that's won't do any good.

No, I mean as in giving a way my fish, so I will have more time for attention. I don't want that to happen, they live in my room together, (in seperate cages) I don't like how I would have to walk out and wash my hands to pet them.

[Frapplove]

I don't think giving a pet away should be about getting money for it. It should be about what's best for the animal.
How do you know they hate each other? I know one member on here has rats and guineas and she even has a picture of them sitting next to each other!
Also, you may feel that you have too many animals, but is giving away the fish going to give you more time for the others? How much time a day do you spend playing with your fish? Is it the cost?
Perhaps figure out which areas you could reduce time doing, or rearrange your schedule.

[Peanutter]

My rats dont care when i smell of other animals... all my pets are use to what my other animals which they share the house with. (however thats a different story if i smell of someone else's pets they arent use too, but i dont tend to find the rats care, the cats normally sniff me more).

Also i quite oftern have a rat or two out while the puppy is here, she just sniffs them, ofcourse i always supervise her with them and i never go out of arms reach of them just incase. The cats have had a sniff and love to watch them in their cage to..

Please do not only keep on rat, do get anther one as they really do need another as a friend for company, grooming, sleeping, playing etc, they would be much happier together.

Also what diet/ food are you feeding your rattie?

[CavyCraziness]

I don't think giving a pet away should be about getting money for it. It should be about what's best for the animal.
How do you know they hate each other? I know one member on here has rats and guineas and she even has a picture of them sitting next to each other!
Also, you may feel that you have too many animals, but is giving away the fish going to give you more time for the others? How much time a day do you spend playing with your fish? Is it the cost?
Perhaps figure out which areas you could reduce time doing, or rearrange your schedule.

I'm only thirteen, not knowing much about rats just yet.
Giving away the rats would be best because I can't really clean the tank as much as possible, and the cost of water, and the room the tank sets up. Will the rats and guinea pigs hate me from eachothers scent? Thats all im worried about.. I do actually feel I have to many animals, im worried that I should have more than one rat, but my year old guinea's won't love me anymore. I'm confused about all of this.

[Peanutter]

PM me and ill talk to you about rats & what they need and how to properly care for them

[Frapplove]

Your guinea pigs won't hate you because you have rats. They love you and spending time with you. I have sugar gliders living next to my guinea pigs, and they don't really seem to care about them either way.
What are all the animals that you have? I am also curious as to what you mean by the cost of water. Do you pay for bottled water?

[CavyCraziness]

My rats dont care when i smell of other animals... all my pets are use to what my other animals which they share the house with. (however thats a different story if i smell of someone else's pets they arent use too, but i dont tend to find the rats care, the cats normally sniff me more).

Also i quite oftern have a rat or two out while the puppy is here, she just sniffs them, ofcourse i always supervise her with them and i never go out of arms reach of them just incase. The cats have had a sniff and love to watch them in their cage to..

Please do not only keep on rat, do get anther one as they really do need another as a friend for company, grooming, sleeping, playing etc, they would be much happier together.

Also what diet/ food are you feeding your rattie?

i know I need a friend, Im using fiesta max or some type of brand like that. I need to get a bigger cage first, so I don't really have control over it at the moment.

[CavyCraziness]

A ten gallon tank requires a lot of water. Water bill goes up. Things like that. I have 3 Dogs, 3 Cats, 2 Fish, 2 Guinea pigs, and 1 Rat. Planning on getting another rat, just if I give my fish away... I'd have more room, and they'd get taken care of better.

[Inle_Rabbit]

Your rat needs a buddy but two rats shouldn't take much more time than one. They are small animals and you can spend time with both at the same time.

If you are feeling overwhelmed I would stop getting more animals (other than possibly another rat).

I use to have quite a few fish and found that tanks of schooling fish under 30 gallons really don't take up that much time at all. If you have a salt water tank or fish that require more work I could see that as being a huge time and effort thing and something you may need to concider.

The rats or guinea pigs will not care if you smell like another animal. They also will not stop loving you. All they may do is sniff a little more trying to figure out what exactly that smell is. After you've had the rats for awhile they probably will not care. I have had rats, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, cats and dogs all at once and everyone was fine, happy and healthy and I never washed my hands between animals.

[Inle_Rabbit]

Just a bit of perspective there @CavyCraziness you probably use 10 gallons or more taking a shower every day. If you buy water for your tank you don't have to. Get a big bucket and just let it sit for 24 hours before adding to you tank so that the chlorine evaporates.

[CavyCraziness]

Your rat needs a buddy but two rats shouldn't take much more time than one. They are small animals and you can spend time with both at the same time.

If you are feeling overwhelmed I would stop getting more animals (other than possibly another rat).

I use to have quite a few fish and found that tanks of schooling fish under 30 gallons really don't take up that much time at all. If you have a salt water tank or fish that require more work I could see that as being a huge time and effort thing and something you may need to concider.

The rats or guinea pigs will not care if you smell like another animal. They also will not stop loving you. All they may do is sniff a little more trying to figure out what exactly that smell is. After you've had the rats for awhile they probably will not care. I have had rats, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits and dogs all at once and everyone was fine, happy and healthy and I never washed my hands between animals.

Thank you so much for this. I am thinking about getting rid of my fish. The thing is, since I already begged my mom for a rat, and I need a new cage, etc, I wouldn't be able to have other pets. For some reason I am feeling overwhelmed and not feeling too well today. Giving my fish to a friend will give them more attention, and one less pet to take care of. I would only have 10 pets, not 11. I don't take care of the dogs, nor cats. Just the 2 pigs, 2 fish, and 1 rat. 5 pets is a lot to me. If I only had four to take care of, it would take a lot of weight off my hands. If I got another rat, (my mom wouldn't let me to begin with) right now, I would have to take care of 6 pets on my own. it's all overwhelming to me.

[Inle_Rabbit]

It's ok. Just take a deep breath. Sometimes, especially when we are young and inexperienced, we get in over our heads. If you aren't feeling well today try to take some time to think if over. You don't need to make a decision right now. Fish don't need to be played with and as long as your tank is clean and they are fed you can take the time to think it over. It may just seem like a lot right now but maybe in a few days you wont think it is.

Tell me, why do you think the fish take up a lot of time? Maybe there is something that can be changed with your set up that will help?

[CavyCraziness]

Well, I have two fantailed goldfish, bigger then the usual goldfish. They live in a ten gallon tank, and the filter broke. Im not intended to get another filter as im not getting anymore fish after they pass. It's not that they take up time, it's that I can't get another rat unless I can get rid of them... can rats live alone?

[CavyCraziness]

It's ok. Just take a deep breath. Sometimes, especially when we are young and inexperienced, we get in over our heads. If you aren't feeling well today try to take some time to think if over. You don't need to make a decision right now. Fish don't need to be played with and as long as your tank is clean and they are fed you can take the time to think it over. It may just seem like a lot right now but maybe in a few days you wont think it is.

Tell me, why do you think the fish take up a lot of time? Maybe there is something that can be changed with your set up that will help?

Well, I have two fantailed goldfish, bigger then the usual goldfish. They live in a ten gallon tank, and the filter broke. Im not intended to get another filter as im not getting anymore fish after they pass. It's not that they take up time, it's that I can't get another rat unless I can get rid of them... can rats live alone?

[Peanutter]

No, rats living alone is not at all ideal, they live in groups they aboslutelyneed to have a friend for more then one reason

-company
-grooming/cleaning areas they cant clean eg, head
-playing
-sleeping with
-getting warmth from each other when its colder
-etc

Having a min of 2 rats is a must!

[Lauren_22]

This may not be a popular opinion, but I feel that it would be in the best interest of you and the rat if you rehomed him. Rats require lots of attention, at least a few hours out of their cage per day. They also need at least 2 cubic feet of space per rat in a well ventilated wire cage. Their vet care can also be very costly since they are an exotic pet at most vet offices. Unless you interact with your fish for a couple of hours per day, getting rid of them won't give you much more time to take care of the rest of your pets.

If you wish to still keep the rat, I would read over the forum www.goosemoose.com to learn how to properly keep them and what their needs are.

I have both rats and guinea pigs and neither of them care if I interact with the opposite species. One group of rats lives in the same room as the guinea pigs and they can smell each other and don't have any negative reactions at all. Of course you should never let them interact but they won't mind each others smells.

[Inle_Rabbit]

With goldfish you really want to get another filter. They produce a lot more ammonia than other fish, too much ammonia will kill them.

@Peanutter is right a rat needs a buddy.

I can't tell you what to do. You need to do what you feel is both right and just for the animals not just what is convenient. If I were I would take a few days to think things over. Maybe try talking to your parents too.