Feeder Rats As Pets – What You Need To Know

Have you like me wondered if feeder rats are suitable to be kept as pets? I believe the question is very interesting, as few people seem to even consider this option. Many people have had success with adopting feeder rats, though, and in this post, I will cover both the positive and negative aspects.

Feeder rats often make great, loving pets. Adopting one saves it from a life under bad conditions, and this could make the bond between you even stronger than with a regular pet rat.

Are Feeder Rats Good Pets? 

Yes, feeder rats can be good pets. Just as all rats, they are smart, loving, and fun animals. There’s good reason why rats have been one of the most popular pet animals for many, many years. Feeder rats are just ordinary rats that, sadly, are bred to be fed to other animals.

Keep in mind, though, that these rats are bred for quantity, and there is no effort taken to develop qualities that would make them good pets. Their counterparts, breeder rats, however, are born and raised in ways that make them more friendly towards their human parents.

I believe the strongest argument against adopting feeder rats is that by doing so, you are essentially supporting the stores and breeders who sell them. As I cover more broadly below, feeder rats are generally raised under quite horrible conditions, something many people want to put an end to.

Another reason some people advise against adopting a feeder rat is the risk of illness and other health-related problems. Although your rat could turn out just fine, and live to be as old as regular breeder rats, there are increased risks of something being wrong.

There is a flip side to this, of course. Adopting a feeder rat is a way of giving the particular rat a better life. This might even prove to form a stronger bond between you and your rat. It is very much alike to adopting a stray dog – you offer a happier life filled with love, and your pet will adore you for it!

I’ve never owned a feeder rat myself, but I have a friend who adopted one back in 2014. My friend noticed that he wasn’t quite like the other breeder rats that she had owned before him. He wasn’t as social and wanted to spend more time alone.

While he eventually turned out to be a very happy rat. It took some extra love to get there, and that is usually the case with feeder rats. I especially remember her telling me that her feeder rat (called Rye, btw!) got really nervous whenever she would pick him up. Luckily, this only lasted for the first couple of months. She just had to make sure to be extra friendly with him and take it slow. He lived to be 3 years and 2 months!

What is a feeder rat?

Most commonly, feeder rats are fed to snakes and other reptiles. If you’ve ever owned a reptile, you most likely used feeder rats as a big part of their diet. They are often sold frozen, which makes transportation and storage easier. Usually, feeder rats are sold young, since the “baby feeders” are more desirable as food. You can buy larger, adult feeder rats too, but they are much less common.  

It is important to remember that feeder rats are no different from regular rats. They are born with the same traits, qualities, and personalities as breeder rats, the kind that is most commonly adopted. 

What is less good, however, is that feeder rats are often kept in conditions that can harm their health and personalities. Oftentimes, these rats are kept in crowded drawers, which can potentially cause problems. Feeder rats might not be properly socialized, and even more troubling, have health problems that shorten their life expectancy.

This way of breeding and storing feeder rats has been a point of debate for some time, and many people believe it is an unethical way of treating these fantastic animals. 

How Long Do Feeder Rats Live as pets?

Feeder rats live just slightly shorter lives than breeder rats, who live 2-3 years on average. This is because they are more prone to developing illnesses, and health problems. They are bred under conditions that could potentially harm their life expectancy.

From my own experience, I would guess that most pet feeder rats live to be around 2 years old. There will be exceptions to this, though, as some rats will have developed illnesses while they were raised at the breeder. 

Are feeder rats dangerous?

In general, feeder rats are not more dangerous than other pet rats. They might not get along as well with others, though, so keep that in mind if you already own rats. Some feeder rats that have been bred under horrible conditions might be more aggressive than other rats, but even then, they shouldn’t be dangerous to humans.

Related article: Can rats eat green beans?

Conclusion

So, I do believe feeder rats can be good pets. There’s no reason why you couldn’t adopt one and form a great bond. Numerous people have done this in the past, and so can you! I do believe that it comes down to your ethics, though: Some people just do not want to support the way many feeder rats are bred and raised. Before you decide to adopt one, ask yourself if you believe that doing so saves a rat, or supports the industry in general. An industry that in many cases seems to have disregarded its morals.

There are people on both sides of the argument here. I love reading about people who have had success with feeders, even though I would probably not go for one myself.

Where do you stand on this topic? Please leave a comment and tell us what you think!