Pet Rats

Anyone had any ?
My daughter has been on about wanting some for yonks. She'd have to keep them in her bedroom because we have a little terrier who would not take kindly to them.
I've said she can have some - I understand a same sex pair is the way to go - my only real concern is her bedroom will stink like a farmyard - there seem to be mixed opinions on whether they smell too bad and whether males smell more than females ?
Any advice - even if it's tell her you've changed your mind. She's nearly 15 and pretty conscientious about looking after pets - she's had hamsters before - so no worries about a reasonable level of care and cleanliness.
Any other tips or anyone east mids ish have any for sale ? Don't really want to buy from a pet shop as I suspect they'll be buying from people who churn them out and don't handle them much.
My daughter has been on about wanting some for yonks. She'd have to keep them in her bedroom because we have a little terrier who would not take kindly to them.
I've said she can have some - I understand a same sex pair is the way to go - my only real concern is her bedroom will stink like a farmyard - there seem to be mixed opinions on whether they smell too bad and whether males smell more than females ?
Any advice - even if it's tell her you've changed your mind. She's nearly 15 and pretty conscientious about looking after pets - she's had hamsters before - so no worries about a reasonable level of care and cleanliness.
Any other tips or anyone east mids ish have any for sale ? Don't really want to buy from a pet shop as I suspect they'll be buying from people who churn them out and don't handle them much.
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I've had male and female rats. I think the males have a very slightly stronger smell but not worth worrying about. I prefer the females in temperament myself. They are some of the gentlest animals I've encountered. None of mine have even come close to biting anyone even when being injected into an ulcer which must have been very painful. You'd need to bring them up badly for them to nip. If you get them young and handle them daily they will not bite.
They're super intelligent and trainable. Check this out, it's amazing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g2rxtWu_FM
They seem to like company too and will follow you about or find you. Ours practically live in the kid's clothes as they walk about.
The downside of rats are: they do let out little drops of wee from time to time, especially when first out of the cage; they will chew stuff if you let them run free - like cables behind the sofa etc and worst of all they all seem to die horribly from either cancers or lung disease which is distressing or a good life lesson for kids depending how you look at it.
They smell a lot more next time they make an appearance though! :shock:
On a more serious note, don't they urinate almost constantly (drops, not in a stream!!!) as a form of sent marking?
This may not be true.
(Edit - mentioned in the above post!)