"One of the earliest decisions you will need to make when you decide to get some rats is what sex you want. Male rats are called bucks, females are called does, just as in deer and rabbits. There are differences between the sexes, but both can make great pets; it just depends on what you personally want from your rats.
Be aware, the following descriptions are generalizations only. There are always exceptions to the rule, and you cannot ever guarantee how any rat will turn out. I've had females who acted more male, and vice versa. But the following will at least give you a starting point:
Males Bucks are bigger than does, sometimes even twice the size, and their fur is generally a little rougher. Bucks tend to mark their territory by leaving tiny drops of urine on whatever they wish to claim as theirs, and this will sometimes include you! Some bucks mark more than others. Some don't mark at all. Male rats tend to be a bit soppier, more cuddly and more tolerant. A buck is the kind of rat that will want to sit on your lap and watch TV for hours. They can be thoroughly lazy, especially once they reach about 18 months old. Bucks are the ideal gender for people who want a pet to cuddle and relax with, a lap-pet if you like. In my personal experience, boys are more outwardly affectionate than females, and seem to be less independent, more reliant on their human.
Females Does are smaller and sleeker than bucks and tend to be more active. They also have smoother, softer coats. They tend to be more agile and acrobatic than boys, meaning some toys are great for does but would be totally ignored by bucks (wheels are one such toy. While some boys will use them, you're more likely to get usage out of a wheel if you give it to a doe!). Does are quite independent, and like to do their own thing. They're on the go all the time, curious about everything, and generally more entertaining to observe than boys. Does come into heat every 4 days or so for around 12 hours when they may become more jumpy and skittish and harder to handle. Females are more prone to mammary tumours which are usually benign, but can get expensive to keep having removed. This is something to consider if you are keen on getting females, particularly if you are planning on getting pet shop or rescue girls, as incidences of tumors are higher in rats from these backgrounds. Diet also seems to play a part in this, and fat rats are more likely to develop tumors than lean rats. So if you go for girls, try not to let them get too fat. A doe will be the rat who sits on your shoulder or uses your body like a climbing frame and explores everything on your desk. They're the ideal gender for people who like to have a pet to watch and be entertained by. They also tend to be more responsive to things like clicker training, or agility, as they like to be busy and active.
Which sex you chose is totally down to personal preference. If you want a big, laid back, squishy rat who will be content to sit on your lap then you're probably more likely to get this in a buck. If you want an interesting and active, busy pet that you can watch exploring and causing mischief, then go for a doe."
The importance of companionship
"Rats need the company of other rats. There are no two ways about this, and one should never buy a rat with the intention of keeping it alone. Rats are very social animals, and must live in same sex pairs or groups. In the wild, they live in large family groups. They sleep together, groom one another, play with each other and form strong bonds. Even many laboratories will now refuse to keep rats alone.
However, despite this, many people still go out and buy a single rat, and some websites, pet shops and books still perpetuate the myth that this is ok. The message just doesn't seem to be getting through to some people. I've heard many reasons as to why people only want a single rat, even when they're well aware that rats do better with cage mates, and the most common is that people seem to think that by just having one rat, it will bond more closely to them. This is simply untrue, as anyone who has more than one rat will testify. Besides, don't you want a rat to bond to you because it truly loves being with you, not just because it has no one else to be friends with?
Some people seem to think they can overcome the issue of loneliness by simply spending more time with the animal. But even the most dedicated owner simply cannot spend all day every day with their rat. One of the most active times for a rat is at night, when his owner will be asleep. What is he to do alone for 8 hours or more? How about when his owner is at work during the day? Even if a person were able to spend all day with their rat, the animal would still miss out on things that only another rat can provide and teach them. Rats love their people, but at the same time, we are a different species. It would be like expecting a human to live with only chimpanzees for company! There would be a certain level of communication and bonding, but nothing would compare with having another human to interact with.
Rats kept alone can often develop problems such as depression, aggression, and even self mutilation like pulling out their own fur. There is evidence to suggest lone rats live shorter lives and have more health problems than rats housed with others. Being alone is completely unnatural to a rat, so it is hardly surprising that such a lifestyle would cause problems. When you are talking about a baby or young rat, being kept alone is even more damaging. Baby rats just don't tend to thrive when housed in solitary confinement. And can you blame them? How happy or well adjusted would a human toddler be if suddenly pulled away from all his friends and family and stuck alone in a room for the rest of his life, with occasional visits from a different species? Just as humans have evolved to be a social species that need interactions with their own kind, so too have rats. If you don't think that you would want to spend the rest of your life never seeing or interacting with another human again, then please don't put a rat through the same thing. There is a reason why solitary confinement is used as a punishment in humans: because we are social, just like rats, and being completely alone is unpleasant and damaging.
If you do nothing else for your rat, get it a companion. Company is second only to food and water in the list of a rat's requirements. This is not an opinion, it is simply a fact. If you are not prepared to get at least two rats, do not get rats at all and perhaps get an animal that likes being alone"
Safe food: Apples, seedless, grapes, cooked potato, brown rice, pasta, peas, corn, carrots, spinach (small amount), cooked butternet/pumin/gem squash, brown rice cakes, cooked chicken, quinoa, lentils, plain couscous, baby food, cooked sweet potato, broccoli, cauliflower, chicken bones to chew, banana, bulgar wheat, plain yoghurt, tomatoes, cooked and raw oats, blueberries, cherries, strawberries, cranberries, goji berries, avo, cucumber, marrows, mushrooms, cooked fish (not smoked), Future Life Smart Food, Cerelac, melons, Ensure (for pups and nursing moms, eldery and sick), boiled/ scrambled egg, cooked green beans, pears, peches, plums, nectarines, walnuts (as treat), dried fruits.
DO NOT FEED: Apple seeds, avo skin/ pip, oranges, grapefruit, lemon etc (no citrus), unripe banana, uncooked potato skins, raw beans, raw brussel sprouts, raw cabbage, raw potato, red meats, any kind of raw meat, mango, raw onion.
Useful links and info
FIRST AID: http://www.ratfanclub.org/firstaid.html Raising Orphans: Surrigate mother is always first option. http://www.ratfanclub.org/orphans.html
Care sheet: http://www.ratfanclub.org/caresheet.html
Hygiene: http://www.ratfanclub.org/hygiene.html
Keeping rats comfy in extreme weather: http://www.ratfanclub.org/cool.html
Dangers of sawdust: http://www.ratfanclub.org/litters.html