How old are baby rats in pet stores compared to ones you can buy from breeders?
Most pet stores sell rats very young, often starting at three weeks old! Cute as they are, they really shouldn’t be weaned so early. Three to eight weeks are common ages for pet store babies. Breeders usually won’t sell rats younger than six weeks and most wait until at least eight to twelve weeks, so they can assess health and temperment. At this time, the rats are well socialized and the breeder can offer some kind of guarantee on their health.
