Fancy Rat
Intelligent, trainable, affectionate; excellent first 'interactive' rodent
Overview
The Fancy Rat (Rattus norvegicus) is a small pet, around 9–11 in (w/ tail), living 2–3 years. It is crepuscular — most active around dawn and dusk. Socially it is very social (keep ≥2).
Is the Fancy Rat right for you?
A good match if — you're new to small pets; you can house a small group for company.
Think twice if — you can only keep a single animal — this species needs company.
What a Fancy Rat needs from you
Day to day it needs a suitable enclosure with a moderate amount of space, the right diet, daily care and moderate day-to-day upkeep. Crucially, it must be kept with its own kind — keeping a single animal alone is stressful and unfair.
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Rattus norvegicus
- Size
- 9–11 in (w/ tail)
- Life span
- 2–3 years
- Social needs
- very social (keep ≥2)
- Activity
- crepuscular
- Care level
- beginner
- Notes
- Intelligent, trainable, affectionate; excellent first 'interactive' rodent
What it needs from you (at a glance)
| Space needed | |
| Experience needed | |
| Maintenance | |
| Time per day | |
| Need for company | no data yet |
| Handling / closeness | |
| Cost level |
What it costs
Scaled to this breed’s roughly 800 g and a ~3-year life, keeping a Fancy Rat works out at about:
Rough cross-breed averages in USD — a planning guide, not a quote. Break it down by life phase in the Cost Calculator →