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Rats are only disease carriers if they've been exposed to the disease. Unless you live in a place where the bubonic plague is common or something, getting a rat should be fine.

Quick update guys. i got my rat. Though it was only the one cos they only had one boy in.

He has a stripe on his head like remiln so he's called spike.

thanks for the help.

Nom

Congrats on your rat.

Post a pic

Rats really need company to be healthy. Otherwise they become very depressed and withdrawn. They're social creatures. I'd suggest getting him a (male) cagemate asap.

As others have said.. Fairly large cage (not hamster sized), plenty of climbing room, not a wire-bottomed one, as that messes up your rats' feet. Feed them a mix of pellets and other foods. I tend to give mine rice, pasta, bread, raisins, cornflakes, etc.

Avoid orange rinds, peanuts & onions. There are lists around the internet of foods to avoid.

Give them things to play with and explore in their cage. I find poster tubes, old tubs, cardboard boxes filled with tissue paper, metal cans, are all excellent rat play things.

Boys will pee on you, it's just something you have to get used to. Getting them snipped will possibly stop this, but 'tis expensive.

Good luck with your rat/s!