well a mate off mine breeds and sells rats he wants £10 each for them but i think they are cheaper in the pet shop? wot do they go for in the pet shop just wanting to no as i ain’t bought any for some time now but i got all the stuff still as mine died.
:w00t::w00t::w00t::w00t: free the rats:angry:…or we will come for you by the thousand!!
will they be riding mini sv1000’s:w00t:
yah! all on mini thumpers!!! with a lemon burning too…;)
Mine were about a tenner each, but they’re dumbo’s. Think my old hooded one’s were about a fiver each. If they’re hooded ones they should be cheaper than a tenner, plus he’s your mate. 
Rats - they’re so cute, particularly if you train them properly.
Would have some myself, but I’ve already got 3 big ones to look after.
Pet shops, especially the supermarket type chains like Pets@Home buy their animals mainly from rodent mills where hundreds or thousands of pairs of rats, mice, gerbils etc will be employed just to churn out animals. The chains set strict quantity targets and mills that don’t meet them lose their contracts (this is the same way Tescos etc manage their suppliers for courgettes). I know about this because I have been involved in rescuing animals where rodent mills have closed down due to lost contracts and suddenly thousands of animals, half of which are pregnant, need homes. I have also had phone calls from rodent ills tryign to find peopel to make up the numbers so they don’t lose their contract.
Other issues with rats include -
Temperament - I have rescued rats that have hospitalised Jackie! Your mate’s rats will probably be better socialised to humans than pet shop or rodent mill rats.
Myco - a lot of rats have a genetic predisposition to long term respiratory problems. Rodent mills have no incentive to address these as they are in a numbers game.
Tumours - many rats, probably most rats, have genetic predisposition to tumours. This is probably due to many rats being smuggled out of labs over the years where they are bred for tumour research. Your friend will be able to tell you whether the parents, cousins, grandparents etc have displayed any signs of tumours. Rodent mills and pet shops have no need to address the issue as it does usually cause any problems until the rats are adults.
So don’t be fooled by price.