Adopting Roof Rats

Can I adopt roof rats from you? Do you sell them?

We don’t sell them, they’re available free to serious owners and breeders. What we care about is that they’re going to a good, prepared home. Get in touch through the Contact page.

Do you adopt out pairs or single rats? Is there a cost?

They’re free of charge, and you can take one or more, a pair is best, since they’re social. The only requirement is making sure the rats are going to a suitable home.

Do you ship or deliver rats?

We’ve arranged transport before, a pair once traveled safely to another state. For distant adopters it can sometimes be done, usually by air, but it’s expensive; get in touch and we’ll talk through what’s realistic.

I’m far away or out of state, can I still adopt?

Possibly, but long-distance placement is often impractical and costly. We’d honestly rather see local breeders start their own colonies, if you’re far away, that may be the better path, and we’re glad to help you begin.

What’s the best way to ask you questions?

Use the Contact page, that’s the best way to reach us about adoption or care.

Related: Successor Breeders Wanted · What It Takes.

Thinking about keeping or breeding roof rats yourself? See Successor Breeders Wanted and What It Takes, or get in touch.

Can a rat be an emotional support animal?

Yes, a rat can be a genuine emotional support animal, and many people have adopted them from us for exactly that, with great success. What the label means legally in the United States is narrower than most websites claim, though, and the housing rules changed in 2025 and 2026. We lay out the honest, current picture in a full guide: Can a Rat Be an Emotional Support Animal?

I heard that rats do better in pairs: is it OK to adopt just one?

Yes, rats can potentially get lonely and unhappy if they are alone in their cage for extended periods of time.  And they might develop behavioural problems, or become less friendly as a consequence.

However, some rats actually prefer having a cage to themselves.  And, if you are willing to spend a lot of time with your rat, then you can keep it from feeling lonely and isolated.  The problem is, most people work or have other responsibilities competing for their time and attention, so the rat may not get enough from you.  If he or she has a cagemate, that won’t be as much of a problem, which is why we generally recommend you get more than one.

Of course, it is possible to start with one and add more later, but keep in mind that an older, established rat may reject newcomers, sometimes violently.  So, if you think you might eventually want more than one, best to adopt them together from the same liter.

Should I get males or females: Pros and Cons?

Males. Pros: all else being equal, males tend to make the easier pet, especially for someone new to roof rats. Size and testosterone make them a little braver and calmer, so they are more willing to come out of the cage, take a treat, run up your arm, come when called, and settle on your shoulder to be petted. They are also lazier and more food-oriented, which makes them easy to win over, so we usually point newcomers to a calm adult male as a starter roof rat. Cons: they grow bigger (roughly 300 grams to a female’s 200), and two intact males will not always get along, so a pugnacious one may need a cage of his own.

Females. Pros: females can absolutely be wonderful companions. Roofy, one of the best roof rats we ever had, was a female, a little smaller and easy to love. Cons: statistically your odds of a bold, cuddly, low-fear pet are a bit better with a male, and some females are more cautious or quicker to nip when frightened. One real caution: an adult female may injure or even kill a baby faster than you could separate them, so it is better to wait until a young rat is about 7 or 8 weeks old before introducing her to a grown female you are not sure of, and to do it somewhere the baby can hide.

The honest bottom line: either sex can be a great pet, but if you want the surest thing, especially at a distance, start with a calm adult male. You can add a female later: if you visit us, handle both sexes and still strongly prefer our females, we will let you adopt them, and we generally only approve shipping adult males unless you can justify the request.

How old are your babies when they leave?

Our practice has changed over the years. We now keep litters with their mothers until they are close to adult size (around two months of age) rather than separating them earlier. The current line is tame enough that babies no longer need early human socialization to become friendly, so there is no benefit to early separation and several benefits to waiting: better health, more fully developed behavior, and a clearer read on each animal’s temperament before any selection decision is made. Sexes should be separated before sexual maturity (females mature around 2–3 months, males around 3–4 months) to prevent unplanned breeding.

Where are you located?

Central Florida, near Orlando.

More on the science of the line on The Project and What’s Different About These Rats.

Thinking about keeping or breeding roof rats yourself? See Successor Breeders Wanted and What It Takes, or get in touch.

Is it legal to keep roof rats where I live?

It varies by location, check your state and local rules. If it’s legal where you are and you’ve found a friendly one, a check-up with an exotics vet is a good first step.

Do you ever provide any feeder rats (for snakes to eat)?

No, never. We only ever place our rats as pets. That also means we will not provide “breeding pairs” for anyone to raise their own feeders, and yes, people have asked. We understand that other animals need to eat, and we do not judge anyone for keeping a snake or another animal that eats rodents. But that food will have to come from someone else, because it will never come from us. We know and love every one of our rats, the babies included, and it would feel like feeding a member of our own family to a lion. We hope you can understand and respect that, and please do not ask us about it, even as a joke. The same goes for our wood rats.

Do you know of any other roof rat breeders in the area?

We keep a list of the roof rat breeders we know of. See Find a Roof Rat Breeder to check whether there is anyone near you. If you breed roof rats yourself and would like to be listed, get in touch through the Contact page.