My housemates in college had rats -- LOTS of rats, because one of them fostered for the local animal shelter. Other housemates had mice and guinea pigs. Pet rats ARE very friendly and inquisitive -- though if you get male rats, they'll settle down after a few months. Adult male rats are lazy.
If you get a rat, you should probably get at least two, because rats are very social. A single rat would be lonely, I think.
The biggest downside to rats (after the fact that some people are freaked out by them) is that THEY SMELL. Especially if you have more than one. If you can keep the windows open and use air fresheners, it's not bad, but your roommate might object.
Have you thought about guinea pigs? They don't bite, you can keep two in one cage, and they're cute, in a stupid kind of way (guinea pigs are VERY stupid).
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If you get a rat, you should probably get at least two, because rats are very social. A single rat would be lonely, I think.
The biggest downside to rats (after the fact that some people are freaked out by them) is that THEY SMELL. Especially if you have more than one. If you can keep the windows open and use air fresheners, it's not bad, but your roommate might object.
Have you thought about guinea pigs? They don't bite, you can keep two in one cage, and they're cute, in a stupid kind of way (guinea pigs are VERY stupid).