A little backstory: My sister had rats when I was a teen, so I’m fairly familiar with their care and behaviours. I recently started working at a local pet store (not a chain) and fell in love with a mama rat and her two children. They were surrenders and are pretty nervy, only one of the “babies” will let me hold it, the other hides, and the mother bites. I’m more than willing to work with them and give them the care and love they need whether they’re snuggly or not. I just want to make sure I know everything I need to know.

What I have/will get for them:  
\-1 story critter nation cage (36”x24”x30”)  
\-Rat food mix (Lab blocks, dry pasta, seed mix, and a few types of oxbow pellets)  
\-Play pen  
\-lots of enrichment toys (foraging toys, wood to chew and climb, hammocks, and places to hide)  
\-fleece bedding

Specific questions:  
\-what kind of play pen do you use? Something cheap-ish, but safe  
\-best diy enrichment toys?  
\-best way to gain their trust?  
\-best care guide to follow?

I’m fully prepared to be talked out of this if I won’t be able to give them a good home, but I really love the little one, and she’s been bonding with me pretty well. I know they’re expensive, I have reptiles and gerbils, so I keep emergency funds for vets and such. 

Thinking about getting rats…