Night time pet rat

Question
Got a question you probably get alot. I'm looking at getting a pet rat. I had one in the passed and loved her and want another one. My question is night time noise. The one I previously had was kept in another room so I never heard anything but, this time I can't do that. It has to be in my room. Can pet rats adapt to human night sleep schedules? Or are they typically noisy during the night and make it hard for semi light sleepers to sleep. Please let me know ASAP so I can make a solid decision! Any info on their sleep ha bits and possibly keeping me up during the night would be helpful! Thankyou!

Answer
Hi Adam, actually, I have never gotten this question before.  But I do know the answer!  

I want to say first that it is wise of you to consider this before you adopt another rat.   Yes, it is possible to train a rat to adapt to human sleep schedules, but it will take some effort on your part.  First let's consider what your schedule is during the day hours.  Do you work or go to school all day?   If so, there is no way you will be able to work with your rat to adapt his schedule.  You would have to basically be home most if not all of the day, or your rat's natural sleep pattern will kick in and he will sleep all day while you're away.

If you ARE home most or all of the day, then it can work.   The first piece of advise I have for you is to seriously consider adopting 2 or more rats.  A rat should never be kept alone because they are very social creatures by nature and are much happier, stay healthier and live longer with a companion or two.   Plus during the times you are away, they have each other to snuggle with, play with, and groom each other.  In fact, when you adopt rats from reputable breeders, they require that you adopt in same sex pairs, or groups of 2 or more.  It really is not any more trouble to keep 2 or more rats.  Still only one cage to clean and they eat so little.   Also, it is untrue that a solo rat will bond better with their human if he is alone.  In fact, rats who have companions are happier, better adjusted, and are more likely to bond with humans.  Here is a video that I often share with people who consider getting a solo rat.  Maybe this will convince you.
http://youtu.be/cDy3bMRuobE

Secondly, when choosing your rats, it will be easier to adjust their sleep schedule if you adopt very young rats, 2 months old or younger.  

So assuming that you are home most or all of the days, you will have to spend time with them during the daytimes and keep them busy, not allowing them to sleep.  It's as simple as that.  You can let them run around in a rat proofed room, on your bed, table, whatever.  Play with them, or even work on training them to do tricks.  You can find lots of websites or YouTube videos on training rats.  Young rats are easier to train than older ones.  This would be both fun for you and them, as well as keeping them stimulated.  By the end of each day, they will be dead tired and will sleep when you leave them alone.  

Now, if you are NOT home during the days but still wish to adopt rats, there are ways to keep the noise down in their cage.  You can line every level of their cage with fleece.  You can get lots of hammocks for them to sleep in inch stead of igloos which they may try to move around which may be noisy.  You can get a wheel for them to run in that is quiet.  Some are quieter than others so you can do some research.  The only noise you can't eliminate is chewing.  You have to keep a dry grain mix at all times in their cage so they can graze at will.  Personally, I don't think the crunching on food is very loud but it all depends on how easily you are awakened.

Please let me know if there is anything else I can help you with.  Lots of luck to you!  If you don't mind, please let me know what you decide.