Fancy rats are the commonest kind of pet rats.
It is a domesticated rat and it probably got the term "fancy" attached to it because some people took a "fancy to it".
Fancy rats are mainly brown in color and are not to be confused with wild rats.
In the 18th and 19th century when blood sports were prevalent, rats were specially bred as pets.
They were used as targets then.
Nowadays, rats come in different coat types and colors and there are many types of them available.
If you want to buy a rat to keep as pet, you can get one from a pet shop.
Though not many may want to have rats running around their homes, some people may want to keep them in cages for recreational or scientific purposes.
Fancy rats are safe to keep at home as they don't pose more danger than other domesticated animals such as cats and dogs.
They are also not considered as a plague threat, unlike their wild counterparts.
Believe it or not, rats can be of any color, from blue to white.
They are not very fussy about food either as they take to new foods with ease.
They are also prone to mate earlier and for a longer time than their wild counterparts.
If you want to buy rats, there are many websites on the internet which sell them.
If you want to buy them in person, you can visit your local pet shop.
Try to read several customer reviews before buying a rat.