Looking to chat with fellow rat enthusiasts. I have a beige female named Saoirse and her son, Zocquiel. I've owned and bred rats for 8 years and I love rats more than any other pet I have ever owned.
Oliver is a dark gray and white Blazed rex. He's a fat boy who's REALLY lazy, but sweet.
Boo is an agouti. He's a shy rat. He was form my first litter, but when I adopted him to his owner come to find out she wasn't he best person (fed his adorable brother to a snake) so I pretty much stole Boo. He wasn't social anymore when I got him, so I had to resocialize him.
Cricket (Boo's brother) is agouti with really light coloring. He's just a lump of love and laziness. Haha.
Rosco is a Seal-point Himalayan, my first rattie and the one who has the closes bond with me. He loves the crap out of me, very social with people but can easily read people.
Rags (The old man) is a blue capped Dumbo/rex. He's the father to Cricket and Boo. He loves just about anyone who he meets. He's a cuddler and will follow you around.
Bug is a Russian Blue with slight silver in his fur. He's my youngest. I got him from a friend who swore he'd never be social because he was almost eaten by a snake... a week after I got him he was napping on me.
Then my girls.
Nibbler is a blue capped female. Very sweet and loves people, also really playful.
Juno is also a blue capped rat, but she has dumbo ears. She's a bit shier but once she gets used to you she'll love you.
Your rats sound adorable! And that's awful that the person fed his brother to the snake. I would have taken the snake and fed it to a cat..xD (or maybe a dog depending on the size). How long have you been breeding rats?
My girl, Saoirse, loves to run around the house. She'll follow me around and chase the cats. If I snap my fingers she will come running from whatever room she is in. It's hilarious. Her son is a lot calmer. He just likes to sit on my lap or hide in my hair. He is not very adventurous at all. I bottle raised him because him mum is horrible and refused to take care of her litter. Only him and his 2 sisters survived out of the 9 born. He's my 4th generation rat. All the rats in his line have been very special rats of mine.
Thanks. I wouldn't do that to the snake. Snakes are dumb animals, it's not his fault... but perhaps the owner should be fed to a snake. The brother looked just like Boo but had a perfect lightening bolt on his forehead. HE was beautiful. I have been breeding for a year almost two. I'm also starting rescue work and education work (for schools and children).
Aw, that's so cute! My rat Rosco will come out of nowhere when I call him. He's so attached to m, he thinks I'm a God or something. Lol. He acts much like a dog. for most of the first year I had him I couldn't keep him with other rats because he would get jealous. Now he lives with his brothers without an issue, but that took a bit. He also attacks animals he sees me paying attention to.
Aww, I'm sorry about that. I had a rat who only had one baby and come to find out she wasn't giving out milk, and I didn't know till it was too late. I'm planing on keeping Rosco's blood alive. His mate is Nibbler actually. I personally prefer males (one reasons why I have so many) because they are a lot calmer.
Well if a snake ate my rat I would be mad at it. I don't mind snakes in general (although I could never own one because I love rodents too much), but they are pretty to look at. That is cool that you are starting a rescue! I would like to do that. I consider buying feeder rats rescues too, lol. My second rat was a feeder rat. She was insane but lived over 2 years and was sweet in her own way.
Rosco sounds a lot like my old rat, Cathedral. He acted just like that. Sadly he had an allergic reaction to something I fed him ( I still have no idea as I fed the same thing to the other rats and they all were fine) and he died . He was Zocquiel's uncle.
Like I said, wasn't the snakes fault. His owner fed the rat to the snake. I LOVE snakes... but for the same reasons as you could never own one. I love my baby rodents too much.
Thanks. I want to run a Pit Bull and Rat rescue.
I honestly only had one "feeder" rat I got from a petstore. The worker there knows me really well and when sick rodents come in he usually calls me. I actually turned him into a rat lover. Haha. But anyways, he called me one day about Nibbler. She was a feeder who was really sick. He asked if I wanted her because she was sweet and sick, so he didn't want to fed her o a snake. I ended up taking her and raising her back to health.
Aww.
I'm sorry about your lose. I lost two boys only a week ago. One went suddenly, and his brother died shortly after (I think he got sick from depression).
I love pit bulls! It is so sad that they get such a bad reputation. I want to have a feral cat sanctuary one day. So many people trap them and take them to the pound where they are euthanized. I would love to have a big plot of land where they can live (spayed and neutered of course!)
That is great that you saved Nibbler! I would like to get another feeder rat soon. I feel sorry for them and how badly they are kept until bought for a snake. Here they are on dirty little drawers without food and water. I understand they are meant for food, but they are still a live critter and should not be forced to suffer.
I love Pit Bulls too. Haha. They are amazing dogs, very loving and Loyal. That's awesome about your cat sanctuary. I want to rescue a hen and rooster from a fighting ring someday, since Roosters can't usually be rehomed since they can't live with other birds. I have seen some very mellow fighting roosters though who just want head scratches. :/ I want to help end the whole "every fighting dog or rooster needs to be put to sleep after the trial". I think it's messed up.
Aww, you should get a pair from the feeder bin soon. Here they keep them slightly better, but not by much. Have you ever talked to a snake owner that feeds live? Most I know are REALLY ignorant about rats. I actually got one to change his thoughts about rats, and now owns three himself. It helped that he met my little crew. Haha. He used to make jokes about feeding rats then I started to bring in my own and he ended up bringing home HIS own, haha. Now he says he feels bad when he feeds a rat to a snake (He works at a pet store and feeds the reptiles). He said when he sells rats he always sells the unsocialized ones first, he also doesnt go on just pretty rats. He's let a few albinos go to homes because they are sweet, I think his first rat is either a PEW or a Himalayan.
I agree, even if they are "food" to some people, they are still living things and should be treated with respect till. I know all animals should eat, but I prefer people to feed frozen... I just don't understand people who make fun of rat/mice owners... snakes are REALLY dumb, and the bigger the more dangerous... with rats bigger the more cuddlier. :/
Aww, thank you.
Okay, sorry for the long reply... I'll shut up now. Haha,
I would love to rescue fighting roosters too. I have a soft spot for chickens. I used to raise show/laying hens, but I had to give my babies away due to money issues. I hate that people think the animals need to be put down. They just need love and patience. I've worked with abused animals and it's amazing to see them turn around and become social again. I mainly work with abused rabbits. I had this one rabbit the pound was going to put down because he was "too aggressive". He never once bit me, but he was terrified of any human contact. It only took two years to get him to be friendly like any other rabbit.
Aww that's great that you converted him to a rat lover! I hate people who feed live rats. It's stressful to the rat, and the rat can injure the snake. My friend's brother would take pleasure in tormenting the rats he fed to his snake. He would shoot them with a bebe gun in the head until they'd die. It was horrible. I really wished the snake would eat him xD
No problem about the long reply...I have small novel here as well ^_^
I love my pet rat She's albino (don't know much else) and we named her Alice.
We got her from a friend who got her to feed to his python, but the snake just didn't eat her, so we thought we'd keep her. Great idea that was! Rats make awesome pets
They used to think all Pit Bulls who were fighting dogs should be put to sleep, till the Vick case. Each dog in the Vick case was treated as in individual (Like all animals should be) and one of his prized fighters turned out to be one of the most dog friendliest. He's also a therapy dog now. I have a shirt with him on it. Haha. I think it just takes time with each animal, since you show them love they will love you back.
I work with abused dogs mostly. I adopted my first dog because she didn't like anyone but me. She wasn't aggressive, but in a normal shelter setting she would be put to sleep... even though she was 4 months old. Her her mom and her siblings lived their life in a crate before rescued. The owner would just hose them down when they pooped. I think he also abused them. My pit Bull who is the newest adoption was a stray, but shows signs he was abused as well. I think he was bought for a status symbol so his owner looked "tough", Philly's ears are cropped to almost his head... I think he wasn't "tough" enough even after the beatings, so his owner just dropped him off somewhere. He loves people though, and he's animal friendly and dog friendly. I'm training him for his CGC and for Therapy.
Omg that's horrible! I hate people like that. A lot of people think rats don't have feelings and emotions, but they share a lot of the same traits as we do.
I had a ferret before I had rats, I freaking love ferrets. They are one of my favorite animals. I miss mine so much. Honestly, I have both males and females but I prefer males. Their personalities are just a lot better. I like fat cuddly rats.
Aww, that's good that you saved her. May I suggest getting her a buddy? Rats really do better with a friend. I have 2 females and 6 males. All the males get along, but one male lives with the females because the other males get too rough with him and he's too old. Also a single rat can go into a depression.
^^ Exactly! I have met so many people like that. Once when a mouse I had died I was sent to the guidance counselor and he told me "It was just a mouse". People just think "rats and mice" and think they are gross little animals. A lot of people thin I'm odd for owning rats as pets, but they are just so wonderful. I have yet met a rat with the same personality as another. They are all so unique but loving.
i loved my 1st rat sooo much,Mougen. when he died i got 3 girls. Zonja, Sheik, n Mourag. Sheik was weak n passed away too quick, followed by Mourag who ended up more tumour than rat. n Zonja's all lonesome now, n we've always had our disagreements.every attempt to bond with her is utter failier.
I tend to see boy rats bond better with people then females. It may just have been in my experience, but I have only had 2 females out of 6 girls who bonded with me. All my boys have been bonded with me though (had about 25 in my life time so far).
And rat people, come hither and chat to me! Lol. I'd love to make more rat-people-friends.
It's a male thing. Males tend to be more loving and affectionate as girls are a bit more hyper and would rather explore. Boys tend to be my favorite because of their cuddly and calm nature.
All rats are individuals, but this is just something a lot of rat owners notice in the different genders.
I've got some ratties in my house, the girls are the stepson's & I have a male, BoyBoy. I just got him one of those run around balls and he's too scared to use it, poor guy.
Rats are the shit, although I ended up with a gerbil, petco didn't have any male rats and the gerbil was up for adoption, ironically it's a girl lol.
"...you cannot touch an idea, cannot hold it or kiss it. An idea does not bleed, it cannot feel pain, and it does not love. And it is not an idea that I miss, it is a man."
I've wanted rats for a while. I have 3 friends with rats, and one of them was giving some babies away around this time last year but I wasn't in a stable environment to afford to take them. Hopefully one day.
Rats are absolutely my favorite companion of all time. They're incredibly smart and affectionate, and they all have their own unique personality. When I bred rats, I had up to about 21 or 22 at one time and I love it. Now I just have my five boys. All getting along in their super pets exotics cage stinky boys they are, but hell, I have some bye-odor :P
|+| Kiss My Corpse |+|
In light of the dark expectations, I bleed into your body. I won't blame your faults, but I'll steal them. You see, life is never not unfair. I'll giggle your gurgling hate-filled words once more, then...
I had over 250 fancy rats, hamsters and chinchillas when I was younger. I loved the curly rex (super loving), russian blue (highly intelligent) and hairless the best. I couldn't take it anymore as their lifespan is not long enough, it broke my heart every time they crossed over, which is why I switched to chinchillas. Back in the 90's I had a pair (twins) of curly rex rats that were black with white marks down their chests I named them Mulder and Scully as it looked like they were wearing little trench coats. I now have rodent paw prints on my shoulder (as if sitting on my shoulder) in memory of all my little luvs, they are always with me.
The brother looked just like Boo but had a perfect lightening bolt on his forehead. HE was beautiful. I have been breeding for a year almost two. I'm also starting rescue work and education work (for schools and children). 
. He was Zocquiel's uncle.
Haha. I think it just takes time with each animal, since you show them love they will love you back.
