The Rat Lovers Club! ~MODS PLEASE LOCK!

[briannna27]

Form to join
Username: JessannaHope
Have you ever had a rat?: Sadly, no. My mom would never let me have one. But I love them anyway!!

[rachaelandrats]

Rats would hardly die out within a few years. As it is, there are far too many breeders, there's no doubt about that. But there's also thousands in rescues, people with accidental litters, pet shop rats (not agreeing with that, but they will always sell them won't they). As for longer lifespan, there's a group of 'really good' breeders in the UK right now breeding for a longer lifespan as well.... but you can't change rats as an animal. Breeding two apparently healthy rats doesn't equal babies with a long lifespan. Pet rats used to live longer than they do now, that just shows that all these breeders who all say the same thing... breeding for health, colour, lifespan.... that doesn't mean that they live any longer... can't change the biology of rats.....

Shadisin, everytime I check this thread you seem to be rehoming one of your pets... if you get them, they are yours, you have to care for them. How exactly did you introduce him to your other boy?

[ShadiSin]

Rats would hardly die out within a few years. As it is, there are far too many breeders, there's no doubt about that. But there's also thousands in rescues, people with accidental litters, pet shop rats (not agreeing with that, but they will always sell them won't they). As for longer lifespan, there's a group of 'really good' breeders in the UK right now breeding for a longer lifespan as well.... but you can't change rats as an animal. Breeding two apparently healthy rats doesn't equal babies with a long lifespan. Pet rats used to live longer than they do now, that just shows that all these breeders who all say the same thing... breeding for health, colour, lifespan.... that doesn't mean that they live any longer... can't change the biology of rats.....

Shadisin, everytime I check this thread you seem to be rehoming one of your pets... if you get them, they are yours, you have to care for them. How exactly did you introduce him to your other boy?

I know - I probably seem like a horrible person..

I introduced them through playtime, and, while Rosco was down Oliver was his cuddle buddy. I got them from the same place, they were originally together and got along fine.. I really don't know what happened, as soon as Rosco got 'better' he just snapped. He's even snapping at me and nipping at me. He's a 'lowly' feeder, something ALL of my rats are.. and he looks to be at least a year and a half old. Oliver is younger, and I honestly think they got him mixed up with a large rat, he looks to be a medium compared to Rosco's huge size next to him. All my girls are small.

We've settled everything with my girls, they all get along now and none of them are going anywhere. They've all been put on medication for the random outbreak of URI they had.. I think it's the bedding.. which we've already changed and threw out.. though Shark IS still getting old and I feel it'll be her time any day now.

We're rehoming my birds (I've had them for over two years now, it's just my health has declined and I Really don't have the time to work with them. being 'special needs' birds they need that extra time..) and we ARE making the bird room into a fur-room for the rats, mice and maybe even rabbits if we can build a cage that'll fit in it. I'm getting all new cages for my rats.. HUGE barred ones with tons of levels for them to play on..

we're having family problems so I don't know when all of this will happen.

as for Rosco, I Really don't think he'll calm down towards Oliver. I put him in the cage for a moment to see how he'd do and he instantly attacked Oliver again. I'm not having that.. poor Oli is traumatized enough as it is.

[tinydoodles]

Just FYI, I was Boundingfox when I joined the club.

I made my rattle a hammock this morning, and she loves it <3 honestly I'm a bit surprised. The last time I tried giving her a hammock she was afraid of it, and she didn't like the way it shook.

~Snickers

[Centri]

Just FYI, I was Boundingfox when I joined the club.

I made my rattle a hammock this morning, and she loves it <3 honestly I'm a bit surprised. The last time I tried giving her a hammock she was afraid of it, and she didn't like the way it shook.

~Snickers

I made my boys a hammock today as well. I had to hand stitch most of it, since the sewing machine broke down
It is really big, 80*50 cm. It has to be to reach across the furet tower. It also has a smaller pouch on the underside. They have hardly used the hammock at all, only the babies sleep there regularly

[WindO]

can i join?

[LadyCrowsong]

Rats would hardly die out within a few years. As it is, there are far too many breeders, there's no doubt about that. But there's also thousands in rescues, people with accidental litters, pet shop rats (not agreeing with that, but they will always sell them won't they). As for longer lifespan, there's a group of 'really good' breeders in the UK right now breeding for a longer lifespan as well.... but you can't change rats as an animal. Breeding two apparently healthy rats doesn't equal babies with a long lifespan. Pet rats used to live longer than they do now, that just shows that all these breeders who all say the same thing... breeding for health, colour, lifespan.... that doesn't mean that they live any longer... can't change the biology of rats.....

Shadisin, everytime I check this thread you seem to be rehoming one of your pets... if you get them, they are yours, you have to care for them. How exactly did you introduce him to your other boy?

(I think I was first milliemouse when I joined here and then Gerbille Rattus. I rarely pop in here nowadays...)

I've had over ten rats. They've all come from the pet store and you know what? They haven't lived very long lives and quite a few ended up with tumors. But, there's only one rat breeder in my area (at least as far as I know) and so when I get rats in the future I'm going to that breeder. I want healthier rats and more options in color too. And my parents would NEVER let me get a rat from the UK just so its from a breeder (I'm in the middle of the US).
Also, there are rarely rats in the humane societies here to rescue.
And, yes, pet stores will always sell rats. But, there will also always be snake owners who want to feed their reptiles. Now, I hate snakes. I wish they'd all die and/or disappear. But the fact is some people love them and they do need to eat too. And it just so happens, they eat rats, which owners buy at pet stores.
And so long as I have pet rats, that's fine, let other people's pets eat. Snakes eat rats in the wild anyway.

As for rat biology: yes, breeding does work to change that. Just look at dogs. They came down from wolves. Short wolf after short wolf led to little bitty dogs, while big wolf to big wolf led to bigger dogs. The same was true for coat color, personality (I know all personalities come in all breeds, but, for example: America breeds gentler Dobermanns than other places), features, and yes: longevity. Breed long-living dogs together long enough and you'll get longer living dogs. The same is true for rats.
Of course sometimes there are recessives that lead to, say a random short-dog in a group of tall dogs. Those happen, but still.
This is all basic genetics/biology.

[Centri]

Just FYI, I was Boundingfox when I joined the club.

I made my rattle a hammock this morning, and she loves it <3 honestly I'm a bit surprised. The last time I tried giving her a hammock she was afraid of it, and she didn't like the way it shook.

~Snickers

I made my boys a hammock today as well. I had to hand stitch most of it, since the sewing machine broke down
It is really big, 80*50 cm. It has to be to reach across the furet tower. It also has a smaller pouch on the underside. They have hardly used the hammock at all, only the babies sleep there regularly

....aaand now it's been chewed through

[Ilish]

Form to join
Username: Ilish
Have you ever had a rat?: Yes! Too many. There was Missy, Muffin, Sparky, Whisper, Squeaker, Cookie, Oreo, all of Squeaker's babies, and my current trio: Munchie, Eden, and Kia.

Munchie is black with a white belly and forehead markings. Eden is cream with white on her belly and forehead. Kia is all brown. I'm going to be upgrading their cage to a four story ferret one soon.

[Regy]

My New Rescue Rats
Left to right
Alpha- Cinnamon Hooded
Mad Rat- Mink Hooded
Gryphon- Champagne Hooded
Feo- Silver Fawn Over Marked Hooded
Lamia- Dove Over Marked Hooded

ALL FEMALE

This photo was when they had just arrived at my home.
all have been separated, As they are looking pregnant.

Alpha Had 10 babies on 5/7/12
Lamia Had 10 babies on 2/7/12

They Arrived Pregnant. as where they came from they were kept with their brothers/father

I Took them all on as i have the room for all of them. as i moved out to my partners house and we have no rats.

295448_10150925933242712_1726700699_n.jpg (99.36 KiB) Viewed 25 times