Reptile & Amphibian Forums

That's right. I finally felt sympathy for the last rat to get devoured by my Colombian Rainbow Boa, and am now planning on getting two rats just for the sake of keeping as pets. However, I plan on getting the ones sold at a reptile expo and was wondering if you guys knew anything about how feeders are as pets(ie. are they not as healthy? is something in the genetics that make them get sick or something? basically...is this a bad idea to buy them for pets?). In case you are wondering...I plan on going to the reptile expo in Hamburg,PA, so if you can recommend where I can get healthy feeders for pets from that expo, please let me know! Thanks in advance.

-----
Scott

Reptiles
--------
1 Colombian Rainbow Boa (Rocky)
1.0 Ball Python (Sultan)
0.1 California Kingsnake (Leota)
1.0 Eastern Painted Turtle (Yugi)
0.1 Red/Gold Bearded Dragon* (Irwin, R.I.P.)

Other
-----
1.0 Betta Fish (Tyrone)

They're all the same rats, so as long as they are healthy they hould make excellent pets. The only difference really would be how much exposure they have to humans and whether or not they are afraid of handling.

>>That's right. I finally felt sympathy for the last rat to get devoured by my Colombian Rainbow Boa, and am now planning on getting two rats just for the sake of keeping as pets. However, I plan on getting the ones sold at a reptile expo and was wondering if you guys knew anything about how feeders are as pets(ie. are they not as healthy? is something in the genetics that make them get sick or something? basically...is this a bad idea to buy them for pets?). In case you are wondering...I plan on going to the reptile expo in Hamburg,PA, so if you can recommend where I can get healthy feeders for pets from that expo, please let me know! Thanks in advance.
>>

Feeder rats, breeder fancy pet rats... same thing. People who breed strictly for pets and fancy colors sometimes actually have less healthy animals as they don't cull the weak...more genetic mutations linked to fatal genes and such in the bloodlines. Feeder rat breeders tend to cull pretty well leaving stronger lines since they aren't breeding for any particular trait other than maybe big and meaty. There may be a difference in the animals' over all behavior.. fancy breeders spend time socializing their babies whereas feeder breeders really don't have that time to acclimate babies to being handled. So... if you buy feeder rats for pets you may have to spend more time getting it to feel safe around you.
-----
_____

PHWyvern

>>>>I plan on going to the reptile expo in Hamburg,PA, so if you can recommend where I can get healthy feeders for pets from that expo, please let me know! Thanks in advance.
>>>>
>>
>>

oh yeah... there is usually a breeder at that show that has some cute dumbos (the ones with the silly ears that hang low).... adorable. If I remember right... usually has a spot on the right side of the hall towards the very back.
-----
_____

PHWyvern

Thanks for the advice!
-----
Scott

Reptiles
--------
1 Colombian Rainbow Boa (Rocky)
1.0 Ball Python (Sultan)
0.1 California Kingsnake (Leota)
1.0 Eastern Painted Turtle (Yugi)
0.1 Red/Gold Bearded Dragon* (Irwin, R.I.P.)

Other
-----
1.0 Betta Fish (Tyrone)