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Well here are a couple pictures of my new male breeder rat, Ben. He will be getting a girlfriend or two real soon. He is SO cute, and quite the big boy! LOL
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain
"It is better to be hated for what you are than loved for what you're not."
"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."
Ben is terribly photogenic - love the extended hand in the bottom photo!
Couple questions - how big is Ben's aquarium? Looks like a ten gallon, which really isn't enough room for a big rat boy (especially with the ladies!)
What kind of litter is Ben on right now? Remember that with pine and cedar bedding, the toxic fumes will be even more concentrated in an aquarium environment. Aspen is fine tho'!
And I didn't see any toys or a hidey hole for Ben to hang out in. I know, sounds silly, but rats *really* like to have somewhere dark to curl up and sleep. Small cardboard boxes are great, because Ben will be able to 'modify' his pad as needed, and you can toss the box when it gets too stinky. Or, most pet stores sell plastic igloos for small animals ('ratloos') that can be run through the dishwasher.
I know Ben is a breeder, but he is also an intelligent animal that needs an interesting environment to thrive and do well. Something to shred, maybe a hammock, a box to hide out in, chew sticks, nuts in the shell - mix it up a bit and Ben will be a handsome *and* happy rat!
Norvvy
P.S. Some links to check out to make Ben the *ultimate* handsome and happy rat:
http://www.rmca.org - lots of tips on diet, toys, and cage environments - but no feeder breeders are permitted to join the forums (just a friendly warning - yikes!)
http://www.dapper.com.au/ - even more tips (and some hysterical rat photos)
and as always, anything written by Jane Adamo - including how to make Ben a 'Back 40' out of sprouted wheatgrass (a fun project to do with kids!)
>>First and foremost, I would like to than you for the concern. Ben is my buddy now and I appreciate anyone trying to help him and me alike.
::Ben is terribly photogenic - love the extended hand in the bottom photo!
>>Thanks. He is quite the Photogenic one! Not to mention I just snapped these shots in the 3 minutes I had!
::Couple questions - how big is Ben's aquarium? Looks like a ten gallon, which really isn't enough room for a big rat boy (especially with the ladies!)
>>It is a 30 gallon long, I noticed that in the pictures it has a shadow that makes it look like the cage ends. The pictures were taken in a DARK room (all light was cut off in an attempt to get my fiance's BP to eat for her first time here). When I get him a girlie she will go in there with him, but if I get him 2, he will get a new place and the 2 girlies will be in there, with the occasional visit from Ol Ben.
::What kind of litter is Ben on right now? Remember that with pine and cedar bedding, the toxic fumes will be even more concentrated in an aquarium environment. Aspen is fine tho'!
>>It is aspen. I went to 4 different pet stores, and while the first one had Carefresh (what I wanted and will be getting when the aspen is gone) We were too tired (long day the day before and running around trying to find live pinkie mice) to go back so I got the aspen.
::And I didn't see any toys or a hidey hole for Ben to hang out in. I know, sounds silly, but rats *really* like to have somewhere dark to curl up and sleep. Small cardboard boxes are great, because Ben will be able to 'modify' his pad as needed, and you can toss the box when it gets too stinky. Or, most pet stores sell plastic igloos for small animals ('ratloos') that can be run through the dishwasher.
>> He has a food bowl, water bottle, and a vitamin/calcium icecream cone (that he LOVES) in there right now. I was looking for a hide for him, but I coulden't find one that would fit him at that store either, and again was too tired to go back. I have a perfect little box for him I just emptied today that will be going in there ASAP. He also gets to come out and play with me when he feels like it. (I put my hand in the tank, sometimes he comes up to it, in which case I pet him and take him out, sometimes he stays qurled up in the corner, in which case I leave him be.)
::I know Ben is a breeder, but he is also an intelligent animal that needs an interesting environment to thrive and do well. Something to shred, maybe a hammock, a box to hide out in, chew sticks, nuts in the shell - mix it up a bit and Ben will be a handsome *and* happy rat!
>>He is very much a pet as well as a breeder. I plan on getting him all kinds of goodies, toys, and treats, when I get the chance to. I like the healthy treats and chews (like his icecream cone) not only for his health, but if he is healthy, he is happy, then his babies will be healthy and happy (probably a few future pets 
) and my snake's food will be nutritous also. I LOVE to spoil my pets! I have a list of things to get him and his girls when I get them. Just need to wait for a paycheck.
Thanks again for the concearn and also for the links.
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"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain
"It is better to be hated for what you are than loved for what you're not."
"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."
Sounds great!
Toys! Cheap toys! More links. . .
http://www.dapper.com.au/toys.htm
http://www.ratsauce.com/toys_games/index.php
http://www.rmca.org/Articles/toys.htm
We can personally recommend the PVC drain-pipe hideaway,
those little balls with jingles made for ferrets, and hammocks
created from the legs of old jeans. And, of course, the Cardboard
Box (filled with something to shred!)
I have never had a rat who actually wanted to get wet, no matter
what was in the 'pool', but some people do have great success with
the whole 'diving for peas' thing 
Scritches to Ben!
norvvy
::Toys! Cheap toys! More links. . .
>>heheh thanks
::I have never had a rat who actually wanted to get wet, no matter
what was in the 'pool', but some people do have great success with
the whole 'diving for peas' thing
>>Thanks, I have never heard of that, but I will see how he reacts with the water and everything.
Thanks again for all the tips and links, and the concearn!
-----
"Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are." - Kurt Cobain
"It is better to be hated for what you are than loved for what you're not."
"You laugh at me because I am different; I laugh at you because you are all the same."
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