Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I had to put down my last remaining rat almost a week ago, I have never had such a problem with an animals death =( She went from a shy rat who I never saw, to my best friend who never left my side. She followed me everywhere and hung out in my purse when we went places.

So yesterday I got two new rats, we had a new shipment in and there was one female whos been there forever who I really wanted. I got her and a little boy =)

Never have I missed such companionship, and I have horses!! They are so unconditional (and dont give me black eyes like my hot headed mare

I have never had a male, its so funny to see the difference!! The female sits on the male and grooms him, then starts jumping up and down on him. He is snuggled right under my ear currently, her on top of him of course

There names are Winchester and Colt, aka Winnie and Colton, a previous rat had been Kalashnicov so I had to keep up the theme. Regular hooded rats, our local breeder doesn't get fancy.

How did I live 4 days without rats again?!

Congrats on your new pair of rats. Can't wait to see pictures. But I wanted to point out as well that with a male and female housed together, they are going to breed...unless that female is old enough to be too old to have babies.

If you already have plans in effect in the case of babies, that's fine...
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PHLdyPayne

LOL, im sorry, it didnt occur to me to mention he is neutered =) I breed animals all day long at work, would rather come home and play with two ratties then having to care for MORE pregnant ladies and babies My fiance does want to breed, but not for a couple of years when we have time, energy, money and SPACE.

they are soooo adorable, I love these guys! They have started coming out more, the other day I put away Colton, he turned around and ran right back to me! My cat has been hovering around him, so i don't think thats helping in their shyness


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1 bearded dragon (m)
2 leopard geckos(f&m)
1 california tree frog(m)
1 california tarantula(?)
2 rosy boas (mid baja and mexican)(m&m)

2 hooded rats(f&m)

1 thoroughbred(m)
1 breeding stock paint(f)

1 fiance(that is just as crazy to support my animals!)

Btw, Winnie is on top and Colton is on the bottom in the 2nd picture =) Winnie is more white with a black head, whereas Colton has tons more black in him.

I must taste entirely good right now (haven't showered yet haha) because Colton licked my face all over then licked my eyeball, gross ratty O.o
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1 bearded dragon (m)
2 leopard geckos(f&m)
1 california tree frog(m)
1 california tarantula(?)
2 rosy boas (mid baja and mexican)(m&m)

2 hooded rats(f&m)

1 thoroughbred(m)
1 breeding stock paint(f)

1 fiance(that is just as crazy to support my animals!)

Nice looking rats Glad to hear the male is neutered, the thought did cross my mind that you may have had him neutered, but its not done often to my knowledge though I haven't researched it much.

Rats are such interesting pets, its a pity they are so short lived...if they lived 15 years or more, they would make far better pets for the elderly than the high strung 'toy' dogs they tend to keep and have no control over.
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PHLdyPayne

I didn't know that, our local Petco (barf, horrible store here!!) sells unneutered, but the store I work at (that I have been going to since I was a child) has always sold neutered. I thought neutered was common But what do I know, I have always gone to the same pet store!

You know, that is so true. I know so many older people that get toy dogs then end up giving them away because they trip you, bark, poop all over, etc.

Well, I added a new girl to my "collection". I sold a tailless to a customer, seemed like a great home. They came back a week later with complaints about her and worrying, so we took her in. It was clear NOTHING was wrong, she was probably skittish from their cats, she is a sneezer (no URI) and we couldn't confirm that she was blind because she is great at using her senses. I called them back a week later, told them nothing was wrong and she was either ready to go home or the owner offered them a new rat at no cost (she really liked the tailless.) They didn't want her anymore, she didn't meet their last rats expectations, they just wanted us to take her back.

This whole time I would walk around with her on my shoulder and snuggle her, totally fell in love. It angered me that someone could act like that, but I soon realized that it could be my gain. I started to pitch the idea of taking her to my fiance, and he quickly said he wanted her (before I was even done, lol.)

So 2 days later when my boss came back in, I asked her if I could have her and she said yes =)

We do think she is blind, but she is very good about using her senses and takes deliberate steps rather then jumping around haphazardly like my other goons. She fits right in, despite having no tail (Winnie couldn't get over that one), and being half the size of the others. She is a total cuddler, doesn't like exploring as much as the others.

You snooze, you loose, my treasure =)
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1 bearded dragon (m)
2 leopard geckos(f&m)
1 california tree frog(m)
1 california tarantula(?)
2 rosy boas (mid baja and mexican)(m&m)

2 hooded rats(f&m)

1 thoroughbred(m)
1 breeding stock paint(f)

1 fiance(that is just as crazy to support my animals!)