Raaats (big photos)

[Mottlenose]

*Rats.
Hot damn, I love rats. They're hella rad.
So, discuss.
I'm pretty sure not a lot of people here actually know a lot about them but even if you say something like "aww i like rats they're cute" or some random fact about them, then heck, post it here if you wanna. I just wanna rave for the most part, but heck, why not risk it and see if anybody else here actually knows about them?

I'm getting my first pair today; a mink self and a black self, if I didn't miss any marking on them. Emil (ih-meal) is going to be the mink, and Iris (eye-riss) is going to be the black. They're both girls, about 8 months, they are going to be in a Rat Manor. And I love them already. We're getting them at 3PM EST and they are faboo.




*by rats I mean the long-domestic, fancy rattus norvegicus/brown rat, not the newly-domestic gambian pouched rat, or packrats or whatever



If you're here to say something like "EW RATS STARTED THE PLAGUE" or "RATS ARE GROSS/STINKY/FILTHY/EVIL/OTHER INSULT', then leave. Right now. And guess what? Rats didn't start the plague. Fleas did--and even now, there is new evidence that the plague was airborne. Rats also are as intelligent as dogs, can learn more tricks than dogs quite actually, groom themselves more than cats, and are just so cute and sweet. If there is an aggressive rat, it's because some idiot damaged it, and guess what? They are never damaged beyond repair. You can fix them with immersion. It's people's fault for their bad reputation, and if you choose to believe it, then you should leave. They're like lower maintenance dogs. They are amazing. You don't have to agree with my opinion, but if you're gonna sit on this thread and complain about it, that's when it becomes an issue.

[ᴋᴇsᴛʀᴇʟ ★]

Wohooah you should post some pics of them when you get em! I'd love to see them
I've always wanted a rat myself but smaller animals just don't work in a house of three cats LOL.
At most I've had some gerbils and hamsters.
I don't know a whole load about diff breeds, tho I do know they're a lot more intelligent & ... uhh ... durable LOL than hamsters/gerbils. Trainable, right?
And maybe they poop on you less... ;_;

[Waterpelt]

I actually think rats are reeeaaaallly cute. Then again, I also adore mice and the other rodents. Haha, they're so cute!

I don't know a lot about rats, though, to be honest.

[Mottlenose]

Mm, a lot of people don't unless they actually get into owning them.
Just a few minutes until we start driving there...the excitement and worrying is gnawing at me. I don't know if I'm going to do immersion or trust training, and I'm on the fence with both. Blech.

[Waterpelt]

Good luck with them! I'd really love seeing some pictures, too!

[Deleted]

I have a rat character named Slippy, and he's an Essex rat (I think that's what it's called). I lurve little Slippy, and I hope I get a rat that looks like him. |D

[Mottlenose]

I don't know a lot about Essex rats, but I do know that most rats are pack animals and need to live in same-sex pairs (unless you have a neutered male or a spayed female with one of the opposite gender)...

aNYWAYS PHOTOS
they are a blue hooded (Emil) and a black berkshire (Iris)

[MINKSTAR::]

AHHHH RATTIES AAAAHHHHH
They're so cute! I hope you take good care of 'em.

[Mottlenose]

Yeah. First-time owner, though I've had experience from my sister's rats in the past, but hopefully I'll be a good owner.
Emil is a lot more shy than Iris. Iris doesn't mind being picked up or anything, but Emil prefers to sit somewhere and doesn't like human contact all to much.

[Deleted]

This link is an Essex Rat! ;D

[Otternose]

RAATTS probably the most misunderstood, cute little pets EVAH! i WANT one, but my parents say they are just filthy rodents

[Arcaii]

Ugh, I'm jealous. I love rats (I had God knows how many mice as a kid), and I've wanted a few for a couple years now, but we have six cats at my dad's and we can't have anything more than goldfish at my mom's.

I think if you did your proper research and took care to have a good environment for them, they should be just fine. I think they're a fair sight smarter than mice, so they do get bored pretty easily, so a lot of interaction will be required.

[Dapplefur]

Apr 14, 2014 0:39:55 GMT Mottlenose said:

Yeah. First-time owner, though I've had experience from my sister's rats in the past, but hopefully I'll be a good owner.
Emil is a lot more shy than Iris. Iris doesn't mind being picked up or anything, but Emil prefers to sit somewhere and doesn't like human contact all to much.

Animals aren't very comfortable in a new place quickly. Give them a little while to adapt. They change after awhile! If I were you I wouldn't be saying their personality and judging them just yet because they are probably scared.