First rat = very excited! (a little long, though =X)

Sun Feb 12, 2006 11:18 am

I got my first rat last wednesday as a birthday gift and I am more than in love with her.

It all started on Wednesday (der) which was my birthday. My boyfriend wanted to go to the nearby PJ's Pets, which, I am almost positive about this but whatever, is only in the new england region? I don't know, but either way it's one of those shady pet shops where they jsut do whatever with their animals. I know this isn't sounding pretty, but it gets better!
So we headed off in hopes of him getting this beautiful tarantula that he's wanted for a bit now. I'm not a big fan of them, but they are still pretty. I just don't touch them lol.
So anyways we headed off there and as i'm walking around looking at the cute and cuddely animals, I notice that the rats aren't there. I've wanted a rat for a looooooong time and since I was bored from him just playing with the tarantulas, I decided to ask where the rats were. They informed me that they only had 'feeder' rats. I was, of course, shocked but asked to see one nonetheless. So the lady went in back and brought out this adorable, albino girl that couldn't be any older then 10 weeks. She was itty bitty and a little skittish. I asked to hold her and when I held her in the crook of my arm she immediately settled down and curled up. I fell in love, and luckily, so did my boyfriend. It took a little convincing and we decided to buy her.
I know you aren't supposed to buy feeder rats, it only promotes the selling of more. I already knew this and I wasn't [i]completely[/i] looking to buy one, but I fell in love with her once I saw her. And the fact that the lady told me she was almost sold to a snake this morning didn't help matters D:

So the lady helped us out and we got everything - my boyfriend already had a 20 gallon tank at home so we decided to use that for now until we found a new cage. I don't like the idea of an aquarium for a rat, but anyways. We also got her bedding - a HUGE bag for 5 dollars. Later I found out it was cedar shavings. I was so annoyed. This isn't the first time I found a 'flaw' with their stuff. But it isn't that much of a waste for 5 dollars. We've decided to use some old shirts for now until we get some new stuff. But she was absolutely perfect. She curled up in my sweater the entire time going home. It was so adorable.

She lives at my boyfriends house (for now, I guess. Sad

) but he absolutely loves her so it's not like she's going neglected. He takes her out at least 2 hours every night and lets her hang out and what not. The sad thing about her is that we think she's blind. Is this common for albino rats? She gets along pretty well, but she is so calm when you hold her but so skittish when you randomly move. She'll sit if you move or if something unexpected happens and not move, as if she's trying to sense what's happening. At least she is eating all right. I hope if we get a multiple layer cage she'll be alright.

We do plan on getting at least one more in a month or two. She's so little though. Would it be okay to get a boy and neuter him?
Also, and this is a little random compared to everything else but, we think she might be pregnant. Her belly is rather round and her nipples are protruding. Of course, we've only had her a week and only time will tell. But the chances of her being pregnant are rather high. If she is, we plan on selling a majority of the babies. we would LOVE to keep them all, but we just really couldn't so at most we'd keep like one or two. It is sad. But I absolutely love her!!!

Sun Feb 12, 2006 11:59 am

What an adorable story.

My first two girls were beige hooded but one went blind long before I knew, the vet pointed it out to me. Not to worry about that, she'll do just fine.

*eep* pregnant?? LOL

Wow, when you get a first rat you really go all the way. wink

Fingers crossed she's not! And yes it would be great to get a boy and neuter him for her, but my own experience tends toward girls, and if you wait a bit (2 weeks?) to make sure she's not preggers, then maybe comsider two more girls. Three girls is more fun than a barrel full of monkeys. And you don't have to cut off anyone's ghoolies. Mr. Green

As far as selling the babies, good idea rather than giving them away, since "free" often says "feeder" to people. If she is pregnant, keep two of her daughters and adopt out (sell) the rest of the babies, and offer something like a free bag of Suebee's mix and a toy to go with each baby, that way no one will want them for feeders.

Check out the Adoptions forum here to see how to word an offer to keep feeder people away, and check out the Health etc forum for tips on "is my rat preggers" and all that may or may not go with that situation. You'll ahve a lot to read here at first but soon you'll be an old pro. Oh and check out the Cages etc forum for great DIY ideas, though it sounds like you already have great ideas for the future for her cage.

And welcome to RP.

Oh and PICCIES please! And what's her name?

_________________
Kate & the M.O.U.S.
If you saw a man drowning and you could either save him or photograph the event ... what kind of film would you use?
~ Anonymous

Sun Feb 12, 2006 6:45 pm

Thanks

I hope she's not pregnant. Her name is Kamille and I'll have some pictures up soon.
I am going to wait a little bit though before getting a few more rats, unless she gives birth. But i'll keep an eye on her and her belly =)

Tue Feb 14, 2006 4:27 am

If she does have a litter....maybe you could just keep 2 of her female babies.

Congratualtions on your new baby!

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~~Dawn~~