We've had some additions to our little group. I know, most people don't like or understand rats but i posted them anyway. I prefer them to a lot of people I know.

Okay those are cute!

Have you named any of them yet, or do you wait til they have more of a noticeable personality (and fur?)?

I was going to ask if you breed and then resell them to the pet store but i imagine you probably make sure they have good homes.They are very cute and Mommy looks proud.

Awwww, babies. BTW, what do you call baby rats? Pups?

No, we usually name them after they get hair and their own identities. Then we name the one or two that we keep. In answer to Rod, we raise them, we have another batch coming in a weeks or so, then we trade them to our local pet store for rat food or something else. Ours are hand raised dumbo rats, and are never used for snake food. Ours are only sold for pets because we handle them and play with them as soon as their eyes are open. Our rats are known to be some of the best rats in the area. With this bunch we currently have 29 of them but 7 or 8 of this litter will go to the pet store. We usually keep one or two to keep their parents bloodline going. the dad of these is Stanley, a really big really gentle rat that wags his tail when petted and will follow me in the park if I put him on the ground. He's very special to us. Three of our males are old and won't live much longer so it won't be like horror movies with old people and rats running wild all over the house. Although having 40 rats all sitting on my shoulders is one of the neatest feelings I can think of.

Officially they're called pinks, but I think that's stupid. I prefer ratlets or ratishes.

I'll add an updated every few days. in five weeks they'll be old enough to venture out into the world on their own. Their mom and dad are both agoutis (a rat color) and we're anxious to see if any of this bunch will be.

I want a rat (or two)! I want some kind of pet that's not as high maintenance as a dog or bird, but not as big and free-roaming as a cat. And I have allergies. And rats are so cute. I've always wanted one after seeing The Abyss.

Can't wait to see the updates!

The only thing that keeps rats from being the perfect pet is their short lifespan. 3 to 4 years is a long life for a rat. 1 rat year = 30 people years.

The other isn't mommy. Wrong plumbing. It's a male I just got, I named him Ezekiel. He's 7 or 8 weeks old.

Radishes?


Can't wait!

Sounds like a really cool little dude!

not radishes, ratishes, my own term. Their dad, Stanley is a really big guy, one of the biggest we've ever had.
I'm out to do garden work all day.

lol I can't read sorry.
Can you define "big", like weights or anything, maybe some pics with a regular sized guy?

Sorry i got the plumbing wrong GMS.
I think pinkies is a dumb name for baby rats too.Ratishes sounds much better in my opinion.
Their metabolism must be pretty high to have a lifespan that quick.

Does that male have blue eyes!
Do you have one named Ben? (Willard)

So do you guys call yourselves the "Rat Pack"
Some younger folks here will not understand that remark i imagine.
The Rat Pack being Sammy Davis, Dean martin, and Frank Sinatra.

Was that referring to me

I caught that one

Pretty much anyone young enough to never have heard of any of these performers Willy.I wasn't trying to single out anyone.Forgive me if it came out that way.

No not at all, I just am decently sure I am one of the youngest (if not youngest) active members and I am proud of it!

I'll never ever ever name a rat ben or Willard. Those movies have given rats a bad name since they came out. Rat pack, no, but Someone recently called me 'the rat whisperer' because I can calm down crazy or excited ones when no one else can. That's a title I can live with. And Willy, Stanley weighs about a pound and a half. The average male (for us at least) is 12 to 14 ounces.

Rat whisperer... maybe I should change my ID. hmmmm?