I love rats. I really do. Ask me anything pet-rat related.

  • newtraditionalists@beehaw.org
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    10
    ·
    1 year ago

    Yay ratties!!! I had a pair growing up and the tales of my pet rats inspired my friend to get a pair of their own! Such cute and lovely animals. So smart and some of them can be very affectionate. More rat love is always a good thing in my book!

  • Novemberwind@beehaw.org
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    5
    ·
    1 year ago

    No question, just some more appreciation! My sister had two as a kid. I don’t remember much, just that they were really curious and really fun to have around.

    • szczur@kbin.social
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      5
      ·
      1 year ago

      “Best” is relative, but I guess the most wholesome is when I once forgot to lock the cage properly and went to sleep. One of my rats went straight to the bed and proceeded to cuddle, instead of wrecking havoc. It’s not that common for rat girls, but she did it anyway, my little champ. She spent all the night there. It was truly a bonding moment, especially since she was a very small ratto at a time and being a kid she’s supposed to rather eat the shit out of everything in the room (since socialization is often based on making them not destroy things with teeth)

    • chaos rat [he/him]@beehaw.orgOP
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      1 year ago

      I’ve currently got three of them, they are named Kiara (which is the one on my profile pic), Skye and Afum. They have diametrally different characters and behaviours at large, making quite a special team of three rodents. I did, in fact, teach them a few tricks like spinning, fetching and coming over when called by name, although I had no time to dedicate to make them do tricks. I’ve got a friend though, and he’s currently training a rat to open wallets and take money from the inside, which is frankly hilarious if you ask me.

    • szczur@kbin.social
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      1 year ago

      You know, it has an upside, though. For a rat it does matter not whether they live for 2 or 10 years, it’s their entire life. You know, a happy and content one. And if they unfortunately pass away, you could always give another one a chance to have a nice life too.

      • grahamsz@kbin.social
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        1 year ago

        Are rats social animals?

        We started out with 3 gerbils, but for the last couple of months we’re down to one (he’s about 3 1/4 years old) and I think he’s pretty lonely. Unfortunately he was the one of the three who most disliked human handling, and so i’m not sure he super enjoys when we take him out of his enclosure.

        He’s got his wheel and a huge enclosure all to himself, but he’s been noticeably less active since the others passed.

        I always wonder if our pets think we’re eternal beings or something, I’ve had my dog since she was a pup and now she’s old and i (from her perspective) have hardly changed.

  • BlendedRacer@kbin.social
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    2
    ·
    1 year ago

    Years ago we had 3 hooded wistar rats. I got them from the university animal house manager - swapped for a 6 pack of Guinness!

    • szczur@kbin.social
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      edit-2
      1 year ago

      You can raise a baby rat (although it doesn’t need to be a baby, too) found in the wild, because they are virtually the same as domesticated ones. At least here in Europe, where I live.

      The type of a rat you’re looking for is a “Norwegian Rat” or “Brown Rat”, which is the most common type in the wild.

      Generally speaking, there’s a saying that animal you rescued will try to pay that back in love.

        • cnnrduncan@beehaw.org
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          1 year ago

          If you’re somewhere that rats are native then you should leave them be, if the choice is between killing them to protect our native species or keeping them in nice conditions until they die of old age then I’d hardly call it kidnapping!

    • tjhart85@kbin.social
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      edit-2
      1 year ago

      Pet/fancy rats have gone through some breeding selection to try and weed out aggressive behavior (or at least bites). With that said, a wildie can be just as friendly, but you’ll want to be extra careful to try and curb negative behaviors.

  • off_brand_@beehaw.org
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    1 year ago

    Is there a world where I can keep a rat at the same time as cats? I want one so bad, but I also like cats.

    Typing this was literally interrupted with my two girlt getting into a fight so maybe not. :(

  • poVoq@slrpnk.net
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    edit-2
    1 year ago

    Yeah, cool pets. Just a pity that the typical ones are bred to get cancer and thus usually don’t live that long.

    • Communist@beehaw.orgM
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      4
      ·
      1 year ago

      I wish a breeder would focus on domesticating and shrinking gambian pouched rats.

      They don’t seem far off.

    • chaos rat [he/him]@beehaw.orgOP
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      True. The way I see it, though, is it’s their entire life for them. It doesn’t really matter. And one rat dying is an opportunity to provide a better life for another one. It’s morally correct and utilitarian, I think!