Any Demo-rattie lovers out there?

[BloodyWilliam]

I'm really interested in getting some rats for pets when I get an apartment next year. Are any DUers here rat-owners or rat-lovers? If so, I'd love to see pics! :)

They just seem great... friendly, intelligent, cute, relatively easy to take care of without being "aquarium" pets. Any tips or stories to share?

[Lostmessage]

1. I use to have Hamsters and Mice

I know where you can get some free ones but you might have to tame them.

Have you ever seen the movie Willard?

[burrowowl]

2. I had a nice white rat

her name was Nephertiti and on Friday nights when dad had some beer, he would put some in the cap and she would dunk her letttuce in it.
The cats were her buddies as well as the dog. Some hyperactive undisciplined little brat ran over her with his tricycle on purpose and killed her. I wonder what became of him, if he grew up to be a gangster or something.
Hopefully there are some democ-rats out there to be your friends.
Mice are not as smart.

[stevedeshazer]

3. Get a same-sex pair

Preferably females from the same litter. Play with them often. Clean the cage often and use pine shavings.

Be prepared, they rarely live beyond two years, by then you'll really be attached to them. Our two sister rats lived about three years.

Also remember that not everyone feels all cuddly about rats! My mom wouldn't come in our house.

That said, they make great pets.

[Sugarbleus]

4. I adore ratties...

I had one, then three for a couple years. I bought the first rattie for my grandson but ended up falling for the little beastie myself. They are smart but they don't live very long: 3-4 years.
Instead of going into all the tips and tricks here, I'd recommend you visit a Rattie club on MSN called "DerbyWorld" or Derbyworld2. There are many such animal clubs on the web that can give you all sorts of info on how best to raise and enjoy them. Most of the sites are participatory/forum rich so you can ask questions of long-time owners of rats and mice.

Good Luck <:3( )~~~~