Author Topic: WE got a new ratlet. (Read 1379 times)

sixpack · « **on:** February 20, 2010, 10:07:33 AM »

Yes, I know lots of folks are very squeamish about rats. But we aren't. We got a new guy yesterday from Petsmart. I'd been looking at him for a week. We were headed out of town to see my FIL, who won't be with us much longer, so didn't want to get him last week. We got back from WI yesterday. I needed some milk but decided to go and see if he was still there. YEAH he was. We named him Dude. He is about 5 or 6 months old and probably already close to a pound!!! He is a dumbo hairless and very wrinkly. He is still scared but before long he'll be one of the fam.

I wish I could post a piccy of him but can't. But my avatar has a pic of him.

sixpack · « **Reply #1 on:** February 20, 2010, 03:21:37 PM »

yeah to Greygoose cuz now I can post pics of our 'cute to us' rat.

sixpack · « **Reply #2 on:** February 21, 2010, 07:37:53 AM »

wow, guess there are no rat lovers around here.

I guess I'll have to leave all of the 'cute awwwwwwws' to my rat forum friends........

Chunky · « **Reply #3 on:** February 21, 2010, 08:46:32 PM »

err.....

will it ever grow hair?

laa43 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 21, 2010, 09:21:42 PM »

please tell me there is not seriously a rat forum??????? lol

sixpack · « **Reply #5 on:** February 22, 2010, 07:38:51 AM »

Quote from: Chunky on February 21, 2010, 08:46:32 PM

err.....

will it ever grow hair?

nope he is genetically hairless.

Quote

Posted by: laa43
Insert Quote
please tell me there is not seriously a rat forum??????? lol

yes there are quite a few. At one point I was active in 4. Presently I am only active in one. There is even fancy rat registry just like the AKC for dogs with competitions awarding the rats/owners that conform to type the best. There are all types of rats--Dude is a hairless dumbo. Dumbo rats ears are larger and sit on the side of the head. Other rats are called top eared. Siamese rats are also quite pretty. Just think siamese cat and put the markings and coloring on a rat and there you go.

There are also rat breeders and getting a rat from a breeder you are put on a wait list. Dude is from Petsmart though. He is our 10th rat to date but our only one right now.

Chunky · « **Reply #6 on:** February 22, 2010, 04:47:38 PM »

Quote from: sixpack on February 22, 2010, 07:38:51 AM

Quote from: Chunky on February 21, 2010, 08:46:32 PM
err.....

will it ever grow hair?

nope he is genetically hairless.

Well I'll have to remember that next time I'm in the market for a hypoallergenic rat!

He's a unique little fella. :)

sixpack · « **Reply #7 on:** February 22, 2010, 05:35:37 PM »

sorry chunk--rats fur isn't the allergenic part. It is the protein in their urine.

but yes he is unique.

MissJennayee · « **Reply #8 on:** February 25, 2010, 04:54:01 PM »

Oh he's cute! I have 5 hairless guys ( and girls ) and they're too sweet.

We had an 'oops' not too long ago, and got Mila :) she's a hairless dumbo rattie like her mama. She's fuzzy in the picture, but now she's COMPLETELY bald except for a patch on her face

sixpack · « **Reply #9 on:** February 25, 2010, 05:53:39 PM »

Quote from: MissJennayee on February 25, 2010, 04:54:01 PM

Oh he's cute! I have 5 hairless guys ( and girls ) and they're too sweet.
We had an 'oops' not too long ago, and got Mila :) she's a hairless dumbo rattie like her mama. She's fuzzy in the picture, but now she's COMPLETELY bald except for a patch on her face

oh she is terribly cute!!!! Gotta love the nekkids

And yeah another rat lover!!!

So far Dude wants to stay in his cage. WE leave it open all day and have to force him to come out. lol. I know he'll get better but it is vexxing. My daughter took him out and has him sitting with her on the chair. He is afraid to jump and is forced to get some lovin'.

sixpack · « **Reply #10 on:** February 25, 2010, 05:55:22 PM »

oh and Mila has the markings for a hooded rat doesn't she? Hmmm very interesting--the markings but hairless.

We had a double rex named Moe. He was usually hairless. He mostly kept a patch of hair on his head.

MissJennayee · « **Reply #11 on:** February 25, 2010, 11:31:00 PM »

My oldest rat was like that when we first got her, except she would get pretty snippy when I tried to hold her, then again - she was pregnant and I had NO idea. Definitely a huge surprise a few days later, but she eventually warmed up to us when the babies got older, no sooner though!
You're right! she does have those markings because she is half double rex and half hairless

Her dad, Brutus, was the double rex and his marking were just like hers but he was covered in almost a thick like fuzz and his head still had long fur :) Disney, her mama is a hairless dumbo and looks a lot like dude, same color and ears

she's a perfect mix.
Love my ratties though, most people are very shocked when I tell them I have 5 but they make awesome pets.

sixpack · « **Reply #12 on:** February 26, 2010, 07:45:07 AM »

yes they do make awesome pets.

We had 4 females---sox and chops were evil biters. We also had Inky and Oreo, angel ratlets. In Feb '07 we got 5 littermate boys--Moe, Cosmo, Cadoo, Ziggy and Jinx. Cadoo was the last of the 5 and died this past June. So we took a break from all the death and heartache. So Dude is a lone rat right now. I think, though, I'll get him a friend in a few weeks. The move to our house stressed him a bit and I think myco is trying to flare with him so wouldn't want to bring anymore in right now. So it is a wait and see.

Cooler · « **Reply #13 on:** February 26, 2010, 07:26:46 PM »

Sixpack,

We have a new hamster, a male that we call 'Hamish'. My wife has a spook about the tails that rats have, although if doesn't bother me. Hamsters don't have tails so she's OK with him.

Hamish was quite unsettled for about a week and then he started making a nest. What kind of cage do you keep Dude in? We have one with all kinds of tubes coming out so that Hamish has some territory to explore.

It's good having a little fellow in the house, and he comes when we call him (I think that's the cheese but it still feels friendly.

)

C.

laa43 · « **Reply #14 on:** February 26, 2010, 07:39:29 PM »

Quote

It's good having a little fellow in the house, and he comes when we call him (I think that's the cheese but it still feels friendly. )

That is toooooo cute!

sixpack · « **Reply #15 on:** February 27, 2010, 06:54:34 AM »

Quote from: Cooler on February 26, 2010, 07:26:46 PM

Sixpack,

We have a new hamster, a male that we call 'Hamish'. My wife has a spook about the tails that rats have, although if doesn't bother me. Hamsters don't have tails so she's OK with him.

Hamish was quite unsettled for about a week and then he started making a nest. What kind of cage do you keep Dude in? We have one with all kinds of tubes coming out so that Hamish has some territory to explore.

It's good having a little fellow in the house, and he comes when we call him (I think that's the cheese but it still feels friendly. )

C.

So you got a little hammie. very nice. Yes keep enticing the hammie dude, he'll get nice and friendly in no time. Lots of folks don't like the tails on rats. I think at first I was a bit squeamish but now it is part of the personality of it all. It is used to help them balance and the little hairs on the tail help with sensing things in the dark.

The cage he is in: I'll post a pic of it. Rats need large cages. The pic of the cage is when we had the nasty bitey girls in it.

But it is a ferret cage. Apparently it is big enough to hold 4 males. But I don't think I would put more than 2 or 3 in it. Males get big. I'll post a pic of the cage we used to hold our 5 littermate boys too.

We leave Dude's cage door open all day. He is free to come in and out. But at this point it seems he is a homebody. He isn't coming out much. Now some of our other rats, we'd have rats out all day.

Jorden_M · « **Reply #16 on:** March 21, 2010, 09:01:20 PM »

actually my wife an i are rat breeders/lovers. We are hoping to have a Roan litter in the near future. our current litter is a dumbo/rex cross. as far as other ratlets go we have 2 blues (dumbos) MANY rex (mostly verigated), few siamese, few roans, hopefully a few hairless in the near future. but your not alone lol.

sixpack · « **Reply #17 on:** March 22, 2010, 07:24:27 AM »

oh that is great Jorden.

Hairless are great. I love how warm they are.

We've had rexes too. One of our females, Oreo (passed away), was sooooo rexxy she looked like she had corn rows. OMG she was beautiful.

At some point the kids and I would like to get a siamese or two.

It think we'll just be keeping Dude as a lone rat. I know it isn't ideal but he already has an URI and on baytril. Plus he has a very dominant personality. We are concerned he'd beat the crap out of any cagemates. lol. Actually we had 5 littermate boys who shared that big cage I pictured. At 4-5 months, when they hit sexual maturity, they started bloody fighting. In the end only two got to live toghether. I had 4 separate living quarters for 5 rats. That was a pain.

window.watcher · « **Reply #18 on:** April 18, 2010, 05:21:15 PM »

oh my they are SOOO CUTE!!!!! I dont have any hairless but right now I have 18 little ratties (my rats had babies)! I love 'em :) Squeal :)

sixpack · « **Reply #19 on:** April 18, 2010, 05:52:43 PM »

18 oooo la la.

Do you belong to any rat forums? They are fun cuz you get to gush over all their ratties too. lol

window.watcher · « **Reply #20 on:** April 18, 2010, 06:12:02 PM »

oh yay! no im not but if you could suggest one I would LOVE to join. I love my ratties

invisible girl · « **Reply #21 on:** April 18, 2010, 09:53:07 PM »

We had mice not rats but when the oldest one died Jack described himself as 'the saddest boy on earth' so we're taking a break at the moment. Yes, the ratlets r gorgeous and now ur making me want pets again.

Breke · « **Reply #22 on:** April 20, 2010, 01:17:19 AM »

Aw, he's so cute. When did the love of rats start for you?

sixpack · « **Reply #23 on:** April 20, 2010, 07:18:03 AM »

In 2006. Although our first two rats, that belonged to my son, were mean bitey ones. They bit us until their last breaths.