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Post by Bean on Nov 6, 2011 19:53:00 GMT
Can anyone recommend any good websites for learning about rats? I'm just wanting to learn some general stuff about their general needs, and things like whether boy pairs get along as well as girl pairs etc as I don't have the foggiest at the moment!
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Post by 3piggles on Nov 7, 2011 18:40:53 GMT
Wish I could help, but only have friends with ratties. Hope you get some good info!!!
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Post by jolovespiggies on Nov 8, 2011 15:16:19 GMT
I would love a ratty - good luck with your search and please let us know when you have the little chaps.
Hugs
Jo xx
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Post by Bean on Nov 9, 2011 13:13:41 GMT
Thank you both!
I expect once we make the decision to go ahead (not this year, definitely) we will let a couple of local rescues know we are on the lookout, so I'm sure they will be able to fill in any gaps we have before we get any.
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Post by anaira on Nov 9, 2011 21:42:38 GMT
I know goosemoose.com has a great forum; but I don't know of any overseas websites.
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Post by Bean on Nov 10, 2011 9:17:39 GMT
Thanks, it's more information sites I'm looking for rather than forums. I have found a couple that seem okay but it's hard to know when you have nothing to reference the info against!
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Post by anaira on Nov 13, 2011 1:39:55 GMT
Ha, true! You could check out ratclub.org, it's a great kiwi site. Also, complete idiot that I am, I forgot about The Dapper Rat which is one of the most awesome rat sites ever.
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Post by lonestarpiggies on Nov 14, 2011 0:03:41 GMT
I had ratties about 10 years ago and loved them. They're great pets. Hub couldn't get past the tails, but what does he know, lol. I'd love to get dumbo rats some day, love the ears!
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Post by Bean on Nov 19, 2011 9:29:04 GMT
Oh they are cute aren't they! I've not really ever held any rats - hope I don't get jittery about the tails as a lot of people seem to say that haha!
Thanks for the links annierahrah - I am feeling more prepared already!
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Post by anaira on Nov 23, 2011 4:54:16 GMT
I'd love to get dumbo rats some day, love the ears! *stares coldly and icily at Lovestar and grumbles about overseas fancy markings* Don't taunt me! Treen, some people find the tails take getting used to, but I actually love rat tails. If you get babies, the tails will be lovely and soft, and you won't notice it as they gradually roughen up.
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Post by Bean on Nov 23, 2011 9:18:20 GMT
A few people seem to think the boy bits in unneutered males can take a bit of getting used to too?!
What's the story with overseas fancy markings? Is it similar to pig stuff where physical characteristics are bred at a cost to general health, or did you get called Dumbo at a school?!
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Post by Canadian Comforts on Nov 23, 2011 16:11:06 GMT
I love rats. Sadly when I moved back to Alberta 9 years ago I had to give up my two beautiful girls. Alberta is "rat free" even though I've seen rats from time to time. There is a huge fine if you get caught with a pet rat here. I told hubby that when we move to Saskatchewan I am getting some ratties. I think somewhere I might have a photo of two of them.
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Post by Canadian Comforts on Nov 23, 2011 16:16:51 GMT
Oh found two photos, not the best but two of them. Mou (named such because I kept calling her a mouse... I would stop at Mou so it stuck.) Molly (don't remember why I named her molly.)
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Post by anaira on Nov 23, 2011 22:00:25 GMT
Well, for some people, yes Treen. Of course, neutering takes care of that, and scent marking, if your squeamish!
We don't have dumbos here, and they're so cute, I want one! We only have 11 colours, and five different markings, with two of those very rare. We possible have another marking popping up, and we do have another coat variety, too; a long haired one, but there aren't many of them, and they aren't available to just anyone yet. Plus, since I don't adopt from breeders, it's highly unlikely I'd ever get one, since the breeders are being so careful about irresponsible people getting hold of them.
Erin, Mou was very cute!
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Post by piggylove on Nov 24, 2011 5:25:14 GMT
I am definitely partial to my girl rats. The boy's bits just really get to me! I don't think I'd ever want to hold them! Rats are such wonderful little pets. They have such diverse personalities. The only hard part is their exceptionally short lifespan. This has some pretty good information: www.ratsrule.com/ratcare.htmlOne thing that is very different from guinea pigs is that rats love to climb. So whereas you would want a big flat cage for the pigs, the taller and more ledges you can get will make rats very happy. My rats have always been extremely social with each other. At my peak, I had 6 females living together in a huge cage. They all got along beautifully and obviously enjoyed each other's company tremendously. We have lots of different kinds of rats here. I never owned a dumbo, but boy are they cute!! I think my hairless rat was my favorite, but she did have a lot of skin issues. She was scratched easily when playing with the others and one of her pores got infected causing a huge cyst that required surgery. I don't know if it's a coincidence, but my 2 hooded rats have been by far the friendliest to me. Hooded rats are the ones with the white bodies and and black head.
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Post by curlybear69 on Dec 21, 2011 3:02:07 GMT
www.fancyratsforum.co.uk/ Love rats. I`ve got two dumbos girls called fidget and smudge, and i`ll be getting two more girls off my niece(accidental litter).
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Post by 3piggles on Dec 21, 2011 14:15:56 GMT
Glad you love your ratties! I'm sure the two new ones will be happy to have a great forever home.
That link took me to a page on a forum, but no explanation as to why I would want to go there.
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Post by lonestarpiggies on Dec 21, 2011 14:26:16 GMT
www.fancyratsforum.co.uk/ Love rats. I`ve got two dumbos girls called fidget and smudge, and i`ll be getting two more girls off my niece(accidental litter). Love the names! Baby ratties, how fun. Will they live with your current 2 or in a different cage?
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Post by curlybear69 on Dec 21, 2011 15:21:53 GMT
Glad you love your ratties! I'm sure the two new ones will be happy to have a great forever home. That link took me to a page on a forum, but no explanation as to why I would want to go there. oops sorry, well treen was asking for info on rats, before i got mine i visited a couple of rat forums but prefered that one so i put a link up .
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Post by curlybear69 on Dec 21, 2011 15:38:57 GMT
www.fancyratsforum.co.uk/ Love rats. I`ve got two dumbos girls called fidget and smudge, and i`ll be getting two more girls off my niece(accidental litter). Love the names! Baby ratties, how fun. Will they live with your current 2 or in a different cage? Hopefully they will live together, but i have a another rat cage if it doesnt work out. Heres fidget&smudge
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