Ratties

[Ashling]

I took my boyfriend out last night to a lovely restaurant to celebrate our 14 months (I had prawns and scallops- YUM!). Little did he know it was all a ploy to get to the pet shop! I wanted to have a look at the ratties- I have been talking myself out of getting rats for a while.

At the pet store, I was allowed to hold the baby ratties and they scrambled up my arms, snuggled into my scarf and nestled in my hair. There were fawn colored and silver colored 7 week old males with bright faces and sparkling eyes They were all so friendly and sweet- having been held since the day they were born.

Sooo tempting... even worse was when my bf said he'd buy me two right then and there if I wanted them, but I decided against an impulse buy. He still had to drag me out of the store when it was time to go...

Please talk me out of this? Please don't tell me about your experiences with rats...

[Andie]

I got bitten on the wrist by an adult pet rat and I now have a scar which is 4 cm long! I needed stitches but they don't stitch animal bites unless they HAVE to so it took ages to heal and got infected anyway. And It really really hurt and I couldn't move my thumb properly for a month.

Helping?

[Emmilyy]

GAHH!

WHY!?

I've JUST forgotten about them (kinda!) i just read the title of this thread and BAM! the ideas in my head again. I saw some SWEET babies at the pet store the other day, too. Fell in love with a dumbo eared!

And, just because i'm not happy with you right now:

GET SOME GET SOME GET SOME GET SOME. GO OUT RIGHT NOW, GET THE SUPPLIES, SET UP A HOME FOR THEM, AND GO PICK SOME BABIES UP! NOW!

They sound so sweet and cute, *I* wouldn't be able to resist if i were you. i'd want them home right away to squish and cuddle and play with!

Come on, i know they're caalliinggg to you, am i right??

Oh, and pictures are expected ! (:

[Emmilyy]

Originally Posted by Andie

I got bitten on the wrist by an adult pet rat and I now have a scar which is 4 cm long! I needed stitches but they don't stitch animal bites unless they HAVE to so it took ages to heal and got infected anyway. And It really really hurt and I couldn't move my thumb properly for a month.

Helping?

Wow, I've NEVER met a mean rat. they've all been sweet and loving, and begging for cuddles (:

Am *I* helping?

[Andie]

This rat was a little PITA! It was all sweet and nice one second then BAM.

I am so scared of them now. I work at a pet store and someone else has to sell the rats!!

I was thinking about bringing home a baby for a couple of weeks to get myself over this fear....

Oh Mel I think it is a hopeless cause!!

[Emmilyy]

What are you waiting for? You should both bring home some babies!

but, Andie, i don't recommend a single rattie - it wouldn't be fair and the baby'd be unhappy ):

come on you two, you know you waaanntt too..

[Greycloud]

Ok, this should help. I was laying in bed almost asleep. Suddenly I heard this very strange growling nois coming from under my bed. Slowly, slowly the covers started to be pulled under the bed. I was scared to death but new I had to look. As I leaned over the side and pointed my flashlight I saw something huge scurry across the floor. OMG I screamed and jumped back up. Then I heard a licking sound and as I slowly turned there on the other side of my bedsat a 6 foot hairless rat. He was foaming at the mouth and smiling at me like I could be delicious. He had huge green teeth and as I screamed and started to jump from the bed I felt something sharp grab into my ankle. I tried to slap it off and pull my self from the bed to ru.......

[maggy]

Don't mean to be a downer....I love ratties, we had two Moriarty and Zoe, who we loved like mad but, are rats and little birds (particularly) compatable? I have read here and there about rats attacking birds at rest in their cages, pulling legs off and that sort of thing. If it was me I wouldn't buy a rat for my birds safety. ....Sorry all I can undestand the urge to get one, two or...

[Abby]

Umm, yeah, we had a sulpher (GSC2) who got bitten on the foot when she landed on the rat cage. Blood everywhere, hysterical cockatoo, hysterical rat and me trying to stop the 'too from bleeding while finding the betadine and avoiding getting stitches from hysterical 'too. Happened in a second and this was a rat who was so laid back and well socialised.

I adore domestic captive bred rats (as opposed to the feral things outside), I find them amazingly intelligent (unlike mice who I find just stupid) but just need to be really careful in relation to the birds.

[Ashling]

HAHAHA Greycloud you are hilarious! Look, honestly I'm not too fond of 6 foot hairless wild rats that are foaming at the mouth, but that image is just so different from the fuzzies at the petshop! I appreciate the effort you went to though I really do!

Andie, I wish that helped; but I had 2 rats that never bit. I was nabbed by a mouse once- their teeth slice right through your skin like butter! That really does sound awful though.

Emily you are terrible :P ...the thought hasn't left my mind since it got in there. But I am trying to be responsible.

I have heard the horror stories- birds being picked through bars and eaten. Legs bitten etc. There are also the nice stories like that one posted recently on here where a rat and bird were buddies. There is also my own experience where I had 10 birds and 2 rats in one room for years without problems. I know accidents happen (that accident sounded horrible, Mary!) but I guess you just have to plan things and remember that animals act on instinct. I would double wire the tank's roof and the sides are glass so they are bird safe. My birds come first so that risk would be the thing that most sways me. This is really helpful thanks everyone. Any more reasons I should not get them? What about the smell?