Rats?

WolvesRaven · 06-10-2005, 12:34 PM

**babyboos** · 06-10-2005, 01:43 PM

Is Chester a hairless rat?

Is this unusual?

I haven't seen more than three hairless hamsters in my life.

Coco1 · 06-10-2005, 02:02 PM

Very cute! I've never owned one, probably never will, but they are cute! I'm just a sucker for pictures!

Emma · 06-11-2005, 06:06 AM

I think rats make great pets although I've never had any of my own, I've rat-sat various friend's pets, I'd love to have my own rats in a few years when I have the money/space to expand my menagerie.

Hairless rats aren't too uncommon in the pet market now, at least I've seen them around in several pet shops and even had one come into the consulting room whilst I was seeing practice. There's three different genes the can cause true hairlessness and also double rexes which are sold as hairless rats sometimes. The two types of true hairless rats commonly found as pets both have inherent health problems from what I've read - one type is athymic, and has a life expectancy of 9 months, the other type usually develop kidney failure around a year of age and have a life expectancy of about 18 months I think. They also have problems with allergies, lactation etc. Although if you read web pages from hairless rat breeders/pet enthusiasts, I have seen claims that they have no different life expectancy, health problems, can nurse offspring etc.

Where did you get Chester from, do you know what sort of hairless he is?

WolvesRaven · 06-11-2005, 12:39 PM

Chester is a true hairless. I got him from a woman I know. She took over her grandfather's pet store after he died and someone brought in a litter of hairless rats. I got to talk to the woman that brought them in. She said that she got a female from a breeder to breed with her male and the female carried the hairless recessive. Well it turns out her male carried the hairless recessive too. I guess no one wanted the hairless ones so she drove for three hours to bring them here. There were four hairless babies. She said the 7 haired ones and one hairless one had already found homes but she couldn't keep these four anymore because she didn't have the room. So I got one. Here's a few more pics.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...egroup3003.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...egroup2074.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...er/Chester.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...r/Chester3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...groupa1156.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v7...groupa1159.jpg

WolvesRaven · 06-11-2005, 12:43 PM

He does have problems with allergies. We had to switch beddings when he came here because he was allergic to this.

Then he was allergic to carefresh so now we use Aspen.

**babyboos** · 06-12-2005, 03:50 PM

Oh he is gorgeous though I would not deliberatley go out of my way to own one I would certainly foster one

WolvesRaven · 06-12-2005, 07:59 PM

Thank you. He was given to me.

Matt · 07-04-2005, 04:15 PM

I used to have 2 rats. I think I prefer them to hamsters but now I have 3 dogs who will eat anything, and I dont have room for a rat cage in my room if they went anywhere else they'd be at risk from the dogs. I used to take them to the shops with me and everything. They used to have the run of the house. It was funny watching them climb the stairs.

furrynavel · 07-25-2005, 12:54 PM

Hi,

I notice you have the rats in glass tanks, it isn't really the best type of housing for rats due to the lack of ventilation and amonia vapours. This can cause resparitory problems.

I had my first rat in a glass tank before I found this fantastic site www.fancy-rats.co.uk it is a uk based forum, but I am sure there are plenty of US forums on rats

My rats were also allergic to woodshavings, but I think it is to do with the pine phenols, I had no idea that they were not meant to be kept on shavings

I have them on a cardboard based bedding now.

I know what you mean about carefresh, my guys found it too dusty even though it was meant to be dust free!

I have 11 ratties now, I think I will stop when I get to about 15, thats a nice round number.

My hubby told me I was only allowed one cage for the rats, so I have played him at his own game

I have a large inddor aviary that is about 4 1/2 foot long and 5 1/2 foot wide

Right, I am going to try to post piccies now, here goes!

Batfink

Badger and Happy

Rosie

Jade

Star

Yogi-Bear

Scooby-Doo

Jasmine

Amber

Violet