Fancy Rats Archive forum: 2002 - 2011

I have a roan related question - seems as good a place as any to ask! I brought home a little lone babe recently, she's only a few weeks, is completely white bar 2 grey splodges on her ears/eyes. I was told she was a roan, but i thought that - to start with at least - roan markings went down the bac...

My 1st boys used to try to go in my bra while I was wearing it (1 in each cup) - pushing me out to make more room. They did get one in their cage for a while as well, since they were so fond of them.

I love my abode. The girls have never escaped. I also invested in a metal tray for the base, so the full metal cage means they can't eat their way out - which they have attempted with cages before.

I've found that my girls smell more than my boys ever did. But I imagine it depends on the individual rats? My boys were very clean using a litter tray etc, but my girls do like to bathe in their own wee.

I wish I hadn't read this....i have no need for a new cage - love the one I have. But it's so big and pretty...and my brother just sent me an amazon voucher.

My cat spent his days (went out at night) in my bedroom to avoid my cat hating dog. When I got the rats I hadn't really thought about the risk that he might want a taste. In the end I was lucky, My boys were big, my cat was old, and Taylor (cat) and Ernie (rat) found a common ememy in the dog. Marvi...

I've noticed recently one of my girls, Pixie, has little baldy sideburns and I suspect that her sister see's herself as a bit of an ammateur hairdresser. Last night I actually saw her sister trying to groom this area and Pixie was squeeling like a piglet. The is a small graze on one of her cheeks - ...

One of my girls used to reject tissues - she waited til she could shove them in my face through the bars though. Now it's started to get colder I think she has a new found appreciation for them - or whatever it is, I can now sit by the cage and not take a tissue to the eye.

we did have a little break through the other day when she let me lift her and only looked grumpy instead of having a complete hissy fit. I think I'll give the clicker training a go as well though.

one of my rats dont like being picked up either and was never overly friendly altho never nasty but with time and patience he now lets me stroke him takes things from my hand and crawls all over me he now realises that when i shake his treat box hes to go back into his cage at bedtime and he gets a...

Should also note that I had considered that she might be in pain, hawever she does let me pet her and while doing this I had a little feel about and she didn't object, it's just when she's lifted. Which is why I'm thinking it's just the act of being handled that she doesn't like.

I don't think she's in pain as there's been a couple times where I've managed to keep a hold of her and she does calm down and relax a little - when she realises that she's not going to escape she stops all the fuss and waits to be put down (I always reward this). I feed her by hand quite a bit, whi...

Had a question regarding one of girlies. Had them both a few months and Pixie has settled in very well. Lets me pick her up, comes running when i come in the room etc. Gigi on the other hand is still very nervous of handling. She has warmed to me slightly recently, she will climb on me, come out of ...

My girl Gigi does this with tissues in the cage - much to the annoyance of Pixie who likes to use them to line the igloo + sputnick. They tend to sneak up behind each other, Gigi to steal them from the bed and Pixie to retrieve them from the bars. They continue this for about half an hour each time.

rat rations sell dried insects and fish. I ordered some for my girls then felts a bit ill at the sight. If they want to embrace the catch, kill, eat, more power to them. Personally I'll stick with offering them meat and fish without little glazed eyes watching me