[email protected]

In a message dated 10/24/2002 12:12:52 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
[email protected] writes:
> I would love to hear more about rats. We went to the library and got
> books on rats and read alot. We chose a young male rat and for the first
> little bit he was pretty sweet. I figured it was his settling in period.
> But pretty soon he was nipping us, even when we were careful to wash our
> hands so no food smell was on them.
> I can not figure what we did wrong. We bought a really large homemade
> wood and wire cage that allowed tons of room and he had lots of climbing
> room.
> I found him another home as we had little ones and I was concerned they
> would get their fingers nipped. Is it possible he did not have enough
> physical attention or are males more aggressive?
>
>

Sharon,

We did a lot of research too. We heard that the boys are actually more
snuggly and quiet---easy-going. We all got females because they were
reportedly "zippier" and easier to train. But there are variations in lines
and types and colors.

Did you buy from a breeder? I scream about this all the time with dogs (there
I go screaming again! <G>). A reputable breeder will advise all about the
positives and negatives--ESPECIALLY the negatives!

The problems were probably 1) that you bought a rat that was bred as a feeder
rat (petshop purchase?), so he had no socialization at all. {Here we go
again---always that socialization issue! <g>} Reputable breeders gently
handle their babies from day one, so they're comfortable being handled---even
by strangers. Feedera are bred to feed snakes. No one should get too attached
to something they're going to feed to a snake!

And 2) you only got one. Rats are EXTREMELY social animals. They can become
neurotic if kept as singles. A reputable breeder would NEVER have sold you an
only. They require twos or threes go together---usually same sex unless
you're buying to breed (then there's the breeder contract!).

I'd try again, but look up breeders in your area on the rat sites (there are
a lot of them!). California and Florida are two of the hotbeds of rat shows.

Most breeders will ship or meet you halfway by car (that's what ours did).
You'll pay a bit more from a reputable breeder, but the rat will be sweet and
clean (they seem not to stink as much as feeder rats).

I can give you the names of my breeders in Florida if you'd like.

Kelly


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