Not everyone is food

I started breeding fancy rats for snake food with no idea that they would actually make nice pets. My kids got really attached to them, and then I did as well. Certain ones are definitely not food! I think the same fascination that those of us who like to breed fancy snake morphs have extends to selectively breeding the fancy rodents as well..... and it's so much faster to produce your desired looks!

I'm with you!
For me, about half are food. The other half are hold backs and personal pets. And the super fancy ones are sold as pets.

I find myself looking at the feeder babies and going "Hmmm, you know I WILL need a new male for the next bin of girls.... I should keep you too..."

I do have quite a few holdbacks right now, from "nearly ready to breed" to newly weaned babies. It is extremely satisfying to feed off rats I raised myself, even if they are a TON of work. But I enjoy the rats a lot and I'll often have my favorites out or be giving out the sunflower seeds. So far the one treat I've found everyone goes for is sunflower seeds. Many won't touch yogurt drops, and some don't like the dried cranberries or pomergrate.

I was thinking of getting some banana chips too. Any other treats?

And I've been holding back blues a lot and dumbos. And of course siamese. I should try to get some decent pics of the rats soon. I have issues getting them to sit still enough for pictures.

it must be hard to do live feeds *lol* i do fine with frozen, no prob. even the guinea pigs and rabbits...had a pet rabbit as a kid, and had 4 different rats growing up. I taught each rat to jump through a hoop, walk a tightrope, and come when called! They're pretty smart.

I don't really care for mice that much though. I tried to breed them when i had my packman frogs some years ago, and they are just so stinky. i did NOT get attached to the mice *lol*

As far as treats go, the two favorites among my ratties are grapes and honey nut cherrios! They love em.

I couldn't agree more. I have a male that I have grown very attached to. He actually licks my hand! His favorite treats are honey roasted peanuts.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wolfy-hound

I find myself looking at the feeder babies and going "Hmmm, you know I WILL need a new male for the next bin of girls.... I should keep you too..."

I do have quite a few holdbacks right now, from "nearly ready to breed" to newly weaned babies. It is extremely satisfying to feed off rats I raised myself, even if they are a TON of work. But I enjoy the rats a lot and I'll often have my favorites out or be giving out the sunflower seeds. So far the one treat I've found everyone goes for is sunflower seeds. Many won't touch yogurt drops, and some don't like the dried cranberries or pomergrate.

I was thinking of getting some banana chips too. Any other treats?

And I've been holding back blues a lot and dumbos. And of course siamese. I should try to get some decent pics of the rats soon. I have issues getting them to sit still enough for pictures.

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Banana chips are a huge favorite here. They also love dehydrated apple slices and dog biscuits. Dog biscuits are top of the list I think, lol. They get very possessive of the biscuits.

I give the pregnant moms boiled eggs sometimes, and that's another treat they really enjoy.

They also get leftover cooked rice since my husband hates leftovers. :rolleyes:

Bits of fish and pieces of cucumber are popular as well. They seem to prefer cucumber over other vegetables.

Dark chocolate is not the most popular, but it helps with breathing difficulties. Mushrooms are also not their FAVORITE, but they help prevent tumors/cancer.

My pet rat Lucky was supposed to be food :rolleyes: I got him as a pup, with his eyes closed an all, put him in with my picky snake only to find out that she prefers live MICE. He survived the night, and I didn't have the heart to kill him, so I kept him and even got up 3 times a night to bottle feed him every three hours. Now he's a big fat happy rat, and by far the sweetest guy ever. He thinks I'm his momma, so he's super social lol. Love him :love:

If there's anything rats love to eat it's cereals, almost any kind of cereal :P

And of course americans favorite "bad for you food" is a ratty's favorite bad for them snack...

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My rats love dandelion greens and collared greens. I grow them for my bearded dragon, and the collards are still doing well outside and it is almost January. They also love popcorn and crackers. Especially cinnamon and sugar ritz crackers.