Decided on Rats

I am really excited i almost can't wait to go buy them, but i have to wait til i get paid and be responsible. Im just so glad my fiance still doesn't think im strange with all the animals i talk about collecting. He isn't quite into animals as much as me, but he tries to understand haha

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Originally Posted by Snikt228

Where do you guys buy rats that don't sneeze? I've looked around and every single pet store in this area the rats in the store sneeze at least some. Only one or two stores even have rats for pets and not feeders

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All rats sneeze...they have very sensitive respritory systems. Usually they sneeze more when you change their bedding or when you first get them as they get used to the new smells. A really dusty bedding (carefresh, cheap pine, etc.) will make it worse.

It is OK to buy a sneezing rat just make sure that is all it is...look for discharge around the nose and eyes (usually red) this is a sign of a resp. infection. But I wouldn't worry about a little sneezing. :)

I thought it might be helpful to see some various rats from my colony Cassandra so you know basically what to look for in a healthy young rat and the sizes and so forth of mature rats versus younger ones.

Typical small, young rat (a husky with some variegation I guess you'd call it)...see the tail up in alarm...
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...yFeederRat.jpg

Young male with his father, one of our old, now retired breeder males (daddy is Casanova, the boy is SuperNova whose now busy fathering many litters himself), old Nova's coat is poor as he's very old now......
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...Supernova2.jpg

Here's Casanova when he was a prime adult male.....

http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...reederMale.jpg

This is Charlie. He's a young male, recently weaned to give you an idea of size....
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...lishIrish1.jpg

An adult female with a younger female (HoneyChild and Jet)....Jet, the black one, is a great example of a wonderful coat, she's extremely shiny and pure black....
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2...s/HCandJet.jpg

Squeekers (a female) as a young rat...note the nice clean coat, bright clean eyes, clean ears....
http://i41.photobucket.com/albums/e2.../Sqeekers2.jpg

Hope this helped for when you got rattie shopping. :)

Thanks for all your help! Those pics will help me to find a younger rat so i guess i'll start looking on Monday!

Can't wait to see the two you choose. Don't let some employee talk you into medium or large rats though. They are much older and if they haven't been already hand tamed they don't make great pets.