Feeder to Pet! :P

I bought a rat 2 weeks ago for Zeke and he wouldn't eat it. So....I put it in a critter keeper to "hold" until his next feed day. " Well....I have come to just love the little girl, she is just so sweet and personable and very talkative. So tonight we went and bought another rat to feed to Zeke! LOL Looks like we have another pet. Going tomorrow to get her an awesome set up. Heading now to read the post of Beckys rat mix. The pic is not good but here is Snow:Dhttp://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...l/IMG_0828.jpg

Awww, how sweet! Need more pics. Lucky Snow. :clap:

Why would you keep it alive if Zeke hasn't eaten it?

I say break its neck and dump it in the freezer! :)

Awww Snow got promoted! LOL We do a lot of promotions from feeder to breeder/pet around here too. Becky's mix is great! You can also feed all sorts of kitchen scraps to your rat (just don't let it get fat, obese rats are horribly unhealthy poor things). Here's a great link with good foods and foods that are not so good for rats. I find it a very handy quick reference.

http://www.ratnutrition.com/suppleme...forbiddenfoods

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ballpnoob

Why would you keep it alive if Zeke hasn't eaten it?

I say break its neck and dump it in the freezer! :)

---

That is just out of line. :colbert:

She just said she fell in love with the little critter and is now promoting it to a pet. Nothing wrong with that.

I think you need to start buying feeders that have been pre-killed. :D Keep it up, and you'll be running a rat farm soon!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tigerlily

Awww, how sweet! Need more pics. Lucky Snow. :clap:

---

Will post more pics tomorrow after I get her set up in her new home:D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by frankykeno

Awww Snow got promoted! LOL We do a lot of promotions from feeder to breeder/pet around here too. Becky's mix is great! You can also feed all sorts of kitchen scraps to your rat (just don't let it get fat, obese rats are horribly unhealthy poor things). Here's a great link with good foods and foods that are not so good for rats. I find it a very handy quick reference.

http://www.ratnutrition.com/suppleme...forbiddenfoods

---

thank you so much for the link...will definitely be checking out!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ballpnoob

Why would you keep it alive if Zeke hasn't eaten it?

I say break its neck and dump it in the freezer! :)

---

:mad: Not very nice. Some people on here don't seem to have much compassion or respect for other peoples choices!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Sausage

I think you need to start buying feeders that have been pre-killed. :D Keep it up, and you'll be running a rat farm soon!

---

LOL My husband told me I have to decide.....am I raising snakes or rats:D You should see him playing with Snow though:P

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ballpnoob

Why would you keep it alive if Zeke hasn't eaten it?

I say break its neck and dump it in the freezer! :)

---

Whether she chooses to keep the rat alive and feed it off the next week, keep it and make it a breeder at some point, keep it and make it a pet or dress it in a pink tutu and teach it to do high kicks to The Sound of Music is really her business. Since her post was obviously one of happiness about a pet rat, your comment is rude and not the way we treat other members around here. :mad:

http://www.ratsicles.com/Brians_Rodent_Pellets.html


I will be getting some rats tomorrow and will be ordering this as a feed. I am no expert on rat nutrition, but from what I read on other sites, it seems like a good food.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by frankykeno

Whether she chooses to keep the rat alive and feed it off the next week, keep it and make it a breeder at some point, keep it and make it a pet or dress it in a pink tutu and teach it to do high kicks to The Sound of Music is really her business. Since her post was obviously one of happiness about a pet rat, your comment is rude and not the way we treat other members around here. :mad:

---

It was a joke.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ballpnoob

It was a joke.

---

Funny how only you knew that.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ballpnoob

It was a joke.

---

It didn't come across that way.

Christie and Joanna thank you for the nice defense. As a compassionate person if he says it was a joke I will take his word for it, but he should learn to think before he types. It will be late tonight when I post pics of Snow in her new home:D Have a great day :sunny:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tigerlily

It didn't come across that way.

---

Next time read carefully.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ballpnoob

Next time read carefully.

---

Next time show a little respect, for other members and for one of our very dedicated Mods. :mad:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by frankykeno

Next time show a little respect, for other members and for one of our very dedicated Mods. :mad:

---

How am I being disrespectful? It was just a big misunderstanding. I was just asking for everyone to understand next time. THats it.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ballpnoob

It was a joke.

---

I and most others on this site don't find statements about animal cruelty to be particularly funny. It shows a lot about a person that does.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jglass38

I and most others on this site don't find statements about animal cruelty to be particularly funny. It shows a lot about a person that does.

---

Are you accusing me of animal cruelty?

Last time I checked, breaking a rat's neck is the most common euthanization method and not particularly cruel. If done properly, it can be instantaneous and virtually painless. Putting it in the freezer is not cruel either.

The only real humane way to euthanize at home is with a CO2 chamber bud.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ballpnoob

Next time read carefully.

---

I reread it a couple times before I posted, and it did not come across as a joke. Had you added a 'lol' or a giggling smilie, then I could have interpreted it that way.

I was also not the only one who felt that it was an objectionable post. Two other people felt that it was out of line as well. Doesn't that tell you something? (Please refrain from some inane comment which shifts the blame on us)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by tigerlily

I reread it a couple times before I posted, and it did not come across as a joke. Had you added a 'lol' or a giggling smilie, then I could have interpreted it that way.

I was also not the only one who felt that it was an objectionable post. Two other people felt that it was out of line as well. Doesn't that tell you something? (Please refrain from some inane comment which shifts the blame on us)

---

Next to my initial comment there is a smiley face. I hope that was enough to show that it was indeed a joke.

Next time I'll be extra careful in my wording and make sure everyone is able to understand my comments.

Ummmm.....geez....I didn't expect this to happen over a little pet rat! Unfortunately I got off work late and was unable to make it to the store to buy Snow a new home and toys, but I have off tomorrow and will be going to get all of her stuff:) I was going to post a couple more pics of her tonight but she is far from photogenic! I can't get the girl to stand still long enough for a pic LOL Look back tomorrow for new pics of Snow and her Home LOL

Don't worry it's not your fault your thread sort of took a left turn. These things happen occasionally. Hope Snow is enjoying her new pet rat status! Silly question, but it's late and I can't remember. Do you have other rats? Does Snow have a tub/tank/cage buddy?

Right now she is in a large critter keeper. I had planned on getting her a 10 gallon tank and everything for it, water bottle some chewies things like that, is that ok? She is just sooooo cute. I had her out last night for like an hour and tonight when I came in from work she started talking to me wanting out! She is hillarious:D

Forgot to answer some questions....no I have just her. Is that ok?

It's better to give them some company, as they are social animals.

I also wanted to nominate dry, tri-colored pasta as a great 'chew' thing. Any leftover bones work well too. They love it, and it wears down their everygrowing teeth. :gj:

A ten gallon's going to end up too small for a pet rat hon very very quickly and yes Snow does need a rat friend. Since Snow's a female it's best to just go get another cute female rat for her buddy. Rats, even ones that have owners that handle them a lot, really are so highly sociable...they need another rat to groom, snuggle with, box with, etc. to be happy, content creatures.

Instead of spending a fortune on a large glass tank you can just get any of the really big, high clear plastic tubs, replace most of the lid with 1/2" hardware cloth, melt in a hole for the spigot of the water bottle and bingo....you have a lovely huge rat enclosure for well under $20.00. Most happy rats won't chew out but always keep an eye for chewing. If you get a tub with a very smooth interior they don't tend to start up with the chewing. Just make sure the lid clips down firmly so you don't have escapee rats LOL.

If you check out this thread you'll see my larger tubs that would nicely hold two female pet rats, giving them lots of space to grow up in.

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=39864

If you want to go bigger even you can. WalMart sells an Iris brand huge tub this time of year as a storage bin for artifical Xmas trees (Becky do you have a pic of yours????). Runs about $20.00 and is about 5 feet long!

Becky's dry mix is wonderful. I get boxes of the colored pasta for $1.00 at Krogers and boy do the rats love that stuff! Great for their teeth too. Rats teeth never stop growing so providing lots of hard foods and stuff to chew on is a must. My rats get that dry mix every day. I keep a covered icecream tub in the fridge where all our "wet" kitchen scraps go. They get this every couple of days and just love the stuff. Leftover chicken wing bones are always a huge hit around here LOL.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by frankykeno

A ten gallon's going to end up too small for a pet rat hon very very quickly and yes Snow does need a rat friend. Since Snow's a female it's best to just go get another cute female rat for her buddy. Rats, even ones that have owners that handle them a lot, really are so highly sociable...they need another rat to groom, snuggle with, box with, etc. to be happy, content creatures.

Instead of spending a fortune on a large glass tank you can just get any of the really big, high clear plastic tubs, replace most of the lid with 1/2" hardware cloth, melt in a hole for the spigot of the water bottle and bingo....you have a lovely huge rat enclosure for well under $20.00. Most happy rats won't chew out but always keep an eye for chewing. If you get a tub with a very smooth interior they don't tend to start up with the chewing. Just make sure the lid clips down firmly so you don't have escapee rats LOL.

If you check out this thread you'll see my larger tubs that would nicely hold two female pet rats, giving them lots of space to grow up in.

http://www.ball-pythons.net/forums/s...ad.php?t=39864

If you want to go bigger even you can. WalMart sells an Iris brand huge tub this time of year as a storage bin for artifical Xmas trees (Becky do you have a pic of yours????). Runs about $20.00 and is about 5 feet long!

Becky's dry mix is wonderful. I get boxes of the colored pasta for $1.00 at Krogers and boy do the rats love that stuff! Great for their teeth too. Rats teeth never stop growing so providing lots of hard foods and stuff to chew on is a must. My rats get that dry mix every day. I keep a covered icecream tub in the fridge where all our "wet" kitchen scraps go. They get this every couple of days and just love the stuff. Leftover chicken wing bones are always a huge hit around here LOL.

---

Thanks for all the info. Am going out in just a few minutes to see what my choices are for enclosures. Going to check out the tubs at walmart! Thanks for all the help guys and will post pics later today. May have to wait till next week or so to get her a buddy as my hubby is not to keen on the idea of 2 pet rats LOL

Tell him that two pet rats are no more work, no more smell or cost really than one. A bored single rat may chew stuff up from nervous energy and stress, a single rat can become nippy and demanding or become depressed. In other words a single rat's a lot more work and hassle than two. They pretty much keep each other company and if you are busy and can't play with them...they have each other. :)

Congrats on the new pet! One of the reasons I can't feed live is that I get attached to animals quickly. IE the stray cat I just took in, have nursed back to health and what not. Now that's 5 cats and 2 snakes. If I started to keep rats I think I would give my father a heart attack.

I have never kept a rat, but I've had friends who have kept them for years. So cute :D .

It's great that you found a friendly rat! I am sure you know this, but just make sure to wash your hands well between rat and snake handling! Or you might get mistaken for a meal.. :)

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by ballpnoob

Why would you keep it alive if Zeke hasn't eaten it?

I say break its neck and dump it in the freezer! :)

---

Why would you say that? She obviously is taken by the little critter, and for many of us, our pet rats take on a different status than feeders; kind of like, if you ate burgers but had a pet beef cow that you didn't want to slaughter.. similar to that.

Okay the pictures that I promised:D I know I know.....this enclosure won't last to long, but I just had to have it for her! She absolutely is having a blast going up and down the tube LOL

Just so no one freaks, yes I know Billie is checking out Snow! Billie is not allowed in our room unless we are in here and once she got her look she went on her way. Much better things to play with now that the Christmas Tree is up:eek:

http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...l/IMG_0836.jpg
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...l/IMG_0837.jpg
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...l/IMG_0838.jpg
http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i1...l/IMG_0829.jpg

Snow says Hi:)

Yeah, that probably won't last too long but it does look like fun. :gj:

You know I think they actually breed miniature rats....ask Becky about that!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by frankykeno

You know I think they actually breed miniature rats....ask Becky about that!

---

That would be totally awesome. I will definitely ask. It would be nice to get some use out of this enclosure! I just love that it is sooooo colorful and the tube. Thanks:D

fair warning, i had a similar cage for my pet rat (years and years ago). lets just say i went through alot of duct tape. i never knew to get her a friend (it was hard enough to get my mom to say yes to her) and every night she got out and climed on the bed wanting to play. how ever she makes it look so fun, now i want a big tube! lol. they love tp tubes to play with and chew on and they love those big balls you put them in and let them roll around on the floor. just giving you some ideas you know it is christmas.:gj: rats are smart sweet lil critters, and i wish you years of fun with her. btw she is a pretty little girl.:mouse2:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Thunder Kat

fair warning, i had a similar cage for my pet rat (years and years ago). lets just say i went through alot of duct tape. i never knew to get her a friend (it was hard enough to get my mom to say yes to her) and every night she got out and climed on the bed wanting to play. how ever she makes it look so fun, now i want a big tube! lol. they love tp tubes to play with and chew on and they love those big balls you put them in and let them roll around on the floor. just giving you some ideas you know it is christmas.:gj: rats are smart sweet lil critters, and i wish you years of fun with her. btw she is a pretty little girl.:mouse2:

---

Thank you very much! She actually has not tried to get out but last night I had to move her into my walk in closet because as soon as the lights went out she was zooming up and down that tube!!! It was actually really hillarious to listen to but had to get up early for work!