I'm in love....beautiful rat!

[shelliebear]

I got her from a feeder store to give to my snakes.
Max and I just couldn't do it--and when MAX says she's too cute to feed, something is really special about her. Hes usually my lighthouse and brick wall when it comes to feeding the snakes, when I get a little queasy or sad he does it for me, no problem.
But "Chips" as we called her is too cute.
She seems to have a little cold, too--what could that be from? Lots of sneezing. It's adorable but I know that she can't feel good with a rat flu.
She is albino...I think? Her eyes are black it looks like but they could be just deep red. She is the only rat I've seen where she has a colored head and stripe down her body that is NOT black, I think these are called hooded? Her color is a very light brown. It's gorgeous.
Pictures

[shelliebear]

[PitOnTheProwl]

one more reason why i dont play with my food LOL

[shelliebear]

Lol I tried not to! But my mom said we had to wait to stun the last one (she doesn't like to hear the noise) and we had fed all the other snakes, so we put her in the tub for a little bit where they usually wait if we have to leave before feeding them to the snakes. She looked so adorable we couldn't do it.
I think it's cruel to keep them in the little teeny pet store cardboard boxes so I always try to give them lots of space for their last few minutes of life.
She is precious though

[jefrow]

thats the same reason i have a rat now lol. Mine is huge now and super cool. kinda glad i ended up keeping him

[TheSnakeEye]

They usually sneeze when in a new surrounding. It should go away in a few days. GL with her, they're unique pets.

[rabernet]

Or - she could have a respiratory infection that will only go away with oral benadryl or other antibiotic that will need to be prescribed by a veterinarian. I'd go ahead and plan to get her seen. Unfortunately, pet store feeder rats aren't kept in the best of care.

If you plan to keep her as a pet, please do get her seen - because you're going to need to get her a buddy rat as well, and you need to make sure they're both healthy. Rats do much better in pairs (two girls or two boys).

Most all of my rats are creamed hoodies (as well as being dumbo's).

[rabernet]

Also - is that one of those Sterilite drawer systems? That will not hold her for long! Meaning - it's very easy for her to escape from.

[TheSnakeEye]

Or - she could have a respiratory infection that will only go away with oral benadryl or other antibiotic that will need to be prescribed by a veterinarian. I'd go ahead and plan to get her seen. Unfortunately, pet store feeder rats aren't kept in the best of care.

If you plan to keep her as a pet, please do get her seen - because you're going to need to get her a buddy rat as well, and you need to make sure they're both healthy. Rats do much better in pairs (two girls or two boys).

Most all of my rats are creamed hoodies (as well as being dumbo's).

Or it can be this too. But I would wait a couple days and see if it stops. Check her over and see if she has mucus. If so then chances are she's sick.Check her ears and eyes as well.

[dembonez]

the main reason i don't feed live...if i did id have a billion rats!