My neighbor wasn't joking. - Page 6 - Orchid Board

Triffid · #51 08-09-2010, 06:24 AM

Like Connie Star said they do make rather brilliant pets. They will also begin to attach themselves to the one rearing them.... So you have now become Rat Mom!

If you do want to release them back into the wild, then I would recommend not handling them too much (Difficult I know). And when you do have to handle them wear gloves. Human scent on wild animals is not always beneficial when it comes to releasing them, and in fact can sometimes mean a death sentence for them in the wild.
Also when the get big enough for solids make them work for their food, so to speak. Teach them to forage.

As Pets then the advice is to handle them as much as possible without stressing them out.

Be warned they will all start to develop personalities and as such you may start to become really attached to one or more of them (potentially all

).

Major parasite concerns are:
fleas - always a concern with any pet
mites - caused primarily through lack of available clean bedding.
ticks - Usually only on wild mammals. Shouldn't be too much of a problem just yet.
Vets can supply solutions for all these problems.

Diet Concern.
Without Mother Milk their immune system may not be as strong as it would if reared totally wild. This may also effect you decision to release them.

Congratulations! Pest of Pet, Rats are wonderful creatures. You really have to admire them.

Call_Me_Bob · #52 08-09-2010, 10:16 AM

mice can be cute, but i could never see my self having one as a pet!

Connie Star · #53 08-09-2010, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by help

mice can be cute, but i could never see my self having one as a pet!

Mice smell to high heaven and they bite more than tame rats. Mice are also amazing escape artists. Rats really are the best rodent pets. Mice are for feeding to snakes, IMHO.

Call_Me_Bob · #54 08-09-2010, 06:04 PM

lol! i wasnt really paying much attention to the recent posts sorry

but RATS as PETS? i think their tales creep me out the most

Connie Star · #55 08-09-2010, 09:11 PM

Rats are great pets, but you have to get tamed ones, obviously. They are small, affectionate and don't demand attention 2-3 times a day.
Let's see, I've had one dog, a cat, a few fish, lots of snakes, two parrots, several monitor lizards, mice, hamsters, gerbils, rabbits, and the aforementioned rats.
My favorites are rats and snakes. Look at it this way. They leave you more time for orchids!

Connie Star · #56 08-09-2010, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Connie Star

Rats are great pets, but you have to get tamed ones, obviously. They are small, affectionate and don't demand attention 2-3 times a day.
Let's see, I've had one dog, a cat, a few fish, lots of snakes, two parrots, several monitor lizards, mice, hamsters, gerbils, rabbits, and the aforementioned rats.
My favorites are rats and snakes. Look at it this way. They leave you more time for orchids!

And I forgot to add, one husband and two sons. They are the most trouble of all

Call_Me_Bob · #57 08-09-2010, 10:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Connie Star

And I forgot to add, one husband and two sons. They are the most trouble of all

WOW! you sure do have a zoo!! lol i have two dwarf puffers, one oto, one HM betta, one guppy, and a bunny. love them all! ive never seen a tamed rat, other than one this guys had on his shoulder at a street fair! and that one, was kinda gross, so was the guy. lol my friend has a bearded dragon, and im soo attached to it, i have to get one of my own!