Feeders as pets.

[Yuka]

Alright, so it's looking like I won't be able to get the babies I want at this rate...

How do I know this? The person whose ad I replied to just posted a new ad with an updated list of babies available. While the ones I want are still on there, it's greatly reduced which means they're going fast and if she was holding the babies for us, why would she post them on the ad to begin with, y'know?

With hope greatly reduced that I'd be able to get those babies in time, I was looking at other ads. Found one on kijiji about a fellow who breeds rats for feeders. Kinda made me cringe, but hey, snakes gotta eat too. >.<

So I was wondering, would feeders make good pets even if he doesn't socialize them? Since they're feeders, I doubt he plays with them but I think it's worth a shot. So yeah, any input would be nice.

[TrueDatxD]

Of course. All rats think alike

[Eden10]

There still rats and the fact you'll be able to get babies means they'll be easily socialized. I don't see a problem in adopting feeders for pets. I think it would be better than buying from a pet store.

[Smilebud]

I know it isn't exactly the same, but today I got a rat for my birthday, he was from the feeder bin and after only a half hour of holding him he licked my hand and snuggled up under my sweater. He is more outgoing then my two boys when i got them! He lets me pick him up and everything, no biting, ever. I think feeder rats have the same potential as bred for pet rats.

[YellowSpork]

Three of my girls are feeder rats, and the fourth one was probably a feeder bought as a pet before I adopted her, and they're all lovely pets.

[Yuka]

This is all great news to hear. Hopefully the feeders are live, so if I can't get THOSE babies, I can at least get babies from him hopefully because it's not like he kills them all since he has rats of all ages. But since I also have the options of adults, are adults relatively easy to socialize too?

[YellowSpork]

My first two girls were probably 4 months when I first got them from the feeder bin (oh gosh I didn't know anything back then haha) and they've become really great girls. Vivi I got at 7 weeks, though, and she warmed up to me MUCH faster. She was licking my fingers in just a few days haha.

[Awaiting_Abyss]

One of my rats was from a feeder breeder and the other was from a feeder bin. They are both amazing girls. My other rat was the pup of the rat from the feeder bin. You'd never know that they were once meant to be feeders. My girl that I got from the feeder breeder has learned several tricks. She knows her name and comes by it. She also knows my name and my fiance's name so if we say "Go to ___" she'll walk over to us. She also knows "shoulder" means crawl up to our shoulder. So yes, feeder rats are just as smart and just as sweet as any other rat.

[Smilebud]

About adults vs. babies. For feeders, I would get babies, they bond extremely fast to you, having just come from a stressful situation, to your safety. I've had my new boy for only eight hours and he runs to the front of the cage and is better with picking up than my other boys. Adults could take awhile as they only know one thing and arn't as willing to change.

[Yuka]

Fast bonding is always nice. Thing is though, and don't judge me on this, is that I'm still freaking out over my boys being overcome with hormonal aggression and girls are pretty much outta the question. So from my standpoint, it's adorable babies who literally view me as mom versus big boys who are past the hormonal thing but take longer to bond. Ah, decisions, decisions...