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346 Posts
First let me tell you a lil story. I had a pet ferret (Pinball) for 4 days. I was in a constant state of worry with him. Mostly because ferrets can easily get intestinal blockage and die within days if not rushed to a Vet. The funny thing was I went to the pet store to look at the rats and the guy there let me play with the ferrets and like kryptonite to Superman I was powerless to resist.
Now the problems I worried about with Pinball, were problems rats don't have. Plastic, wood, or cloth can be death to a ferret, but nothing to a rat. Only downside of rats is their lifespan. The rats here are "feeder" rats, and sold as food or pets. Their are all different ages and sizes. I can safely say the pet store does not handle the rats, so they are scared of people. I've read so many horror stories of pet store rats that are ill and die quickly. Or need alot of costly vet care only to die after a month.
I have a few books of keeping rats so I know what they should and shouldn't eat or do. But with all the genetic issues rats have, I can't shake the feeling they are like lil time bombs that will get cancer or lung infections no matter what I do. And since they are pet store rats, the odds are they are already sick. I just don't know what I should do.
Now the problems I worried about with Pinball, were problems rats don't have. Plastic, wood, or cloth can be death to a ferret, but nothing to a rat. Only downside of rats is their lifespan. The rats here are "feeder" rats, and sold as food or pets. Their are all different ages and sizes. I can safely say the pet store does not handle the rats, so they are scared of people. I've read so many horror stories of pet store rats that are ill and die quickly. Or need alot of costly vet care only to die after a month.
I have a few books of keeping rats so I know what they should and shouldn't eat or do. But with all the genetic issues rats have, I can't shake the feeling they are like lil time bombs that will get cancer or lung infections no matter what I do. And since they are pet store rats, the odds are they are already sick. I just don't know what I should do.