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Anonymous
today my hamster died at the ripe old age of 2 and a half years, while i considered him a good hamster, he was a terrible pet. he was unfriendly, he wouldn't let you touch him, if you tried to touch him he would spaz out and if you'd try to let him sniff you he'd bite your hand.

now... i've never had a hampster behave like this one, and i've owned a couple hamsters before...

this is all preface to a question about me getting a new pet. I'd like to get another rodent, not a hamster, i was hoping for a rat, maybe a mouse. Rat owners do you have any stories from experience?

i plan on asking all my questions at the petshop, but i thought i'd see what /an/ has to say.
>> Anonymous
I have a rat (had two but her sister died last winter) and I wholeheartedly recommend them for pets. While I've had some bad experiences as in sometimes, though not too often, they bite if they mistake you for food or if you smell like something tasty. But as my bond with them grew you could tell they were sorry in their own rat-like way for their mistake.
I haven't had any other rodents besides a mouse and the exposure I've had with the hamsters of friends', but the bond you get with rats are much better than that of smaller rodents. They are quite intelligent as far as small animals go (you can even teach them tricks if you're VERY patient) and they do this cute "eye boggling" thing when they're happy. Some people think it's creepy though.

Uh... Anyway, yeah, rats are awesome. Get at least two though; they love the company.
>> Anonymous
I think I have that same fabric.
>> Anonymous
>>97577
Get at least two though; they love the company.

i was surprised to read this. do they quarrel often?

and do you notice a difference between the temperment/personality of a male rat or a female rat
>> Anonymous
My friend has a dwarf hamster who acts the same way. We think she's deaf though and is just constantly being startled. lol
>> Anonymous
>>97579
Rats are VERY social animals. They live in colonies in the wild, after all. If you get male rats they will form a social structure more so than females. There will be an alpha male who will go around scenting everything and randomly "beating up" the other rats. If you get your rats at the same age they should get along like a "normal" family; generally at peace or happy with your random outbreaks of aggression.
As for temperament differences, females are much more curious than males. Well, actually, I think it's just that males are lazier. :P If you're looking for a lazy lap rat than get males, if you don't mind chasing after a zooming female then go for them. I like females myself because they don't have huge balls hanging off their asses and I don't have to deal with "buck grease" which is an oily secretion they can get on their skin. Females will eventually settle down and get lazy with age. Mine is about a year and a half and she's starting to laze around a lot more than she used to.
>> Anonymous
>>97579
Also, yes, they do quarrel sometimes but generally it's just play fighting. Sometimes it does get serious but I've only seen that happen with my two females maybe two times the entire time they were together. Oh... And they hump each other a lot, but that's just a sign of dominance.
I would recommend keeping them in a separate room from where you sleep though. They can get rowdy at night or, my favorite, start munching on something crunchy.
>> Anonymous
Maybe get guinea pigs? They're not nocturnal and can be quite friendly. Like rats they're social so either be ready to pay them a lot of attention or get two.

Some guinea pigs can be bitey, but that's uncommon, out of the 7 store-bought I've had only one was. Out of the over 50 I've had that we sold to pet stores, none were very bitey.

In my experience you can cure them of this by picking them up with oven mitts on, to get them used to being handled calmly. If you're jumping every time they get nervous and give you a nip it'll just make the situation worse. Give them some carrot when you pick them up too.
>> Anonymous
>>97587
>Give them some carrot
>> Anonymous
HAMSTUR IS AMAZD BY UR GRAFIKS
>> Anonymous
i had a hamster once, my dog killed it, i was very upset, never want a pet again, that was about 15 years ago.
>> Anonymous
>>97587
give your guinea pigs some lettuce, it's like cocaine, they'll love you and squeak whenever you come home.
>> Anonymous
Lettuce isn't that good for them, it's high in sugar and low in nutrients, and it often absorbs quite a bit of pesticide, which small animals are more sensitive to. Don't ever fed guinea pigs clover either; while they love it, it gives them gas. (which can be fatal to guinea pigs, they're physiologically incapable of burping)

Guinea pigs love beet slices and oranges though, both of which are good for them.
>> Anonymous
Rats are awesome. I have been keeping them for almost ten years now. After having kept many different rodent pets (hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, fancy mice, and spiny mice), I have found rats to be the most interactive, intelligent and overall enjoyable pets. They are very clean and easy to tame. A well-socialized rat will love to be handled and petted and can even learn to come to her name. If you want a lap pet, get two males. If you want a playful pet, get two females.
>> Anonymous
>>97656
seconded. rats are wonderful pets, but not so much in groups.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
we got lots of rats here in our dorm, but they are not pets lol
>> Anonymous
Rats are nice I'd say, very friendly - unless you're unlucky - and great pets... except for the disgusting weekly cage cleaning.
>> Anonymous
>>97815
Ignore this person. It is vital you get more than one rat unless you take them out of their cage for 90% of the day. They need socialization.
>> Anonymous
a rat is the best choice by far. i now have two hamsters (i had one die a month ago) and i have a rat, and the rat is the most friendly and very social. one of my hamsters is nice but the other onr hates people.... but the rat loves everyone.. so go with the rat
>> Anonymous
>>97575
i had a hamster that was just like yours.fucking thing killed itself by eating the rubber caulking inside the aquarium.i got it from my mom when i was 18.. 18!!!! wtf ive never even asked for a hamster in my life and one day she comes home with it for me.um like UHHH thx? stupid rodents.
>> Anonymous
>>97850
I had my rats with me most of the time.
I guess what I mean by "groups" is "colonies".. Males and females breeding and stuff.
Rodent breeding habits are kinda yucky..
>> Anonymous
I have 10 rats, and I would never consider having any other pet. Some people may think this next part is disgusting but, our rats actually sleep with us in our bed at night, nestled under our pillows, or cuddled up to our feet, and theyre litterbox trained. I've taught them a universal call,for all of them to come to me, and also they each know their individual names. Rats are the most loving and adorable of the rodents. Like the others have said before, you do need more than one, it makes them happy, plus theyre fun to watch playing.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
Buy a guinie pig, the Superior Rodent.

Be forwarned, however, that the peruvian breeds tend to be pretty emo... pic related...
>> Anonymous
>>97966
Wigs are not pets.
>> Anonymous
>>97575
I have two friends who have rats. Both claim they are very intelligent, affectionate animals. They are pretty cute too.
>> Anonymous
>>97829
quoted for truth! but seriously get a Rat they are great pets, had mine for a few years. one of the few if only rodent that will actualy respond to you when you play with them. played catch with mine. be forewarned though if you get a male rat be prepared to get peed on, dunno why but they seems to leave a trail of urine where they walk. no idea why
>> Anonymous
I've had pet mice for the past 3 years, and I've not grown tired of them yet. I love them.

Most of them are pretty skittish for a while, but once you get them used to you they'll calm down. I even had one that used to love to settle on my chest and go to sleep when I was reading/playing games/whatever. I dunno, some people really don't like them as pets, but they're pretty easy to care for and they're fun to watch.
>> Anonymous
get a mouse, they are sooo cool
>> Anonymous
all true.. females are playful, males are usually lazy. males get fat too, but its cute.. chubby rats, hehe. they will only bite if you scare them, smell like food or stick things in their cages.. and from my experience, males in a cage and females in a separate cage, in the same room, is a bad idea. the males get really territorial when smelling females near by and will attack the other males and bite very hard with fingers in the cage. a cage mate is a good idea as they will get bored easily. keep them in a separate room from your sleeping area unless you can sleep through endless crunching, wheel running, or playing (squeeks)..most rats die of cancer or pneumonia..
>> Anonymous
>>97994

I read that as "the rats tell me they are intelligent and friendly". Never trust self-aggrandizing rodents.
>> Anonymous
"I like females myself because they don't have huge balls hanging off their asses"

I got my male from a surgeon who already chopped off its nards. Never had a female but from the descriptions my neutered male acted just like a female (except he was still fat). But yeah get a rat.
>> Rattie testicles... Anonymous
once you get used to them, they're nothing to worry about. Geez, people. Anyhow. Forget about the testicles! If you want a hyper rat, get a girl. If you want a laid back snugglebuddy, get a boy.

I've had dozens of rats in my lifetime (all bred by breeders, not wild, for all you smartalecs out there.) and I've bred them myself. Rats are sociable, kind, gentle, and affectionate. As long as you get them young and hold them a lot and are kind to them, they'll be fine. An abused rat, like any other animal, will be mental.
>> Anonymous
     File :-(, x)
Guinnea pigs are always an option!