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Anonymous
So /an/,
Whats better, a rat, a mouse, or a hamster?
[pet wise]
What are most expensive and what are cheapest?
what needs more care and what are "lol sitandwatch"?

basically i need [as petsmart would call it] "small pet" info.
>> Anonymous
Get white mice.
>> Anonymous
>>134677
could you be more descriptive?
as to why, and such.
>> Anonymous
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>>134678
You know why.
>> Anonymous
>>134679
...well....i'm sold.
>> Anonymous
>>134677
Because they are horribly inbred, littered with genetic issues, retarded and will die within a week of you getting them.

Get a rat.
Two, actually. I own four rats, soon five. They are smart, sweet animals and the best things I could ever own. They are also easy to take care of and the cost of owning them(aside from vet bills) are pretty cheap. You can teach them to do tricks, answer to their names(or noises such as clicking), play time is adorable, teach them to open things and they even cuddle with you.
Females are more active and jumpy in my opinion, and my males are sweet and love attention. A bit more lazier and they smell more but its worth it.

Hamsters are just nasty bastards and anti-social.
Aside from rats, gerbils are also nice pets.
>> Anonymous
>>134681
i was already leaning towards rat, this kinda improves my standings.

But now i've added gerbils to my list.
>> Anonymous
>>134685
Rats are still better.
I don't have much experience with gerbils though.
I adopted three from the pet store, a mother, a father and one of the babies because I thought it would be cute to have a little family.
The baby and dad ate the mother's head off and the next day the baby died. The dad lived for almost 6 years before kicking the bucket. He was nice, never bit me, didn't smell bad and never tried to run from me.

Then I adopted a black gerbil and the next died it died.

And thats my experience with gerbils.
>> Anonymous
>>134692
next day*
>> Anonymous
>>134692
...........


Okay soo, tomorrow ima get rat.
=D
>> Anonymous
Gerbils tend to...die, they are super cute...but a friends of mine had 5 of them(at differnt times) ...and 3 of them died within the first 3 months.
>> Anonymous
How much do rats normally cost?
>> Anonymous
>>134696
Do not just get one rat, fgt. Get two.
Rats are very social animals and they need a buddy of the same gender(unless you get one spayed/neutered or you want babies). Rats tend to have shorter lives without a buddy, even if you spent hours with it each day.

Where do you plan on getting a rat? A pet store?
Psssh. Please. You'll probably just get one from the feeder tank, which are usually inbred and have problems. Getting one from a good breeder or adopting one should ensure that you have well socialized rats.

Whether you are getting one from a pet store, breeder or adopting one, they are usually $8-20.
>> Anonymous
>>134668

I have had experience with all of the above:

Mice: Stinky and fairly skittish. At the moment I have three field mice (born in captivity, but mom was wild)...they are terribly cute, but they are messy and stinky, even with constant cleaning!

Rats: Stinky, but much smarter than mice, and far more sociable.

Gerbils: Not stinky, social and friendly. (I have raised several, and they all lived several years...I have no idea what the earlier anon is talking about regaring them "dying easily"...sounds like improper care to me)

Hamsters: Cute, but they're emo little bastards that you have to keep alone, and they can be nippy.

I suggest either rats or gerbils!
>> Anonymous
I had a psychopatic gerbil once. It loved inflicting wounds to everyone. It was also the only pet I've ever heard of that's killed itself...
>> Morrie
I have experience of all but hamsters really since I think they are ugly and I don't want them. Mice are nice and I don't think they smell that badly. They just lived barely a year before developing such huge tumors they had to be put down. I liked them cos they never bit me even if I didn't have much time to handle them. They were always easy to handle despite that.
For gerbils... well they are damn easy to take care and don't smell at least. But they DO fight a lot. Anything can set them off but you can't keep them alone. I think it's damn good luck if you get gerbils who never fight. I've had about 6 or 7 and most of them ended up dead because fighting with each other. Same goes for gerbils in our school who got into fight and started killing each other. That's why I am done with gerbils. <.< I don't fucking want pets who constantly kill each other and fight.

Rats are definetly best and never take them alone! That's murder... there is nothing sadder than lonely rat in it's cage staring at you when you have to leave somewhere. They ALWAYS need their company. I have around 30 rats and I breed them and I think there is not a lovelier animal on earth.
Ones I had female rat who lived free in the rattery. She would always come running to the door to greet me when I came in. :) And I had another female who ran around after me when I cleaned and did stuff and then got tired of me not noticing her and would sit on my feet and hang onto my trouserleg.
>> Anonymous
Get 2 female rats.

Rats are awsome pets, they are easy to take care of, will eat anything(anything but the stupid pellets your "supose to" feed them anyway) and are just kinnda cool to have around. They have alot of personality, which is something I really look for in a pet. You can toss random stuff in their cage and they will use to to make additions to thier home. You should be careful not to leave anything near the cage that you don't want IN the cage though. I don't know how they do it, but anything you leave even close to the cage is gonna be grabed and taken inside somehow. That t-shirt you just tossed down last night? It's thier new bed bitch. I like giving them napkins I get from takeout food, they do all kinds of stuff with them.

As for why females? Come on, do you really wanna get teabagged by a rat?
>> Anonymous
>>134891
truth.
I have lost good clothes due to this. Clothes I don't even remember putting by their cage.
But its also fun to tie things to the roof of their cage and watch them try and pull it down.

I think thats a stupid reason not to own a male rat though. I think they're better personality-wise and they are lazier. Which makes cuddling with them better and less wiggly.
>> Anonymous
>>134893

For real, if I ever get rats again, they'll be males. My first rat was a male and he was the most easy-going little beast. I'd put him in my backpack and go on long walks with him and he'd just chill out on my shoulders or nap. He'd also fall asleep between my back and my computer chair.

Females are just tooooooo active for me these days.
>> Anonymous
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>>134713
Yeah no srsly. Get two for sure. There's not much difference in owning two rats as opposed to one. Males are more affectionate, but yes, they do have gonads.

Rats do need larger cages than hamsters and gerbils and mice, though. At least three feet by four feet wide and three or so tall. They like to rummage around and build nests and climb and generally play with their environments.

Also, seconded on the "don't buy feeder rats". They're scrawny and avoidant, probably even have more of a chance of coming home with a sickness.

I had a Blue Hooded Dumbo Rex - probably cost me around ten bucks or so. There are many different types of purebred or "fancy" rats out there. They're social and intelligent and come in a rainbow of colors as well as many different patterns of markings. The dumbo variety are quite cute as they have larger ears.

When you do get a rat keep him in your shirt or hoodie for an hour or so every day so he learns to cozy up to you. It's awesome being able to walk around with a rat resting on your shoulder nuzzled up next to your neck.

good luck!
>> Anonymous
>>134997
Sadly, there are no breeders around my area(lol, pflugerville,Tx) So I'mma have to resort to Petsmart, Petco, or an animal shelter. Which one do you recommend?
>> Anonymous
>>135006
>>134997here

Personally I wouldn't get any pets from a chain store. If you do go, don't let them talk you into buying feeder rats. If you have no other options just make sure they know the breed of the rat and are knowledgeable about the needs of a rat (large cage, attention, healthy diet that includes fresh produce) before buying, otherwise it's probably a common feeder.
I'd at least check out the shelter first. Actually, I'd call around to any locally owned pet stores - they might not be listed as breeders even though they might still have fancy rats.

Rescue infos:
petfinder.com
http://www.whiterockvet.com/links.html
>> Anonymous
>>135006
My local Petsmart at least seems to take decent care of their rodents, has a greater variety, and the decency to label their rats "young" and "adult" instead of the small/medium/large feeder classifications used at PetCo.
>> Anonymous
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I got mice due the lack of space in my place. Two females, one is really nice and friendly, the other one can be a nasty bitch sometimes. But they don't fight each other and are pretty smart (specially on finding the "sof spots" that I leave in the cage to see if they can get out).
>> Anonymous
>>135022

I actually don't recommend smaller pet stores. I've worked at two different ones (as well as a chain store), and the quality of the animals in the mom and pop stores were even worse than at the larger store. This is because, contrary to popular belief, very few small stores have the time to breed their own animals or shop for local breeders. Instead, all of their animals are supplied to them through a distributor, much like dry goods, who pool together and then sell large quantities of animals in rather unsanitary conditions. We would even get in diseased animals from these places (after picking out the dead ones) and have to treat them ourselves before selling them. Larger stores have their own distribution centers and have the resources to procure healthier animals... Just don't expect the employees at chain stores to be as knowledgeable as the ones in a mom and pop store.

Still, the best source for small animals is your local shelter or direct from a (reputable) breeder.
>> Anonymous
none all are snake foods
>> Anonymous
CHINCHILLA
>> Anonymous
I suggest getting 3 or 4 rats then once you bring them home and put them in their cage give them some raw meat. Make sure to feed all 4 rats the raw meat.
>> Anonymous
Chain stores seperate their males and females, keeping their rat population small. This makes it possible for the caregivers to hand-raise each individual rat, which makes for primo-quality pets.

In my experience, the locally-owned shops tend to let their rat populations explode, making hand-raising impossible. The rats I've bought from locally owned stores are basically feral.

Also, I want to add that my local PetSmart only ever carries rodents from reputable breeders and their cats and dogs are direct from county shelters, not from mills.
>> Anonymous
Alright, OP here.
I appreciate all the suggestions of all the anons in this thread, and I decided to get two blue male rats from Petsmart. The rat's had individual cages, and they were clean and had good food and bedding. The first one, named Atticus, has light brown fur patches, and is very adventurous and fiesty. The second one,named Dap, who has a gray face, is somewhat jumpy, and squeaks whenever he gets picked up, but he doesn't seem to mind laying in my lap. Though, they've been what seems like sneezing alot, and i want to know if I should be concerned.

Lol, btw, I think Atticus marked my back as territory, lol.
>> Anonymous
>>135138
congratulations on your new babies. Sneezing should be something to be concerned about as rats often have respiratory diseases. Hopefully you can find a vet that deals with exotics in your area. If you are on livejournal, feel free to check out ratties.
>> Anonymous
>>135138
Like I said, feed the rats some raw meat from time to time, it's good for their digestive systems and quite nutritious.
>> Anonymous
>>135022
I worked at a Petsmart for a while and they do not sell live mammals as feeders - so their rats *should* be kept and treated well with a mind to sell them as pets. Obviously I can't speak for every store, but usually the people who work in the Specialty Department (e.g., the only part of the store that actually sells animals) are pretty well trained, know what they're doing, and want to take care of the animals.

>>135138

Sometimes stress from changing locations can aggravate rat respiratory systems, but keep an eye on him for any kind of discharge from his eyes or nose. If you got a different bedding from what they had in the store, that might do it, too. And yeah... rat balls are great for dragging their scent around on you. :< But boys are so much fun to keep, and blues are so pretty! Anonymous desires pix!
>> Anonymous
Get a gerbil. They are in fact win.
>> Anonymous
>>135152
I'll do you one better and make a video!
>> Anonymous
HERES THE VIDEO!

On my brother's youtube account.
We changed the name of the grey/black one to GUTTS cause my sister is indecisive.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Z2V1HA1rsi8
>> Anonymous
>>135248
(:
They seem really playful and interested

I'm not an expert (although I have raised a few rats), but if one is sneezing I'd wager it's due to environmental factors rather then a virus - they both seem frisky and healthy

good job! thanks for sharing (:
>> Anonymous
>>135248

Aw hell yeah Anon, that's awesome. They're adorable!

http://www.dapper.com.au/toys.htm

I dug up this link, used to visit the site all the time back when I kept rats. Tons of great ideas and information. Hope they stay happy and healthy. :)
>> Anonymous
>>135248
AWW how cute! The males are definitely a lot friendlier and chill.... and they don't kill each other! Its a WIN all the way around! =3
>> Anonymous
Rats are killer. They're smart, they can be playful, and they're easy to take care of.
>> Anonymous
>>135138
Try feeding the sneezing rat one chocolate chip if he continues to sneeze after they're settled in.
Seriously. Thats what my vet recommended and it did help.
And no, apparently it won't kill or make them sick like chocolate will do to cats and dogs.
>> Anonymous
My girlfriend had mice (HAY GUYZ I HAVE A GIRLFRIEND). They were two males, and they got along well and were easy to hold without having them run off.

They were cute, but there's honestly not a lot that two guys can do when one of them is 1/64th the size of the other.
>> Anonymous
I want a rat :(

Too bad I live in stupid rat-free Alberta and would be charged a ridiculous fine if caught.
>> Anonymous
>>135473
You should move over here to B.C. and get a place by a park. We could talk rats and smoke all the shit we steal from the middle-schoolers.
>> Anonymous
>>135478

I like this idea. But why would we need to steal it? I hear it fucking grows on the side of the road.
>> Anonymous
>>135480
Anything lightly sprinkled with the tears of a crying wigger will ALWAYS outshine the competition.
>> Anonymous
>>135480
it's called weed for a reason. People plant it in the woods and come back months later to harvest it. It is genuinely hard to kill it anything but intentionally.
>> Anonymous
This seems to be a pet rodent comparison thread, but nobody has mentioned guinea pigs. How do they compare to the others, e.g. in stench, intelligence, lifespan &c?
>> Anonymous
>>135503
Guineapigs aren't awfully intelligent, but probably the cuddliest rodent of the ones mentioned. They prefer eating, sleeping and receiving cuddles so if you're looking for an active animal you can interact with, you'd probably be better off with a rat.
My experience with guineapigs is that they pee and poo in one corner so you can just change that daily and there won't be much smell at all. Oh and lastly, male guineapigs aren't as aesthetically pleasing as they have their balls dangling behind them.. :|
>> Anonymous
>>135521

Rat balls are nothing to scoff at.

Guinea pigs are pretty cool though, I loved how they associated employees at the pet store with tasty. We'd give them oranges and stuff.. some of them would start squealing and waiting at the door when we'd go in to the habitats with food carts. :>
>> Anonymous
Guinea pigs are weird, and make strange video game noises.
A friend of mine had one living in this big room. The guinea pig's cage was on one side of the room, and there was a sink on the other side. Whenever you would turn on the water, the guinea pig would start beeping and going "woooop woooop woooop."
I'm glad the OP didn't get a hamster, those things are awful pets.
>> Anonymous
bump
>> Anonymous
SPOILERS: MALE RODENTS USUALLY HAVE GIGANTIC BALLS.

christ people.
>> Anonymous
>>135622
sarcasm?
>> Anonymous
Feed the rats raw meat, it'll help with the sneezing.
>> Bitter Anon !!WJLRQ1cwCyZ
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I'm in ur thread, talkin bout testicles
>> Anonymous
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>>135627
looks like on of my rats.
only his eyes are red, doesn't look dirty/greasy and doesn't look like he has acne.

hairless rats are awesome.
>> Bitter Anon !!WJLRQ1cwCyZ
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>>135630

That was Gus, a 5year old hairless rescue rat. He'd lived in a small box barely big enough for him to move around in for most of his life, and was covered in scars and cysts so old they couldn't be removed. He really was a sweet rat, if really fucking gross.

Hairless rats are awesome because you can see their wrinkles and it's like petting a baby without getting creepy stares!

Pic: Gus's roomate and murder victim. Gus killed him, yes.

OP: as others have said, get a pair of rats, that already know each other. If you want playmates, get females, but if you want cuddles, get boys.
>> Anonymous
I really don't want to deal with a pregnant rat if get one, so, if I were to get rats, I would get two boys.
>> Anonymous
I've only had experience with a hamster... don't get one! Hamster owners tend to only buy one because male hamsters in one cage = carnage. They're very anti-social and territorial.
>> Anonymous
Get two male rats. Females are very hyperactive and jumpy, but males are wonderful.

Hamsters are mean little bastards, and mice are just fucking annoying. Rats are smart, clean, cute, ect ect ect. Plus you can even litter box train them so that cleaning up after them is even easier.
>> Anonymous
>>135640
Aw. How'd he kill him? Infected bite or did he maul him?

My hairless rat was alone in a small tank for a year or more. I'd always stop and see him when I went there and I ended up falling in love and took him home. Glad I did too.
Shame that rats don't live very long. I'm going to be really bummed when he goes.
>> Anonymous
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Get a rat. Other small pets aren't even close to them in awesomeness.

Pic is of my cousin's rat because it's cuter than my rats.
>> Anonymous
>>135665
I bet he snuck up from behind an broke his neck when the other rat was on patrol.
>> Anonymous
bump
>> Anonymous
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Hamsters fucking smell to high heaven. Rats are very, very intelligent and I've never had an odor problem with my guys.
>> Anonymous
so furry
>> Anonymous
yeah
>> Anonymous
get a degu ! it live 10 years its super friendly you can show him trick he will recognize you if you give him attention. nothing special to do except feeding him and it is less ugly than a rat !
>> Anonymous
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>>136160
oh and it look like this !