Rats or Mice?

MoonKit · Post by **MoonKit** » Fri May 11, 2007 8:21 pm

So after the fiasco with trying to save the baby mice (that sadly failed), I've decided to either to get two rats or two mice. And I was wondering what you guys thought.

Mice are smaller and less expensive and easier to care for. Rats are more expensive but more intelligent and personable. I've had both when I was little but to be honest I never really interacted with them much which equaled an unhappy aggressive rat. Right now, I'm leaning more towards rats. They just seemed to understand me while I was talking to them at the pet store where as the mice were more interested in the wheel.

What do you think?

Doruk Golcu · Post by **Doruk Golcu** » Fri May 11, 2007 9:05 pm

Go for it. I heard good things about rats as pets. Sad to hear you couldn't save the babies :/

PariahPoet · Post by **PariahPoet** » Fri May 11, 2007 10:28 pm

I've had two pet rats. They make wonderful pets!

I also had a mouse, but she never got over being afraid of me.

I'd say go for the rats. They have a lot of personality, are clean, and fun to play with.

But be sure and get them young! It's better to get them from a family owned pet store than from a big chain like Petco or Petsmart too because the smaller places usually pay more attention to their animals, and rodents need a lot of socialization beginning at an early age to make good pets. Adopting is a good option too. My first rat I adopted from a nice family who couldn't keep her anymore, and she was wonderful! I really didn't think I'd bond with a rodent like that, but I just adored her!

Terastas · Post by **Terastas** » Sat May 12, 2007 11:25 am

Going to cast another vote for rats, though I've never actually had experience with more than one of them. The one my brother and I adopted way back when had enough personality that it actually felt like we owned a pet instead of just put something in a cage on display. They might cost more, but ten to twenty years from now you'll have more stories to tell your friends.

MoonKit · Post by **MoonKit** » Sat May 12, 2007 9:28 pm

Well, I went for it and got two rats.

They're both boys and one is white with tan and the other white with black. And I bought them this nice several story cage that they havent quite figured out yet but thats OK. I'm sure they will. They are so cute though! And so sweet! They havent bit yet!

Now I need names.

Spongy · Post by **Spongy** » Sat May 12, 2007 9:45 pm

How about Stormy for the black one?

No ideas for the other one....Teddy maybe?

Anook · Post by **Anook** » Sat May 12, 2007 9:47 pm

Bolt
AJ
Chip(for the black on or the other it really doesn't matter)

Anook · Post by **Anook** » Sat May 12, 2007 9:49 pm

Paws
Peanut
Pebbles
Jack
pepper
pipe
pyp
Rasco
Roo (for the tanned one)(I love the name Roo and I just love saying it. ROO!)
L.B. (Not really sure about this one.)

MoonKit · Post by **MoonKit** » Sat May 12, 2007 10:02 pm

Anook wrote: Jack

Thats funny, we actually thought about naming the smaller tan one Jack.

I dont know yet. I have to get to know their personalities a little more first. They're kind of shy. Though the tan guy is adorable. When he looks at me he sways from side to side like he's drunk (which apprently means bad eyesight but is normal).

Anook · Post by **Anook** » Sat May 12, 2007 10:04 pm

If you can please post some pictures.

PariahPoet · Post by **PariahPoet** » Sun May 13, 2007 12:01 am

Aww! Cute, cute!

I like the girl rats, but my friend had a male, and he was a sweetheart!

Teh_DarkJokerWolf · Post by **Teh_DarkJokerWolf** » Sun May 13, 2007 1:15 am

Yup yup!! 2 rats

JoshuaMadoc · Post by **JoshuaMadoc** » Sun May 13, 2007 3:12 am

One guy i know who owns like 5 rats say that they like to literally tidy up his room. Mostly just moving things and stuff. I thought that was pretty cute.

MoonKit · Post by **MoonKit** » Sun May 13, 2007 12:09 pm

So we named them! Everybody meet Merriweather and Pippin. Merry is the tan guy and is very inquisitive. Pippin is the one with the black who is still very shy. And they both love baby's breath (the flower)! Pip is starting to work out the wheel while Merry doesnt seem interested. They both let me pet them but they aren't eager to be picked up yet. Aren't they handsome?

Anook · Post by **Anook** » Sun May 13, 2007 12:20 pm

They are so cute.

Kzinistzerg · Post by **Kzinistzerg** » Sun May 13, 2007 1:38 pm

Mmmmm, food....

Uh, i mean, cute.

They really are cute! Rats, despite the bad image, do make nice pets.

Kaebora · Post by **Kaebora** » Sun May 13, 2007 3:11 pm

Merri and Pippin, as in... the Hobbits from Lord of the Rings?

I prefer gerbils myself. Just as intelligent, but much more docile. Nearly the same thing though. The last two gerbils I owned figured out how to escape their cage using the exercise weel. Clever little rodents.

PariahPoet · Post by **PariahPoet** » Sun May 13, 2007 3:49 pm

Cuties!

I've never been much of a gerbil person myself. I've never encountered one that had any personality. But every individual is different, so maybe I've just had bad luck.

Teh_DarkJokerWolf · Post by **Teh_DarkJokerWolf** » Sun May 13, 2007 5:03 pm

Indeed the are handsome

My mom would never let me have pets let alone rats

MoonKit · Post by **MoonKit** » Mon May 14, 2007 11:46 am

Kaebora wrote:Merri and Pippin, as in... the Hobbits from Lord of the Rings?

.

Of course.

Poor Pip though. Both me and him have a small cold. I dont know who gave it to who though.

Fullmoonstar · Post by **Fullmoonstar** » Mon May 14, 2007 1:15 pm

i voted for Rats...i dunno why but i like them more

ravaged_warrior · Post by **ravaged_warrior** » Mon May 14, 2007 1:24 pm

Merriweather... And Pippin? But Pippin is Peregrin's nickname, while Merriweather is not the nickname of Merry! Damn my nitpicking mind!

Anyway, Merry seems to be stepping on poor Pippin's tail. Pippin doesn't seem to notice, though.

MoonKit · Post by **MoonKit** » Mon May 14, 2007 2:20 pm

ravaged_warrior wrote:Merriweather... And Pippin? But Pippin is Peregrin's nickname, while Merriweather is not the nickname of Merry! Damn my nitpicking mind!

Anyway, Merry seems to be stepping on poor Pippin's tail. Pippin doesn't seem to notice, though.

You'll have to excuse me. I havent actually read the books but my mate said the names and they just stuck.

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