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Rats or Mice?

Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 8:21 pm
by MoonKit
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?

Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 9:05 pm
by Doruk Golcu
Go for it. I heard good things about rats as pets. Sad to hear you couldn't save the babies :/

Posted: Fri May 11, 2007 10:28 pm
by PariahPoet
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!

Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 11:25 am
by Terastas
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.

Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 9:28 pm
by MoonKit
Well, I went for it and got two rats. :D

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! :D Now I need names.

Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 9:45 pm
by Spongy
How about Stormy for the black one?

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

Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 9:47 pm
by Anook
Bolt
AJ
Chip(for the black on or the other it really doesn't matter)

Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 9:49 pm
by Anook
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.)

Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 10:02 pm
by MoonKit
Anook wrote: Jack
Thats funny, we actually thought about naming the smaller tan one Jack. :lol: 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).

Posted: Sat May 12, 2007 10:04 pm
by Anook
:D

If you can please post some pictures.

Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 12:01 am
by PariahPoet
Aww! Cute, cute! :D
I like the girl rats, but my friend had a male, and he was a sweetheart! :)

Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 1:15 am
by Teh_DarkJokerWolf
Yup yup!! 2 rats :jester:

Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 3:12 am
by JoshuaMadoc
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.

Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 12:09 pm
by MoonKit
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?

Image

Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 12:20 pm
by Anook
They are so cute. :D

Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 1:38 pm
by Kzinistzerg
Mmmmm, food....

Uh, i mean, cute.

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

Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 3:11 pm
by Kaebora
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.

Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 3:49 pm
by PariahPoet
Cuties! :D

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.
:lol:

Posted: Sun May 13, 2007 5:03 pm
by Teh_DarkJokerWolf
Indeed the are handsome :jester: My mom would never let me have pets let alone rats :Jester3:

Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 11:46 am
by MoonKit
Kaebora wrote:Merri and Pippin, as in... the Hobbits from Lord of the Rings?

.
Of course. :D

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

Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 1:15 pm
by Fullmoonstar
i voted for Rats...i dunno why but i like them more :D

Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 1:24 pm
by ravaged_warrior
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.

Posted: Mon May 14, 2007 2:20 pm
by MoonKit
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.
:lol: You'll have to excuse me. I havent actually read the books but my mate said the names and they just stuck.