What's one more mouth to feed? (pics are here!)

Tomorrow I'm picking up a new adoptee, another rat. He's actually at the dog kennel I used to work at. He's been there for over 7 months looking for a home, he's about a year old. He's silver with dumbo ears. He's very friendly and very active for a lone male. I'm hoping of all hope that he might be introduced successfully with my boys, but if not oh well. His current name is Ratsie, but I think I'm going to change that to Patron. Tomorrow I also have to call and see what I can do for getting 5 rats neutered, snip snip boys. I've been waiting for the littlest boys to grow a bit.

I also have the opportunity to get some dwarf rats. I just have to clear more space and bring another cage out of storage. Might not get them right now though, its the slow season at work and I need to find a more stable job.

Ratsie is home!! New name is Patron.

I was wrongfully informed about the dwarf rats. They are "soft-coat rats", whatever that is. Looks kinda like a shrew/rat. There is a breeder who just got these in the area, but I didn't talk to him. I'm definately going to have to do research before getting these.

Congrats on the new addition! Can't wait to get to see some pictures of Patron. He sounds like a real sweetie. :)

And welcome to your new home Patron! :D

CongRATs! Can't wait for pics!

Soft furred rats or natal rats they are adorible but I don't know anything about them. They are different then your fancy rats though. =]

Pics of Patron sleeping in his travel carrier.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...l/S6301869.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...l/S6301865.jpg

To give you an idea of how big he is, two of my other rats usually fit well in that carrier.

Here's a few stray pics with Hirschel, Meshugganah, and Lowensenf.
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...l/S6301853.jpg
http://i48.photobucket.com/albums/f2...l/S6301852.jpg


Patron has very dry skin and sheds a lot. I think he may have a protein deficiency. His staple food was a seed mixture at the kennel. He's also very big. So he needs a diet and richer food all at once.

I only found one site about soft-hair rats. Its a reptile site and the topic was feeding and breeding feeders. It seems this species doesn't ever really get hand tame or anything. Since I'm looking for something with a better temperment than I've been getting with my mice, this isn't the species for me.

hehe I woul just stick with your fancy rats, hehe. They are all cute! *steals*

Nice to "meet" you, Patron! You are just too cute! :D

Hi Patron, welcome to PT and to your new home!

I am SO glad you said something. I looked at him in the carrier and thought, "oh, he CAN'T be THAT big, it must be because it is a close up." Then you said , well, normally you fit TWO in there. YIKES! Get him a wheel; heck, get him a treadmill!! ;)

What a handsome rattie!

Most males don't like wheels and most males are large and squishy :P Now you have a very squishy man rat. C=

He sure is squishy. He has a wheel, but no idea what to do with it. He sits in it while it rocks and sometimes he rocks it with his front feet. I call it his porch swing. I'm including a high quality cichlid pellet as part of his diet. Its lean protein and lots of good vitamins. I sometimes give fish food to my mice who need the extra boost and they absolutely love it.