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cryhavoc443 - 23 Nov 2005 17:53 GMT

Hi all. I'm brand new to Google Groups and imagine I'll have trouble
taking advantage of its features. I've been "owned" by ratties for over
50 years. I'm "second generation".
I "hobby breed", that is I have never sold and only rarely allow any
off the offspring to be placed with anyone. I have been working on
longevity for many years now and have 6, 2 boys and 4 girls in the 4+
year bracket. In the past 3 years, we haven't had a "tumor" show in
any of our fur-butts younger than 2years 8 months.
My wife and I are both "retired" military types, so it allows us the
luxory of many hours a day to devote to our furry friends. I look
forward to meeting new rat-lovers here and sharing experiences.

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Tracey - 23 Nov 2005 18:08 GMT

> Hi all. I'm brand new to Google Groups and imagine I'll have trouble
> taking advantage of its features. I've been "owned" by ratties for over
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> luxory of many hours a day to devote to our furry friends. I look
> forward to meeting new rat-lovers here and sharing experiences.

Hi there, welcome to the group! Wow, 4+ years is absolutely brilliant
going, unfortunately most of my rats that have passed were less than two,
usually dying from respiratory problems. I have just two male ratties at
the moment, one around a year and a half, and the other around two and a
half. Thankfully none of my rats have ever had tumours and I consider that
very good going since I've been keeping rats for ten years now, just wish
they weren't plagued by myco...

Do you have any photos of your little ones you could share? We are big into
photos here :o)

Tracey

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cryhavoc443 - 23 Nov 2005 22:42 GMT

Tracey,
As I stated, using newsgroups is foreign to me, but I've made a small
attempt at conforming. LOL
I opened a new page and hope the link works. If it does, I'll move
some more photoes there.
John
http://community.webshots.com/user/cryhavoc443

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Tracey - 24 Nov 2005 10:47 GMT

> Tracey,
> As I stated, using newsgroups is foreign to me, but I've made a small
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> John
> http://community.webshots.com/user/cryhavoc443

Yes it works perfectly! Your ratties are little sweeties!

Tracey

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Tania - 23 Nov 2005 18:23 GMT

Welcome to the Group! I am sure you will find us a very friendly bunch and I
am sure you will be able to help us too, wow that amazing that you have
looked after rats for over 50 years! They are also living to fantastic
ages - Well done!!!

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Tarn ...............
Barney, Yoda, Yogi, Beau & Sebastian <:3_)~~~
At Rainbow Bridge: Buttons, Patch, Cookie, Fudge, Apollo, Zeus,Ben, Neptune,
Morpheus,Ulysses, Pluto, Jerry & Smokie <:3__) ~~~
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Joanne - 23 Nov 2005 19:11 GMT

Hi!!
Wow, 4+ is just incredible.
You will have to tell us your secret and better yet, breed some rats for
me. lol Where are you located at?

I'm in Canada and I've been loving rats for 4 years and have bred a
couple of litters just for me too. ;)

Joanne
Owned by 17 rats

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Michael Rozdoba - 23 Nov 2005 19:24 GMT

> Hi all. I'm brand new to Google Groups and imagine I'll have trouble
> taking advantage of its features. I've been "owned" by ratties for
> over 50 years. I'm "second generation".

Hello & welcome too :)

If I may, I'd like to mention a small point re the nature of the group,
just in case you aren't aware. alt.pets.rodents.rats is part of Usenet
which existed long before Google; Google merely provide one of many web
based interfaces to Usenet. One is usually much better off using a news
or news/mail reader, such as Thunderbird, to access these groups than
such web interfaces.

<rant> I read a few groups where Google Group users often appear & don't
realise any of this. They think the resource they're accessing is
actually provided courtesy of Google, when in fact it has nothing to do
with Google. The fact that Google do nothing to counter this assumption
annoys me a little, particularly as at times (in the past) their
interface has lead to posts which break message threading & such like,
causing problems for everyone else </rant> Just ignore me ;-)

> I "hobby breed", that is I have never sold and only rarely allow any
> off the offspring to be placed with anyone. I have been working on
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> hours a day to devote to our furry friends. I look forward to
> meeting new rat-lovers here and sharing experiences.

That is /very/ interesting. May I ask where in the world you are
located? Have you ever considered entering into a breeding programme
with others interested in the same aims? It sounds as though you have a
very valuable gene pool from which many future rats could benefit.

We only have six girls atm & have only kept rats for just under three
years. I doubt we'd ever breed, but I am very interested in breeding
programs concerned with health, longevity & temperament. It would be
great to be able to undo some of the damage that has been done through
intensive inbreeding & breeding for colour/markings.

Signature

Michael
m r o z a t u k g a t e w a y d o t n e t

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cryhavoc443 - 23 Nov 2005 22:33 GMT

Michael,
Thank you very much for your "rant"! You saved me a great deal of
difficulties! I had been using Use-next for news group reader for
several months but stopped because of the difficulty finding anything
worthwhile amidst the deluge of porn. From the lack of .alt.binaries, I
incorrectly assumed Google's were a proprietary offering. You've
definitely done your "good deed" for the day.
Unfortunately, and I have only a guess based on your spelling of the
word "colour", you are "across the pond"! I reside in Wicomico County,
Maryland, USA.
Not to start my time here with a controversial subject, but I've
found "inbreeding" a very important tool in "fixing" (as in making
dominant) traits in rattie blood lines. I always aim for an index equal
to less than 30%, but I have had to exceed that, especially when my aim
was reducing tumors. I make very little effort to breed for markings
or color, with health, longevity and disposition being my goals.
Thanks again for the "primer".
and I am John

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Joanne - 24 Nov 2005 02:37 GMT

> Michael,
> Thank you very much for your "rant"! You saved me a great deal of
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> found "inbreeding" a very important tool in "fixing" (as in making
> dominant) traits in rattie blood lines.

This to me is very interesting and have also believed that inbreeding is
not necessarily the evil that most breeders claim it to be.
In fact, even my vet (excellent exotic vet) told me the way to go is a
certain amount of inbreeding and not bringing new stock in from all over
the place.

I always aim for an index equal

> to less than 30%, but I have had to exceed that, especially when my aim
> was reducing tumors. I make very little effort to breed for markings
> or color, with health, longevity and disposition being my goals.
> Thanks again for the "primer".
> and I am John

Joanne
Owned by 17 rats

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Michael Rozdoba - 24 Nov 2005 06:24 GMT

> Michael, Thank you very much for your "rant"! You saved me a great
> deal of difficulties! I had been using Use-next for news group reader
> for several months but stopped because of the difficulty finding
> anything worthwhile amidst the deluge of porn. From the lack of
> .alt.binaries, I incorrectly assumed Google's were a proprietary
> offering. You've definitely done your "good deed" for the day.

Glad I didn't seem patronising or OTT.

> Unfortunately, and I have only a guess based on your spelling of the
> word "colour", you are "across the pond"! I reside in Wicomico
> County, Maryland, USA.

Ah yes, I am indeed across the pond, in the North East of England.

> Not to start my time here with a controversial subject, but I've
> found "inbreeding" a very important tool in "fixing" (as in making
> dominant) traits in rattie blood lines.

I am largely ignorant when it comes to such matters & made my comments
mostly as a result of 'common knowledge' which often proves unreliable.
I'm fascinated to learn of my likely error on this occasion. It's a
subject I'd like to know more about, but am unlikely to find the time
unless at some point we do decide to breed.

> I always aim for an index equal to less than 30%, but I have had to
> exceed that, especially when my aim was reducing tumors. I make very
> little effort to breed for markings or color, with health, longevity
> and disposition being my goals.

And with great success it seems :)

> Thanks again for the "primer".

I hope you find this group to be of value.

> and I am John

Please to meet (the virtual) you.

Regards,

Signature

Michael
m r o z a t u k g a t e w a y d o t n e t

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Jackie Mullins - 24 Nov 2005 16:26 GMT

Hello John and Wife,
Glad to have you aboard our little ratty group. As I have said before we
love newcomers and we are a friendly bunch.
I am Jackie 42 years old from Northamptonshire in England and have 7 Rats at
the moment and mine all seem to get to the 2 years of life and then leave
me.

Jackie,
Badger, Teddy, Berkley, Rebel, Texas, Jorja, Reggie and Wilf.
R.I.P my boys Rufus, Ranger and Squirrel and Ronnie ,Stuart and Alfie.
http://community.webshots.com/user/mullins9

>> Michael, Thank you very much for your "rant"! You saved me a great
>> deal of difficulties! I had been using Use-next for news group reader
[quoted text clipped - 37 lines]
>
> Regards,

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Jackie Mullins - 24 Nov 2005 16:34 GMT

And Candy what a looker she is beautiful!!!

Jackie,
Badger, Teddy, Berkley, Rebel, Texas, Jorja, Reggie and Wilf.
R.I.P my boys Rufus, Ranger and Squirrel and Ronnie ,Stuart and Alfie.
http://community.webshots.com/user/mullins9

>> Michael, Thank you very much for your "rant"! You saved me a great
>> deal of difficulties! I had been using Use-next for news group reader
[quoted text clipped - 37 lines]
>
> Regards,

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Kate - 24 Nov 2005 21:30 GMT

Hi and welcome to the best Rat Addicts hangout...LOL. We are all
friendly here and are all well trained in the Rat Owner Slavery...:)
How wonderful to have your ratties live to 4. The eldest I ever had was
just 3 and that poor guy looked it. I am currently owned by 12 adorable
fellas who are spoilt rotten and worth it...LOL. In N. Z. I don't think
we have the choices in Rat colourings etc. I have never seen a nakey
Rat or a simese looking one either, so I am very jealous of all you ppl
who have these gorgeous ones to choose from...:)

regards Kate

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Today I may meet with injustice, ignorance, denial, all of which are due
entirely to the other's lack of knowledge of good and evil and the
difference thereof.

http://community.webshots.com/user/ollieogg

Chance is the path God takes when he wants to remain anonymous
Albert Einstein.

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Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / November 2005

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