 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / June 2004Rat Identification--
I just recently purchased a rat today and I was wondering about identification..as in taxonomy type thingies... She's got what I would call, from limited research, a sliver hood with a narrow stripe running down the length of her back. She also has two stripes the run from the dorsal stripe, perpendicular to her belly...kinda like the cross on a donkey's back. Is this technically a silver-hooded rat? I was just curious. Also, I'm trying to come up with a name for her. I'm afraid I'm bad with this stuff...my first impulse was to call her Benjamina...I'm a bit of a horror movie fan! But, as this is my first rat, I'm not sure what to call her yet. Also a quick question on taming. Thus far I've pulled her out of her cage, had her run around on the floor, although not to far from me. I also sat her on my shoulder for a bit. Aside from the occasional poo, everything seemed to go well and she didn't appear stressed at all, just curious. Is there anything else I should be doing for socialization? Thanks in advance! Well, you're going down the right road. I can't help with the identification, there are plenty of good sites to help there. Other's will give you a few addresses to follow. But I do have a couple of other comments. As far as naming, many people pick themes because they WILL have more than one. We tried cities for a while... Paris, Troy, Phoenix, etc. But we eventually adopted what I call the Rat Naming Game. For a number of days after we adopt a new rat, every member of the family will abruptly interrupt a conversation with a name. "Steve?" "Otis?" "Jack?" Suddenly something will stick. "That rat is a 'Roger' if I've ever seen a 'Roger'". Rats bond with their owners. They seem to adopt you as much as you adopt them. The trick to taming them is building trust. And the trick to that is just loving them and playing with them. You don't have to be a lion tamer or horse whisperer. Just be yourself. And if you deserve their trust, they will freely give it.  SignatureMark Tomlinson "I'm not a trouble maker; I am a catalyst for change." > I just recently purchased a rat today and I was wondering about > identification..as in taxonomy type thingies... [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > Thanks in advance! :: I just recently purchased a rat today and I was wondering about :: identification..as in taxonomy type thingies... [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] :: bit of a horror movie fan! But, as this is my first rat, I'm not :: sure what to call her yet. some suggestions: Xag (pronounced Zag - X for the cross, and Ag is the chemical symbol for silver) Shadowfax (The grey-silver steed of Gandalf) Renato (an anagram of the words Rat One!) HTH :-p Wow you come up with some good names..:) Now I know who to call on when I need some ideas..:) Regards Kate > :: I just recently purchased a rat today and I was wondering about > :: identification..as in taxonomy type thingies... [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > > :-p > Also a quick question on taming. Thus far I've pulled her out of her > cage, had her run around on the floor, although not to far from me. I [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Thanks in advance! FOOD! Rats will do anything for food, and will love anyone that gives them food. When you give her treats, give the nicest, tastiest bits to her yourself instead of in her foodbowl/whatever. This will ensure that she bonds with you incrediably quickly :-) Might I suggest getting one or two more rats? Whilst it seems like it'll be a lot more bother having two rats instead of one almost halves your responsibilty and doubles your enjoyment. Because there are two the rat can get half of its stimulation from its playmate. Also, two rats get up to all sorts of stupid things together. Three rats is similar but gives you a spare for if you tread on one. I only got the one rat and have been kicking myself ever since People with two rats seem to have far more fun going on both inside and outside their cage :-) > > Also a quick question on taming. Thus far I've pulled her out of her > > cage, had her run around on the floor, although not to far from me. I [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > two rats seem to have far more fun going on both inside and outside their > cage :-) I have to agree, rats need company. When I got my first rats, one of them died shortly after coming home. I didnt know what to do. I didnt know you could put rats together, so I kept my little girl on her own. although she got plenty of attention from me, she must have been lonely. Plus I'm not sure whether she went mad or would have been like it anyway, but she used to go round in circles,chasing her tail just like a dog. Unfortunately, she only lived for 6 months. Knowing what I know now about rats, I would never have one its own again, thats one of the reasons why I have 5 of the furry little critters! Signature~*~vikky~*~ http://community.webshots.com/user/wotsitgizmo Some advice?....:) She would be a lot happier with another Rat for company. Rats are social animals that need the company and body warmth of another of their kind. At night when you are fast asleep, that is when they play and do all the fun things that we miss out on..LOL. They are actually nocturnal. To tame her try putting her down your top where it is warm and dark,... she will then associate this with safety and comfort...:) I can't help you with markings as we have a limited choice here and there are soo many that we don;t have..:( Can I suggest that you don't forcefully remove your Rat from her cage? If you could lure her out with food or a treat, Her home is suppose to be her "safe" place. Congratulations on becoming a Rat owner, but please seriously consider getting another Rat for company. Regards Kate > I just recently purchased a rat today and I was wondering about > identification..as in taxonomy type thingies... [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > Thanks in advance! Just to echo everyone else here, please get your little girl a friend, someone she can play with while you're asleep or at work, think how lonely you'd get being locked in a cage for hours during the day by yourself, (Plus two are SO much more fun than one :) ) Two are really no more trouble than one, (this is coming from someone looking after seven :) ) > Some advice?....:) She would be a lot happier with another Rat for company. > Rats are social animals that need the company and body warmth of another of [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > > > > Thanks in advance! |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2009 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.