Chicago Exotic Pets & Rattery

07/14/2025

Can we take a moment to show love to this video made by one of our amazing adopters! 🐁❣️✨️

07/13/2025

Its beautiful out, here in Arlington Heights IL! 😍
Let's get some furbabies out and have bonding time under the sun! ❣️🐁✨️🌞

07/13/2025

🗣✨️ Tomorrow morning we are meeting with some of the surrounding schools and high schools to donate some of our sweet ratties for ESA, as highly requested! We have prepped each school with cages and supplies. A lot of really cool items donated!! We encourage & accept donations for this exact reason. Keep them coming, as availability opens!
Super excited for this opportunity ❣️🐁
"Love is..."
-Nala💕

07/13/2025

❣️🐁

07/13/2025

Good morning fellow ratty slaves! ☺️❤️
Happy Sunday to all!❣️🐁

07/13/2025

Yesss! This!💯✨️❣️🐁

🛑 Why Rats Should Never Be Kept in Tanks or Aquariums 🐭💨

While glass tanks might seem like a safe and escape-proof home, they’re actually one of the worst housing options for rats. Here’s why:

❌ Poor Ventilation = Breathing Problems

Tanks trap ammonia from urine and stale air. Rats are extremely sensitive to respiratory issues, and poor airflow can cause long-term lung damage and chronic illness.

🌡️ Dangerous Heat & Humidity

Glass traps heat and moisture. On warm days, a tank becomes an oven—putting your rat at risk of heatstroke. Damp bedding also leads to mold and bacteria buildup, which can make rats sick.

🧗‍♂️ No Room to Climb or Explore

Rats are active, curious climbers. Tanks offer no vertical space, no levels, no hammocks—just flat, boring floor. Mental stimulation is essential for a healthy, happy rat!

✅ What to Use Instead:

✔️ Wire cages with solid plastic bottoms
✔️ Multi-level cages like a Critter Nation
✔️ Properly ventilated bin cages (with mesh cutouts) for budget setups
✔️ Open space, air flow, and enrichment are key to long, healthy rat lives!

📚 Sources:

🔹 Rat Fan Club – ratfanclub.org
🔹 ASPCA – “Wire cages are preferable…”
🔹 Rat Guide – ratguide.com
🔹 Fancy Rats UK Forum – fancyratsforum.co.uk

🚫 A tank is not a home—it’s a health hazard.
✅ Do better. Breathe better. Live better.

🐀💗 Give your rats the space—and the air—they deserve.

07/13/2025

🗣PSA: ALL BREEDERS SHOULD HAVE A MEDICAL BAG 🎒 Should you need assistance in putting one together, I highly recommend reaching out to the below shared post, or myself! ❣️🐁
Through experience comes knowledge!
& if you have the available resources to assist, please do!
They are willing to give the knowledge!
We, as breeders, may come to a place of bumps in the road with financial friction. And thats okay! We come together to stand together, as divided we can fall. Any contributions that you can find possible would be highly appreciated for our fellow rattery! 🙏🏻

07/13/2025

I am fairly new to the rat community, however I've dedicated my heart and mind to the hobby for about a decade now. Witnessed the good, the bad, the ugly, and beautiful...
All of it with very important lessons and vital information acquired.
I appreciate all those whom have been welcoming with open arms, and others that have welcomed with very much constructive feedback and support. I want to also thank those who have chosen to deny acquaintance, as it has assisted in my bow ties of my program! In anything that you do, you will have those that frown down upon it. Whether it may be an error of your way needing improvement, or the perception of others. Dont be discouraged by those whom shun you! There is a reason why stars shine bright in the darkness of night! ✨️
-Nala💕

07/11/2025

Pip's story-🧸

This is Pip. He was my very first ever rat. I got him as a feeder pup rescue, and his eyes were not even open! I had to syringe feed him. He would sleep with me in my sports bra, until he started weaning. Then he was in a carrier right in arm's reach of my bed! He went everywhere with me. He was my baby!
Pip grew up knowing his name. You could walk by the door of my room and say, "Where's Pip?" He would run up to his cage door waiting for you! He knew his name like a puppy! He was so intelligent. This made me want to start breeding! So Pip started it all, for me!

Pip had many litters and gave us such beauties. He was a Russian blue mink. And omg was he gorgeous! I miss him so much! I'm happy to have 1 rat (Oliver) that is a decendent of his line. Pip is Oliver's great uncle!

Pip lived to be 2½ yrs old before passing away. Since I didn't know his background, I don't know why. He traveled with me, saw lots of new people, and made my family learn to love rats! Outside of my mom, she's always loved them! Pip taught me that you shouldn't ever judge before getting to know that animal and/or person!
Pip is always missed but never forgotten 🕊❤️

Enjoy the pics throughout his life!!
>>Leah

07/11/2025

Everyone meet Oliver! He is. A Russian blue Rex Dumbo! He comes from my very first EVER rat, named Pip, line!

I will make a separate post about Pip and my heart ratties!!
Oliver is such a sweetheart and is such a cuddle bug. He doesn't have babies of his own yet, but we plan on it in the future!
These are crappy pics from last night cuddles!

07/10/2025

These 4 gorgeous brothers will be heading to Tennessee next month!! I'm so happy they will get to stick together and have their little self's to spoiled!

Congratulations to their momma on these boys, and we can't wait to have these boys in Tennessee!!

07/10/2025

🗣🗯ANNOUNCEMENT 🗯🗣

🎊😉💞WE CAN SEND BABIES🧸 TO ANY OF THESE SATES STARTING JUNE 20TH💞😉🎊

ALL BABIES WILL COME WITH A CARRIER YOU TAKE HOME! ABSOLUTELY AMAZING TRANSPORTATION SERVICES WITH Dunn's Critter Transport 🥰💝
We've had great success with them!
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