Tails of Whimsy Rattery

09/01/2024

The babies can’t decide if they like celery or not 😂

08/30/2024

I will be processing applications today and reaching out to you guys. If you’ve put in an application keep an eye out! 🖤

08/25/2024

🐭 Important Update: Bi-Annual Health Testing for Our Rats 🧪

We want to share an important update with you: starting now, we will be conducting health tests on our rats twice a year through a professional laboratory. This step is crucial in ensuring that our colony remains as healthy as possible, and it’s something we take very seriously.

Why This Matters:

Rats can carry various communicable diseases that aren’t always visible, such as SDAV (Sialodacryoadenitis Virus), a virus that can lead to serious health complications if not detected. By performing bi-annual testing, we’re able to monitor the overall health of our colony, identify any potential issues early on, and take the necessary steps to protect both our rats and those that may join your family.

What This Means for You:

•Healthier Rats: Regular testing helps us maintain a healthy colony, so you can feel confident that any new companion you bring home has been raised in a safe, disease-free environment.

•Peace of Mind: Knowing that our rats are being regularly monitored and tested gives you added reassurance.

•Commitment to Quality: This is part of our ongoing effort to improve the quality of our breeding program and ensure we’re providing the healthiest possible rats to our community.

We’re dedicated to maintaining high standards in everything we do, and this new step in our process is a reflection of that commitment. Thank you for your continued support, and as always, feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

08/18/2024

This litters markings are coming in! 😍😍

08/16/2024

Goodmorning, babies! 😍

08/14/2024

Happy Birthday! Good job, Luna! Mom and babies are both healthy and doing well.

08/13/2024

How long do pet rats live?

A common question I get is about the lifespan of pet rats, so I thought I’d share some insights!

Typically, rats live around 1.5 to 2.5 years, with some making it to 3 years—though that’s pretty rare. You might notice that females tend to outlive males by a few months. Of course, their diet, genetics, and how active they are can really influence how long they stick around.

You might have heard of some rats living much longer, but those stories often come from mistaken dates or ages.

Caring for these amazing little creatures is such a joy, and knowing what to expect can help you make the most of your time together. 🐾

Take a peek at the graphic for more details!

🐀 'How Long Do Pet Rats Live?' 🐀

This is a question we commonly seen asked, and debated, on rat groups online and is something we feel is super important to discuss.

On the Internet, you may see many unsubstantiated claims of rats live well over 3 4 or even 5 years old that can make you feel bad that your beloved baby 'only' made it to 2, for example. The reality is, that although there are varying factors and exceptions, the average age of pet rats is 1.5 - 2.5 years, with somewhere around 2 ish often being the average 🩷

07/30/2024

🚨 Why It’s Crucial to Choose Ethical Rat Breeders 🚨

When seeking a pet rat, choosing the source is crucial. Here’s why it’s essential to opt for ethical breeders:

1. **Animal Welfare at Stake:** 🐾 Ethical breeders ensure the well-being of their rats, providing appropriate housing, nutrition, and veterinary care. In contrast, profit-driven breeders often compromise animal health and comfort, leading to poor living conditions and suffering.

2. **Health and Genetics Matter:** 💉 Ethical breeders invest in the health and genetic integrity of their rats, conducting thorough health checks to minimize hereditary diseases. Non-reputable breeders, however, may neglect these practices, resulting in severe health issues in rats.

3. **Humane Breeding Practices:** 🌿 Ethical breeders follow humane practices, avoid overcrowding, and ensure proper care. In contrast, unethical breeders may excessively breed their animals without concern for their well-being.

4. **Support and Education:** 📚 Ethical breeders provide vital guidance and support to new rat owners, crucial for understanding proper care, diet, and behavior. Lack of support can lead to pet neglect.

5. **Avoiding Rat Mills:** 🚫 By choosing ethical breeders, you stand against rat mills where animals are bred in deplorable conditions, often resulting in sick and traumatized rats.

6. **Impact on the Community:** 🌍 Supporting ethical breeders promotes better practices within the breeding community, setting a higher standard and encouraging improvements in animal care and ethics.

# # # Important Consideration:
Please keep in mind that while there are ethical breeders focused on feeder rats and those who breed both feeders and pets, buying a rat specifically bred as a feeder doesn’t constitute a rescue. It can inadvertently impact the supply of food for other animals. In many regions, especially during summer and winter, ethical feeder breeders often struggle to meet demand, leading to stress and concern for those relying on their service.

In conclusion, sourcing your pet rats from ethical breeders isn’t just a preference—it’s a necessity. It ensures you get a healthy, well-adjusted pet and helps eradicate inhumane breeding practices. Let’s prioritize the welfare of our pets and foster a community where humane treatment is the norm.

Choose wisely. Support ethical breeding and make a difference. 🌟🐭

**Special Thanks:** This post was created with the invaluable input of Wildflower Exotics.

07/01/2024

Poseidon is cooling off with an ice cream cone on this hot day. How are you keeping cool?

05/03/2024

Can you imagine 😂😂.

04/30/2024

Berk is enjoying this mild spring morning 🥹

04/27/2024

“ in rats! Why do they display this behaviour? What does it mean? 😨

The gorgeous Yoshi is here to give you an demonstration! 😍

To begin to explain this ‘boggling’ behaviour, we must first understand how it happens. A behaviour often found alongside boggling, known as ‘ ’, or, tooth grinding, can cause intense vibrations within the jaw muscles. This in turn causes the eyes to vibrate rapidly in and out of the eye socket! This is what we call boggling! 🤩

Boggling is a sign of contentment, happiness and comfort. It is a sign your rat companion trusts you deeply and is happy to spend time with you! Or perhaps they had a very tasty meal! 🤗 (think of it as similar to a cat happily purring!)

However, interestingly enough, ‘bruxing’ alone, (the tooth grinding behaviour) is not always displayed during times of happiness (in fact, much like a cat’s purr again!) Grinding of the teeth can be noted in times of stress, anxiety, pain and fear, as well as happiness and excitement. These are times of extreme emotion. Rats also brux to grind down their teeth! So, as you can see, there are a lot of other factors we must take into account before deciding our rats are truly happy when displaying these behaviours. A basic knowledge of rat body language really is essential for any rat owner. 🙏🏻

Please do give a follow on Instagram! He is gorgeous and so are his ratty friends! Thanks so much for letting me share his impressive boggle 💜”

04/07/2024

My goodness. What a sweet little lady 😍😍

04/02/2024

Babies first strawberries 🥹😍😍

03/31/2024

Little Ostara is just so photogenic! 😍😍

03/17/2024

Luna x Oregano babies. 😍🥰

03/13/2024

What a beautiful nest! Happy Birthday, babies!

10/25/2023

Miko is such a beauty 😍.