Pocket Potatoes Rattery

02/18/2025

Educational post because so many people are so irrationally die hard set on hating bin cages that they actually think their less appropriate cage is better simply because it's a wired cage. So many just parrot how bad they are and it's clear no self research has been done. Because if it was than it would be realized that bin cages have more floor space than a critter nation with a cement tub ya all love so much or many other popular cages suggested in this group.

* Rats are fossorial NOT arboreal. They need more floor space than height. Yes rat can and do climb and bin cages provide plenty of climbing room. At 17/18 inches tall.

* even without the cement tub a bin cage is just as long and only like 7 inches shorter in width. Still meet scientific min and pet/group recommendation

* the recommended cage size I see recommended is 32 x 20. No scientific backing for this, but we will go with it. the bin cage falls like 2 inches short in width , but has 3 extra inches in length.

* ignore the emptiness in between decorating.

Below are pictures of the measurements of a bin cage, 2 popular cages and the cement tub.

02/10/2025

02/07/2025

So because Ik how fast misinformation can be spread id like to take the time to say this page is lgbtqia+ friendly. I do fully support trans rights. And know many trans people who ive MANY times stick up for and corrected others on their pronouns. In fact we are a gender neutral household meaning i do not believe in typical gender roles or that clothes, toys, accessories, careers/jobs are "male" or " female".

I was recently kicked out of a group for simply saying not agreeing with trans people does not make you transphobic. Being hateful does. I also stated that scientifically changing your outer appearance does not change your chromosomes and that is how some people view the issue. Scientifically. You argue this you are just dumb because you are arguing a scientific fact. Again though i dont agree. If you feel you are trans idgaf what your chromosomes are. I will use your preferred pronouns. Ive done research projects in college on inters*xed conditions. Things are not black in white. There is actually one condition where the "perfect" female is genetically male.

So again this is a safe place. I do not tolerate hate, but that also means i respect others opinions as long as it does not jeopardize another persons well being or basic human rights.

02/06/2025

9 weeks old on the 15th.
Warren ohio.
Feel free to pm

02/04/2025

R.I.P. Tobias passed away this morning at the age of 2.7 years old. He leaves behind his son Ender, grandson: Leonardo, great grandson: Axel and 11 great great grandchildren.

01/25/2025

6 weeks old today! (Video was taken a week ago)
So still 3 weeks to go. Please pm for details.
* must provide proof of cage and answer a few questions.
* minimum of 2. 3 or more is best as rats are very social creatures.
* Warren, OH
** drex are hold backs **

01/04/2025

In 7-8 weeks I will have available male and female dumbo, rexoid russian blues and champanges. Also black dumbo self, standard and rexoid top ear male and female agoutis. If interested please pm me.

12/25/2024

Long time no post. Been working on my lines. Currently have 1 to 2 litters available in a few weeks. Will be holding some back to continue on with my breeding program.

* must send picture of current cage/setup
* what food they will eat
* list current pets
* must take min of 2.

09/17/2024

I will be taking a break from social media as I work on my lines/rattery. I look forward to posting babies when available. I am working on

* Silvermane mink, blues and blacks.
* Rexoids: velv, dvel, rex, drex and teddy rex
* silverfawn/fawn

06/16/2024

******EDUCATIONAL POST******

Alright so I have seen a LOT of misinformation being spread in this group. Some even harmful.

1.) Rattus norvegicus domestica is the scientific name for fancy rats. BOTH standard ear and dumbo ear are fancy rats. They are not different types of rats.
2.) Dumbo ear rats are NOT friendlier. Rats have varieties, not breeds. And NO variety or s*x is friendlier than the other. Friendliness has to do with selective breeding.
3.) Male do tend to be lazier than females and females tend to be more rambunctious, but each rat is an individual and you may have a hyper male or a calm female.

CAGES:
1.) Tanks are not suitable for rats. They do not provide proper airflow. I have seen some use tanks and provide the needed airflow, but a basic tank and lid is not appropriate.
2.) Rats are fossorial animals NOT arboreal. They need more length/width than hieght. Some rats do love to climb so minimal hieght should be 20in tall.
3.) Minimum floor space should be 23in in one direction
4.) Many groups will tell you a cage should be minimum 32x20. Insamu rat will tell you A cage should be big enough for 4 rats even if you only have two. So a cage should be at minimum 8 cubic feet. 24 x 24 x 20. The more floor space though the better.
5.) Towels, cotton, fleece are NOT appropriate rats NEED a deep layer of substrate. Kiln dried pine, aspen are appropriate. Paper bedding is not appropriate for rats. That colorful kaytee bedding many use has poor absorption and ammonia build up will cause uris. Paper can be mixed or needs changed practically every other day. If a person has a wood allergy h**p is a better option.
6.) Rats love tunnels, boxes and toys. Cages should be cluttered.
7.) Rats do NOT need chew toys. They grind their teeth down by Bruxing. Chewing is a learned behavior that many breeders breed out.
8.) Wires do NOT cause bumblefoot. Bumblefoot is caused by a dirty cage.

REPRODUCTION/S3X:
1.) Rats can NOT get pregnant before 5 weeks old. Females do not go in to heat until 5.5 weeks old. 6-9 weeks is average. NO good breeder separates before 5 to 5.5 weeks old. No one in my breeding groups has ever had a rat get pregnant when waiting to separate at 5 weeks old.
2.) Rats do not care if they are related. A brother and sister rat over 5-6 weeks old will mate.
3.) Female rats can get pregnant immediately after giving birth. There is zero reason to keep a male with a female.
4.) Boy have b@lls. Females have a v@ginal opening. Females can have fat pads but those are not b@lls. Only females have n*pples. It is very rare for a rat to be inters3xed and for a male to have n*pples.

TEMPERMENT:
1.) NO well bred rat bites! Fingers smelling like food or being red/pink eyed is NOT an excuse. They know the difference! If your rat bites it IS aggressive. No rat bites food hard enough to equal making a person bleed.
2.) It does NOT take days/weeks for a well bred rat to decompress or get use to you. A well bred rat should be friendly and not be skittish from day one. If a rat is semi well bred a day or two may be needed. Anything over a week your rat is just poorly bred.
3.) If you want a well bred rat than buy from a reputable breeder.
4.)RED FLAGS:
** does not c*ll. Culling does not always mean euthanizing which is hard c*lling there is also soft c*lling which means to remive from the breeding program and keep as a pet.
** sells skittish or aggressive rats or sells pups from bucks or does who have aggression. If the female had maternal aggression the pups should NOT be sold as pets.
** boast about handling daily. Many breeders believe in masking which means the nurture (handling alot) masked the rats true nature. And when the rat goes to a new home they can resort back to their true nature of being skittish. A good breeder should NOT have to handle their rats daily for them to be friendly. Selective breeding makes a rat friendly. Reputable breeders handle only for health checks. And the ones who are naturally friendly and not skittish continue the line or get sold as pets.
** does not keep track of their lines.
** does NOT inbreed. If a "breeder" does not inbreed than stay FAR away. Inbreeding is essential in rat breeding. If anyone ever tells you inbreeding causes issues it just means they had poor quality rats. Rats can be in**ed for 100s of generations. It takes 20 gens for them to be identical.

05/27/2024

The rat room! 🥰 More pics/video in comments.

05/05/2024

My current babies. Going to be pairing in the next month or so.

04/27/2024

Share your other non rat pets 😊. Please no pics of rats with other species. Here is my kali-maa.🥰 She's such a good girl except for when she just tried to roll in some trash 🤢.

04/26/2024

The rat room!

04/10/2024

OMG! my one rat hitched a ride to the laundromat. I let my rats have free roam time for a couple to a few days at a time occasionally checking on them through the days. She some how stayed hidden carrying the basket to the car, ride to the laundromat. I usually take my dog with me on errands weather permitting so thank god i buckle her in cause she would of killed Zara.

04/08/2024

They grow up so fast! 15 were born April. 2, by april. 4th we were down to 12, then on April.7th we were down to 10. 5 boys and 5 girls. Since I am trying to breed out MA from this line I decided to cull down to 7 so I wouldnt risk loosing anymore girls. We now have 4 girls. 3 boys. Since im working on breeding out aggression this litter is not up for grabs.

04/02/2024

Okay I am going to talk about red flags/byb. When buying from a breeder here are some things to look out for.

1. Does not cull: culling is a must. If you have females with Ma the litter should be culled. as aggression is hereditary and males are at risk of having Ha if mom had MA.
2. Does not inbreed: rats can be in**ed for MANY MANY generations. Inbreeding is essential to keeping good lines. If a breeder says the dont inbreed because they had issues. It means they have/had issues with their stock.
3. Tells you they handle them a lot so they are friendly. I believe in masking. Well bred rats do not need handled a lot. If they have a good core temperament they will be a good rat with minimal handling. I handle all my rats the same. Just health checks. I dont carry them around or hold them a lot. It helps show who has a true good temperament. I cull the ones who are skittish, keep the ones who are friendly
4. Poor/improper husbandry
5. Does not keep track of lines.
6. Does not Holds rats back. To watch for ilnesses, aggression, how long the rats live.
7. Rehoming before 6 weeks min. Most breeders including myself wait until 8 weeks min.
8. Rehoming single rats
9. Cant s*x rats

I think of more I will update.