Well.... I'm 17 and live in the U.K. I am a student and have always been into animals. My Family Pets consist of one dog called Tula, Two Abyssinian cats called Juicy and Saffron and my four rats, Darla, Spring, Luna and Esmay. I also enjoy horse ridding and have been doing so since I was 6.

In the past I have had Hamsters, mice, a Gerd (large gerbil) and a rabbit and guinea pig, My dad also had tropical fish which I helped look after.

I got my first rats at around 5 years of age, but they weren't really my pets they where my dad's as he had always wanted to get some rats as he had herd they where really intelligent. Our first rats where two bucks an albino called George and a black rat called Rolland. I cant really remember too much about them except when Rolland died he just ran to the bottom of the cage and froze and it was so sad because George  took him a bit of food as if to try and help him or see if he was ok. After Rolland died George got very upset and became quite vicious.

The next rats we got where supposedly Bucks they where called Chester and Max, but one Sunday I got up to go horse ridding and found Chester had, had a litter of 13 babies I was rather surprised to say the least, Max unfortunately had to go back to the pet shop as we didn't have room for two cages and didn't want anymore babies. The litter was a mixture of mink, agouti/chocolate and black kittens. They two went back to the pet shop when old enough as my Dad was afraid of a population explosion.

We did however keep Chester who's name went from Chester to Chester-Rooney and finally just Rooney (this was my doing). I cant really remember how she died but she was a lovely rat and became very tame living on her own.

After Chester we didn't get anymore rats for a long while I kept other rodents instead. Then about 2 years ago I decided to get two new rats after deciding they where more fun then the other rodents I had kept. I got two does called Perdie and Ebony, Ebony was jet black with a white belly and Perdie was a mink with blonde and ginger bits in her fur. Ebony had to be put to sleep very early on after having two strokes, she was less then a year old.

Perdie was then left on her own, and I got to know her very well she was a very sweet laid back rat, who was never skittish or minded being held by strangers. She also used to have a little bell that she would ring for attention, which she made good use of while she was on her own. At this point I decided to not buy rats from a pet shops anymore as I had formed my own opinions about the quality of their stock. So I chose to get two new does to keep Perdie company from a breeder. I picked the two new girls up at the Penwood show last year, This was also the first rat show I had been to so I took the chance to have a look at the different colours available.

My two new rats where called Darla a silver grey and Ozy an Agouti. They lived with Perdie, who was a perfect mum to them (she always made the bed) until she had to be put to sleep in March 2001. It was just before my birthday and I was so upset, more then I realized I would be. She was such a special rat! anyway this made me decide to have a rat cage for my birthday! to show the other two how much I loved them. I also joined the National Fancy Rat society.

After Perdie died I decided to add to my collection. I luckily obtained two black Banded Husky does, I say luckily because there was a lot of people after the litter. I called them Luna and Spring. I was very pleased with them as they were both very fancy looking. Shortly after this I got them, I joined the London and Southern Countries mouse and rat club in the hope that my parents would take me to lots of shows with my new girls and on the 14th July 2001 I did exhibit in my first ever show! I didn't win anything but I really enjoyed it and gained allot of experience.

In August 2001 Ozy had to be put to sleep as she had a womb infection, she was still just under 2 years old and was badly missed by me and Darla but at least Darla had the Huskies to play with. However as one rat departed in my house in August another 10! where brought to life when I finally bred my first litter of rats from my Husky doe Luna. It was a great learning experience with many emotional highs and lows but I believe in the end it was worth it, especially as I ended up with a new rat from the litter a little doe called Esmay! who I can proudly say when asked, I have known all her little life :o)

In the future ....

Right now I would like two maybe three new rats a Cinnamon pearl, English Blue and an American Blue. I would then Like to participate in tones more shows!  However I would not like to breed anymore litters unless I had something a little bit special!

 

Ok well that's pretty much it I hope you didn't find that too boring

Em. 

                                                                                                                        

 

                                   Last updated 2nd November 2001.

All photo's and some art work are produced by me, unless stated otherwise. When taking any of my own work for your  web site then please acknowledge me by either including me as a link or adding my banner (which is on the links page) :o)  

Disclaimer = I do not claim to be an authority on rodents or rats and any information on this page is just opinions and advice and is by no means a substitute for good books or veterinary advice.  All the toys on the toys page are just ideas and may not have been tried out so it is up to you to implement them and judge there safety.