Meet Max! My latest pal

[Die Fledermaus]

You know my remaining rats are all just over two years old. So their time is limited. Their story has been told here a number of times.

Yesterday I was discussing some things I was concerned with at the pet store, where I am well-known. I found out the next day a fancy rat was arriving. I mildly objected as there should be at least two as they are social critters.

So, I went in there today and there he was, alone. Young and not nearly full grown. But no juvenile. Was he going to a home to be permanently alone? I once refused to adopt out any of my rats to someone who wanted only "one".

Well, he is here now, next to me in a tank in a shaded area, and he just took a banana piece! He had been resting under my shirt for a few hours. He will be introduced to my other males; or, I will get another young male next month, as I can find him. Owing to the age of my other males I would need another new male soon enough, anyway. We shall see.

He appears to be a blue. I will confirm that elsewhere, or input here can help with that. Owing to his color, his name is of course is Max. If you don't get that, then check this link

Here is Max.

[pinky]

He is beautiful!

Did you buy him, or did you talk the store into letting you have him?

Welcome, Max!

[Hamsters82]

He's cute. I wonder if rats can live alone; I'm just wondering. They say dwarfs are social creatures, yet some can live alone. I wonder if that's the same for rats.

[Die Fledermaus]

Dec 3, 2008 0:27:56 GMT -4 pinky said:

He is beautiful!

Did you buy him, or did you talk the store into letting you have him?

I may be glib, but not that glib!

As for living alone, everything I ever read says it is not good. He is adjusting to his new place now so I am mostly leaving him alone. We shall indeed see what happens with him vis a vis a friend.

He ate a lot last night from what little was left.

[Die Fledermaus]

Dec 3, 2008 9:56:42 GMT -4 Hamsters82 said:

He's cute. I wonder if rats can live alone; I'm just wondering. They say dwarfs are social creatures, yet some can live alone. I wonder if that's the same for rats.

I am not sure, but I doubt it. Will ask on such boards as the rmca.org.

I know about dwarfs. When a pair squabble loudly, some people think it is a fight and they make the mistake of separating them. It is merely a dominance thing. But when the ball up and blood is seen, that is the real deal. the one time I saw that I think it was not as noisy as a mere squabble - it was serious stuff. They got separated at once.

I should add his fur is extraordinarily clean and soft. The softness may be due to his young age; I forget if that is how it was with my older guys when they were young.

[ladyjosephine]

He's beautiful..I think he's either Silver blue or American/slate blue
There is one other option but I don't know if that color is common over there (And I only know the "dutch" name)

I like the name..But I just like every name that "means" something ;D
Personaly I would try to get him a friend of his own age, but that depents on your other guys offcourse.

@katie:Rats can't live alone..That's cruel. Although allot of people think: If I give my rat 2 hours of attention per day, It'll be okay. But they forgett about the other 22 hours left in a day that the rat will be alone, without someone to play/sleep on/eat with/communicaty with.

I usually compare it to humans: We don't like to be all alone, we need to have some human contact, even if it's not every day. If I would be trapped in a small room, only see someone else 2 hours a day and then get locked back in the room I would go crazy..The same goes for rats. And Humans are not rats, we can't replace a congener

*Edit: About the soft fur: I guess he's still in his kitten-fur

[Die Fledermaus]

The link above explains why he is named Max. it is an historical reference.

I have indeed decided to try to get him a friend of about his own age.

>> I usually compare it to humans: We don't like to be all alone, we need to have some human contact, even if it's not every day. If I would be trapped in a small room, only see someone else 2 hours a day and then get locked back in the room I would go crazy..The same goes for rats. And Humans are not rats, we can't replace a congener <<

I guess I am more like a Syrian hamster! ;D

Anyway, I will start asking and thinking about a rat for this guy.

[Hamsters82]

Oh right then. Thanks for that bit of info, Angie.

[ladyjosephine]

>>I guess I am more like a Syrian hamster!<<

To be realy honest...me too. But my example is just for people to see how rats will feel without company

I'm not a big star in people skills, but that's part of my "disorder" says my Psychiatrist. I don't really mind, I have some friends and my family knows how I am. I don't need to talk all day, or be "entertaint" by other people..Just give me a book and some music and I'm happy ;D
So i'm also more like a Syr I guess....

[Die Fledermaus]

>> I don't need to talk all day, or be entertaint by other people..Just give me a book and some music and I'm happy ;D So i'm also more like a Syr I guess....<<

You sound like me!!

But I like the company of various animals: Max is on my left shoulder under my shirt now. . . after having peed on me and deposited a surprisingly large amount of green poop on my chest - green as he ate lots of chicory yesterday! Syrians don't need any other critters, period.

[ladyjosephine]

Yes, the company of animals, not the company of people

[adoptaratcanada]

Aww, what a cutie pie!!!

[Die Fledermaus]

Just wanted to add that Max is now the size of a guinea pig!

Photos soon.

All the rats here are doing well.

[Dezzi]

I've always wanted a rat... my parents hate them, though. I think Max is adorable; I love the name as well. Hope he gets a friend soon!

[Die Fledermaus]

Read the posts you missed. See the one about Telly the hairless, with photos.

Telly joined Max a month later, and he was soon followed by Petey the black (Annie, his sister, is in with the girls), and now Rangi, a B&W hooded, whose sister, Kahini, is in with Annie and Panini (a lucky white). Kahini and Rangi are feisty and very friendly - I once saw him take on Max, who was three times his size, and Max backed down!