Kingdom of Knuffel

yeaaaaaah slightly confused lol. like i've seen rats in pet stores and they're cute and cuddly. and then ive seen rats muchhhh larger just scurry across the yard and they're not so cute. 8u

And they like the carrier (sounds like a good work to me, but I'm not English) or are they scared to be out?
Rats are way larger than my gerbils, so it might be less scary for them

People look funny at me when I show photos of my gerbils ( agh, they look like mice) so I wonder how do people react to rat pets? Do they get weirded out?

@Hot: Oh yeah, wild rats are bigger for sure. Plus males can be huge I still find the wild rats cute though, but it might just be me

@Amura: So far they weren't in the carrier at all, so I'd like to acquaint them with it before I put them in for a ride tomorrow. So they would feel it's familiar in the slightest.

gerbils are cute! And mice, too. Idk what's people's deal with them. The tiny noses and fingers are adorbs.
So far I never had a reaction to rats per se, more like "oh, you never struck me as a rat person", lol. I guess because of the stereotype that girls hate mice and everything similar. Then they ask me questions like, do they get attached to hoomans etc. They generally are curious. Or I've only met people who know how to politely carry a conversation XD

Here rats are quite unpopular, as people think of dirtiness and nastiness and sickness when they talk about rats.
So I suppose they would think me crazier if I got pet rats xD

They are not very well known, even people who do own rodents do not know much about how to take proper care of them.
When I talk them about their tank most people think I'm overdoing it, that they would be a-ok in a tiny cage with a little bedding. No sir, they would not.
But it took me some researching to find out.

Oh yeah, the tiny cage problem. People don't realize how much movement small rodents need. And entertainment. Otherwise say bye-bye to all the nice stuff, it's gonna be chewed up

Yeah, researching pets prior to buying is very important. My first rat was single because I didn't know they needed companions. And as much as I did my best to provide for her and she seemed happy, I'm sure she'd have been even happier with a friend or two.

Yeah, I had some issues getting a partner for my gerbil too.
I had read it was nice having them in couples, but when I went to the pet store they told me they could get some but they could not guarantee any sex. Purely random. I could get a male and a female and end up with a ton of babies, and I would not know what to do about them.
So I chickened and bought just one gerbil.
Ah, yes, and the tiny tank they recommended me there...

When I was setting the tank I realized it was too small for one rodent, way too small, but I bought a nice second hand large fish tank. Also cheaper than the store bought one. That was easy to fix.
Figuring out his sex took much longer. Cause, you know, he needs to trust you quite a lot to allow you to check his thingies
When I knew he was a male I started searching for companions and was quite lucky to fund someone who had babies and was finding homes for them, so I got another one.
Had to split the cage to introduce them, but it was quite easier than I expected

It's lovely having them together.
Next week we'll be away a few days, so at least they won't be lonely.

I think wild rats would be more considered as pests than pets lol. XD;;

Well, we've got lice But no worms, so that's good.

….lice? 8u worms? XD;; i don’t get it.