EDIT: In case anyone was wondering, they are NOT meant to be a breeder pair. I'm hoping their new family will spay/neuter and house them separately but with ample playtimes together.

EDIT 2: Alternatively, I will split them up, but only if you already have (or will have) a same-sex cagemate for them.


   I don't want to let these cuties go, but they won't get the attention and playtime that they need as school will be starting up again for me.

They are both albino rats, but NOT feeders or from a pet store. They're Lilo (male) and Stitch (female) and they love to snuggle with each other and play. Stitch loves to groom Lilo, and he loves it, too, and will fall asleep from it. I've had them ever since they were babies with their eyes closed - I have pics and videos. They were born in late May and their favorite snack is plain rice krispies cereal or caramel rice cakes. They don't like Cheerios, unless it's the honey nut kind. They are being fed Harlan rat blocks and I have a bag of that to go with them. I will also give this little candle holder thingy as they love hiding in it. As I'm typing, they're both asleep inside of it. Unfortunately, I do not have a cage to go with them as they are currently using borrowed ones from a friend who already has 4 ratties.

If you are near the Indianapolis area and looking for some ratties to adopt, please let me know. Like I said, I have pics and videos of them. They're the same age (brother and sister), but Lilo is bigger because I think he's half piggy (lol). They are housed separately but let out for a majority of the night with me; so, you won't be getting a pregnant Stitch. Because they are opposite sexes, I would probably have to split them up.   

This is my first post here, but I have been a lurker for a while now. I will be checking the forum daily as I need to find them a new family as soon as possible. Thank you for reading!

Here they are asleep in their little candle holder thingy right now:


Click for a larger size.

Thanks for the reply! Hamilton Co. is not too far a drive for me. What city exactly?

Do you have cages?

Also, if you haven't already, you should call around your area and ask for estimates on neutering and spaying as it could be expensive and/or difficult to find a vet with experience.

One last thing. How serious are you about adopting? Or, are you looking to adopt a large number of ratties? I noticed that you have responded to other adoption threads here.


Taken early this morning:

Click for larger image. They are housed separately, but since today is America's birthday, they get the whole day of play (and napping) together!


After bath time, about 20 minutes ago:

Click for larger image. Stitch on left. Lilo on right. He got up because he thought I had food.

If "free" means outside of their cages and together, then yeah, they are free and together during playtime, but with me. I don't like to leave them unsupervised this way. So, if they are out of their cages, I'm with them 100% of the time, which is usually at least 1 hour's worth of play a day. Or, in their case, 1 hour's worth of running around, chasing after this ugly stuffed animal that I hold, or climbing in and out of their candle holder thingy. I find it therapeutic to play with or watch them, much like watching tropical fish!

Also, they don't really roam around the house as their playtime area is a large landing that is mid-way to the bottom of our stairs. The area is big enough that they can run around, but small enough that they're always within sight. Even when they are napping like in the pics, they are being supervised as their nap area is on top of a fold-out lap table that is near my laptop, which sits on another fold-out lap table.

Additionally, they each get shoulder and lap time (ie, when one gets shoulder, the other will get lap) when I'm either at the computer or at the desk doing work.

That's pretty much the extent of their "free roam." Thanks for the question!

thats what ive always been told...that you shouldnt let unaltered boys and girls anywhere near eachother unless you want babies...that they are lightening fast...thats why i was a bit iffy on it..

But you yourself said you let them play together, that is why I was asking. I don't know if they are the only rats you have or something so that's why you are letting them play during free range. I just thought that no matter what, they shouldn't be together unaltered because you probably won't be able to stop it if you see them.

Males and females can be together as long as they are 3-5 weeks of age or younger (around weaning age), according to our facility director, who does have a Master's degree in this field. There is no "no matter what."

It takes only a few seconds for rodents to mate. So, it's the speed of mating that makes them playing together iffy, not the ability to physically stop them from mating. And, yes, they are the only rats here. I am just fostering them like I did with their other 4 siblings who were quickly adopted.



jesirose: both you and chaoticserenity are "regulars" on this forum. Please try to be courteous towards others and follow the stickies at the top of this section of the forum. I have bolded the important parts for both of you. As posted by kmw, a Global Moderator:

lol, they don't like bath times like some rats I'm sure. But, they do like the towel drying - they like hiding inside or under things, especially the girl. She is actually easier to bath as long as she's shampooed gently. The boy likes to jump out of the small basin or try to crawl up your arm. They aren't bathed regularly because their grooming keeps them pretty clean. I bathed them today because Stitch laid in her pee and I decided to go ahead and bathe both.

Sounds great that you can find a vet to perform the surgery! Noblesville is about a 30-min drive from Indy, so I could make the trip for you. I just really, really want them to go to a good home and you have definitely shown interest. I was only asking about the cages because I don't have any to give to you - sorry! But, I do have a bag of their rat block food, which should last a good 2 months, so you can transition them to another diet.

I can take them up there pretty much any week day after 6pm. If you have a contact number, I can call so that we can discuss the details with you and your dad. If you'd like to wait to discuss the details until after you've found a vet or talked with your dad, that's fine, too. Just let me know! I will e-mail my contact info to you right now.

nobody is lecturing you...i was actually asking because i have a friend who lives near you looking for rats...and its a kind of important question to ask...especially since you said yourself you have a male a female..old enough to possibly mate...playing with eachother...i would hate for her to get a rat that could possibly be pregnant because someone let a unaltered male and female to play together which is a no no....but since youve went back and forth on if they play together or not...you are making no sense...

so that little rule you decided to repost...doesnt really apply to me since i WAS interested in adopting the little ones for a friend..