"Pygmy" ratlings - Ithaca, NY

[Sun of Samsa]

I'm posting this for a non-member, so all inquiries will be passed along to Kaitlin! The descriptions are fairly vague, so I apologize; I haven't seen them for myself yet, and her camera is broken so there are no pictures. I only insisted on posting this because the poor girl seems entirely unable to keep 14 rats in her home right now!

The story goes that two "males" were rescued from being monitor food down in North Carolina. As it turns out, one of them was clearly not a male, and a surprise litter was born. Before they realized the error, the female was re-impregnated, so ANOTHER litter was born about a week ago.

Right now, there are two weaned males and two weaned female pups. Kaitlin may keep one of the males. As for the second litter, there are 10 babies of undetermined sex. So far as patterning goes, this is where I emphasize that love doesn't come in the form of a pattern! Her description is that they are not hooded, "they are white with either beige or grey patterning... some have grey ears, others don't.  Their shoulders are fairly solid colors, and that trails down to a speckling as it goes.  They are cute!"

For security reasons I have not supplied her contact information. Please PM me and I will put you in touch with her. Thanks!

-edit- I should mention that I do have her permission to post this.

[lilspaz68]

It doesn't sound like they are genetically dwarf, you might want to change that in your subject line.

[Sun of Samsa]

I'll modify the subject just in case, but she says they're "pygmy rats." I wasn't sure what she means by that, but she says they behave more like mice. Again, I haven't seen them myself, I'm only trying to do her a favor. Thanks!

[TheChicagoCrew]

 I think what she has is what is sometimes called pygmy rats -- but they are african soft furred rats, otherwise known as multimammate mice and natal rats. The pet stores often call them pygmy rats, but they are not.

 I know this is not a section for discussion, but considering we may be talking about a totally different species I thought it might be wise to mention this so that no one is 'surprised' if they don't come home with rats!

-Melina