Hello all ! First off my name is Brandy. I am a 33 year old mom of 4 real children, 5 kitty cats, 2 labs and 4 little ratty boys...Oh yes and my husband :-)
     I have had my boys for about a month now.  I had wanted rats for a very long time, just wanted to make sure I knew as much about them as my brain could handle before I brought any of the little guys home. I googled and read anything and everything I could put my eyes on before I got them. I think , no I KNOW my husband thought that I had gone mad, but at the time what he thought and still thinks goes in one ear and out the other !
     I love them already. My kids love them. I am already addicted and they are only a few months old....this is not a good sign LOL!!  I bought them from a breeder...saw the parents, living conditions and all. Handled from day 1.
     My kids and I decided to make them a cage beings I couldn't really find anything I liked in any stores. I am some what picky about things like that. Anyhow, I decided after searching the world wide web that closet shelving and lots of zip ties would be something I ( and my boys) could live with. So we built one. After having the boys in it for about 2 weeks, and seeing just how fast they grow.....I am ready to add on and make them a mansion :-)
     2 reasons for the closet shelving.....small spaces. This was my biggest worry for them. For them NOT to be able to be little Houdini's and escape....and for curious kitty paws to stay out. Not that I don't trust my fur babies, but ya know...cats + rats could really not be a good combo. Safety first.
     I have a few modifications to make to the cage, and find myself constantly thinking of changes for the new and improved one.
     I have not let them have any really free time out. They are getting to the point where it is all fun and cool for them to explore the outside and top safely....they are getting very brave. One or 2 at a time, cuz this old mom can only supervise so many ratties going so many ways! Me, I am very scared they will get hurt :-( I open the door and say " come on ratties" and they all usually come right out to me. I can pet them and was giving scrithes to them the other day :-)  They are not big...ok maybe this is really me...on being held cuz yet again I am afraid they are going to be hurt.
     Yes, ask my real children I am very over protective..   I guess that I am afraid they will fall and get hurt.
     I hope to have that problem solved. I have ordered what is called a pet wall...I can not remember the exact name....to put on the floor that they can not climb, nor get out of. But is something that I can sit in with them and let them have some what free range....I ordered 2 so to be sure they have lots of room. All kitties and dogs will be in other rooms while the boys are out to play...I will take no chances 
     Well, I hope to be a regular on here as I am sure that I will ( no, I know that I do ) have lots of questions! I am just so happy to have found other people that do not think I am crazy for having rats....I will try to add a picture but don't expect alot....lol

No it is not wire. It is a hard plastic that comes rolled up. I had looked at the wire ones and knew they could climb them, that is why I had not bought one yet. 

We have let them out in the bathroom. As of now that is the only "safe" place for them to just run.  They are a little skittish and I think that worries me.  I think that this weekend I am going to figure out how to set up an area in  the living room that is safe for them. I will move furniture and block all little hiding places and have some fun with these guys :-)

I don't care if I have to move it all...lol

I will check out how to add a photo and get one on here today for ya .

Hi There!  You sound just like me.  I'm 34 and a mom of 4, 2 cats, 3 dogs and 8 rats.   I have a Martin's playpen for them and love it!  The great wall is good but my girls jump out   Good luck!  Enjoy, they are addicting

I am hoping that the great wall works for the boys...They don't seem to want to jump as much so maybe I will get lucky?? LOL I thought about the really tall one but jeez, nothing like having them be in jail and not see the great big world!
I will have to look at the Martins playpen. Can they climb out of those? As they get bigger and older I don't think that I will worry about them as much. Just now they are so wiggly and fast that I am afraid they will get away.
I really don't think they have the greatest recall...lol. They know when I bring treats but they never stand still long enough for me to get them!
As for my cage, right now its kind of in the "looks kind of like a cage but not there yet" stage..lol. I hope to work on it this weekend and get it done. It looked nice and big at first, but then they really started eating, and growing, and running around.....lol.
I am working on a photo. I am not the greatest when it comes to things on the computer...but I am trying to follow the guide in the beginners section. So I hope today I will get one or 2 up and I will post them in the pictures forum beings I goofed and started this in this forum :-)

Thank you for the welcome tho! It seems to me that here in Iowa there are not very many people that have an interest in pet rats. So I was excited to find others out there like myself!
 

They're so cute!

Cute!!!!

And glad to see another 30 something mom 

I'm 36, have 2 real kids, 2 dogs, 1 cat, and 2 (hopefully soon to be 4 ) ratties. Welcome! I've only had mine just over a month and I'm addicted as well. I am now a regular at the thrift store for fleece, baskets, toys.......