people who care! Ok here is the problem. I love pet rats-I used to have alot. But then my dad fed most of them to the stupid snake and then made me get rid of the rest because he said theyt stunk! I cleaned there cage twice a week- what else do you want! So know I hate his stupid snake. The other day he bought a fancy rat to feed to the snake and I just couldn't take it! He bought 2-the rest he just put in the cage to faten up for next week and I just had to save it. So he had a box for them to stay in that is just 2 inchees below the wire top- eisaly a rat coukld climb up and chew his way out- so I cut a small hole on top that looked like it had been chewed- then I snipped of a little peice of the rats fur to put in the sharp edges to make it look like he squeezed his way out. Pretty smart, right? But know I have to hide hime, so I have a top closet that is 4 feet long and 2 feet high, and I covered it with towels, put a small open cage in there with shavings and a food bowl, taped a
2007-08-29 07:35:32 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Rodents
water bottle up there and put small chew toys every where and places to hide in. Then I taped a hand charged flashlite on the corner of the ceiling. So the rat is now in pretty comfortable living. But what do I do know? Did I do the right thing? What should I tell my dad when he finds out. He said know more pets when he bought these. And if he found out where I hid him he would emeidiently take the rat away and feed it to the snake. Only my grandma and sister knows about this, and my grandma would happily take me out and buy me anything i needed for the rat, but any suggestions on how to keep it a secret? I just don't want missy mouse to die!!!
2007-08-29 07:40:32 · update #1
As you have requested I have come to see if I can help you with this delema.
Wow, what a position to be put into. Living with someone who has no respect for you or your pets. I'm just so happy that the rest of the family supports your love for pet rats :*)
What you have done is very clever, and I commend you for your efforts. Some people here have suggested that you get another rat to keep him company but they fail to realize your unique situation. A unique situation calls for a change in the norm. One rat can be noisy, but two rats will play and that will really be noisy. They might then be detected by your father. In this case he needs to be a single ratty until your situation changes.
Your housing set-up sounds very comfortable for him but keep in mind that with this freedom comes curiosity and he may one day find a way to get down to the floor. Just keep that in mind if he does. Keep your bedroom door closed all the time.
Do you have a back-up plan? Do you have a friend that will take him in a heartbeat if things should go awry?
I have no idea if this page will make your father think twice about live-feeding or not.
http://spazrats.tripod.com/snakefood.html
All my best to you and your ratties.
E-mail me anytime at spazrats@yahoo.ca if you need to talk.
Edit:
There is not a single vaccination that rats require. People do not vaccinate rats. The vaccine that I wish would hurry up and get to North America is the Mycoplasmosis vaccine that is being developed and tested in Germany.
Herpers would not/should not feed diseased/poisoned rats to their snakes anyway as this practice sets up illness for the snake. If they do they are doubly sadistic and uncaring pet owners.
spazrats
"my life has gone to the rats"
2007-08-29 10:40:22 · answer #1 · answered by spazrats 6 · 6⤊ 3⤋
God your dad sounds pretty unreasonable. Do you think your grandma could take your rat to her house and take care of it? If not have your Grandma buy you a proper cage, and since your dad will probably find out eventually, confess and make a compromise. Hmm. Like, maybe YOU can buy FEEDER rats/mice to feed to the darn snake from now on, in exchange, your dad lets you keep missy mouse. Just a suggestion from the top of my head. Or, you can make some other kind of deal like that to your dad. I really hope I helped a little for your rat's sake!
2007-08-31 09:30:45 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your dad is feedinghis snake fancy rats,He is slowly KILLING his snake.Many pet shops have them vaccinated and it is poison to the snake.I would not try to keep him from him(although a very smart plan to make it look like he escaped)because he will find out after a while.Just talk to him, tell him to feed him som dead frozen rats they usually sell at the pet shop.Unless they are feeder rats I would never sell them for food.Just go to every pet shop and tell them that if your dad is feeding his snake fancy rats to either stop selling it to him or to just tell him they are not for food but for pets.If he suspects you were the one that told them about it,just ask someone you don't really enjoy being around to take the blame(somebody with a crush on you is a perfect target because your dad wont like him hanging around).Also try to have a picture of your dad to the pet shop so they will know to just give him feeder rats instead of fancy rats.I had the same problem with a friend so when I told him in those words he stopped feeding his snake fancy rats and started feeding it dead and frozen rats.
2007-08-29 09:04:46 · answer #3 · answered by s 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Thats sooo sad!!!!! I have fancy rats. I would have done the same thing. They are so gentle and I dont think they smell if you clean the cage. Tell your dad that it upsets you that he feeds rats to his snake I dont know if your dad would be willing to give up his snake or not but try to convince him to be more conceterate of the rats and you dont have to tell him that you have the rat. Good luck I hope your dad comes to his sences, if he has any.
2007-09-01 11:35:29 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Agh! This is a twisted situation. Without knowing all the details... I would suggest that you get the rat out of the house as soon as possible (Maybe if your grandma doesn't live with you it could stay there). If your dad IS feeding fancy rats to his snake he needs to know that they are bred to be pets not feeders! Fancy rats are supposed to have vaccines that stay in their bloodstream making them toxic to snakes so he could actually be poisoning his own pet. I would try to go to the pet store that he buys them from and let them know not to sell pet rats to your father because he is using them as feeders.
Finally- if your dad is just feeding his snake feeder rats but it makes you sad, tell your dad! Let him know that you think it is inappropriate and that when you have to see the rats die it makes you emotional because they are like pets to you. I know I would certainly not want someone feeding their dog cats! Hopefully he will listen to you and maybe find a new home for his snake or at least begin to be more considerate of your feelings.
2007-08-29 08:39:10 · answer #5 · answered by Atilla the Han 3 · 6⤊ 1⤋
If you really want to protect the snake, you need to get him out of the house. Find him a home away from your dad and the snake. Otherwise, either the rat will escape or Dad will find him and then you have both theproblem of a dead pet AND an angry father.
Find the rat a home.
2007-08-29 07:45:34 · answer #6 · answered by Marvinator 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Good for you....you rat saver you. I hate snakes now i hate them even more that i know they eat rats..
2007-08-29 10:18:33 · answer #7 · answered by Thia 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
omg! i love it! i would have done the same thing! but for your dad... maybe suggest he starts feeding his snake frozen rats... you buy them --already dead and frozen-- from a petstore/ supply store. and its better for the snakes && you dont have to worry about poor little ratties =] maybe ask him if you can keep two or three as pets if you promise to keep them clean
&&
you should really have more than one rattie up there =] they are very social and its cruel to keep them alone...
GOOD LUCK! =]
2007-08-29 08:28:31 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 5⤊ 1⤋
why would you hate the snake? that's its food, and your dad fed it your pets, the snake didn't hunt them down. i know you want to save the rat, but the snake needs to eat too. try asking your dad to let you have just one or two rats instead of a whole bunch of them. it might help with the smell, to just have a couple
2007-08-29 07:49:00 · answer #9 · answered by g g 6 · 0⤊ 5⤋
well, that was pretty clever, but my guess is that eventually your father will find out. i suggest you talk to him first and try to compromise. Like, if he can have a snake, you can have just one rat to your self. good luck!! :)
2007-08-29 07:43:18 · answer #10 · answered by ck 2 · 4⤊ 4⤋