My furry family

[Brittney]

Cute babies. My boyfriend has a couple of rats. They are very fun.

 

[Ippo456]

O I have heard that rats make great pets! They're intelligent and fun.
I am ashamed to admit that I have a thing for bare tails. I have chinchillas and lots hamsters. I think that if hamsters' & chinchillas' tails were not furry, I wouldn't have them in the first place. It's just something I have to overcome.

 

[tkc1038]

I now have 8 rats, 6 girls,2 boys. I never thought I would like them but I have to tell you they are adorable in the morning when they are looking for their goodmornings.

 

[Ash]

Ippo, if you get a darker colored rat, the fur on the tail is usually darker, also. Rats don't have naked tails, they just moreso have "peachfuzz" on them.

 

[eroomlorac]

Your rats are adorable.

 

[Sandi]

The definitely have cute faces! I love looking at them via pics thanks for sharing. )

 

[menagerie]

Ippo456 there are fancy rats, which are the same as most rats you find outside, or pouched rats that are VERY uncommon in the states. Dumbo refers to their ears, if you notice the dumbo rats' ears are lower down on the side of their heads. Rex rats refers to their fur being wavy, or slightly curly. I am here researching Chinchillas, and hoping to get two of Peggy's babies <Wink Wink>

It depends on the area where you live as to what species the wild rats in your area are. Here in Southern California, our wild rats are Rattus rattus, but dessert wood rats can sometimes be found in the area. The fancy rats are all Rattus norvegicus.

Ippo, if you get a darker colored rat, the fur on the tail is usually darker, also. Rats don't have naked tails, they just moreso have "peachfuzz" on them.

A rats tail is comprised of skin flaps and hairs. Each skin flap has three hairs that come from under it. They use their tails not only for balance but more importantly for thermoregulation. There is a major artery that goes through the tail, they move the hairs under the skin flaps to either expand or contract the flap from the tail. To cool off they open their flaps, to keep warm they bring them in flat.

ETA: I've been owned by rats for about 10 years and have been involved in rat rescue and public education for 8 years. I always have a houseful of rats.