pet rats vs feeder rats

Question
QUESTION: i did something very stupid today in my moment of extreme
grief over the loss of my 5-6month old female dumbo rat at
6am this morning
after wailing and sobbing for 6 hours i went to the local
pet store and bought a female feeder rat probably a month or
younger? they wouldn't know or care it's (only going to be
fed to some other animal anyway)
now what do i do?
what are the differences can it become as loving as my baby
dumbo girl or not?
i carried her all the way home in the palm of my hand close
to my heart and pet her all the way home and she never once
tried to bite or escape is that a good sign?
i just don't know but i was so devastated at my loss this
morning .... i mean she just died and i don't know why she
just went spastic and died in my hand i didn't know what to
do i don't know why i loved her so much and still do getting
the new rat hasn't stopped the pain of her loss i just don't
know what to do help

ANSWER: The difference between the feeder rat and the pet rats the pet store sells is:


Nothing.  

They come from the same breeder, believe it or not.  However, what they do is this:  They pick out the rats that are more unusual looking, such as those with pretty colors, hoods, ear placement etc....  and they usually sell the white rats as feeders. Sad that people chose who should die at the jaws of a snake just by the color of their fur.  
Your little baby rat is lucky to have been chosen by you and she wont be fed to a snake.

Now about the rat that died. These things happen, sadly and we dont know why they die   unless a necropsy is done.  The sadness your feeling is normal. You lost a pet you loved.  Dont focus on the fact she was a small rat or was not very expensive to buy. Love is love. It hurts when we lose them.  Their life span is short as it is with them passing away around 2.5 to 3 years old. I have loved and lost 44 rats now, ages ranging from young 4 month old rats to 4 year old rats.  I lost my best boy a few weeks ago and thought my heart was going to burst with sorry.  A few weeks later I decided to buy more rats and found a good breeder that breeders for good health and tempernment and I brought home three baby boys that are awesome.

About your other rat: was she your first rat?



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: yes she was a gift from my cousin who supposedly got her
from a special breeder to live longer cause she said breeder
rats are mean sometimes and have shorter life span
expectancy she was the best and i didn't know till after she
died and i visited critter city how much she loved me
she used to sit on my shoulder licking me and chirping in my
ear with her bruxing and i'd brux and kiss and click back as
if i were talking with her i wanted her to know how much i
loved her and cared about her i only wish i knew what
happened and if i could have helped or what i still can't
bring myself to bury her she's wrapped in a piece of my
jacket that she loved to chew on in a small box but i can't
yet bring myself to close the cover or put her under earth
i just can't.........
snow white was the name my daughter gave her
blondie   or raquel not 100percent yet she's still
frightened in her new home when i go toward it she still
cowers or hides so i leave a treat throw kisses and leave i
keep forgetting how long it took when we brought snow white
home from the birthday party till she knew she was safe and
brave enough to run all over and go travelling on my
shoulder but i keep assuring myself this one will soon know
she's safe and not food one thing different since we got
back home her ears were lying flat on her head when i got
her(different from the dumbo) and now they are perked up on
top of her head what is she saying?
anyway sorry for rambling but yes snow white was my 1st
thank you for the immediate reply and i love critter city

ANSWER: \
How are things going?  I hope you either buried your girl that passed or put her in the cold refrigerator....I know how you feel though...I once held one of my rats for hours after he died suddenly because I was shocked he had passed away suddenly like he did. I was devastated and still am each time one of my beloved boys dies.  I started over again (check out my new page on critter city called WATCH MY BABIES GROW to see my new baby boys!

The new girl will come around soon, but you can read up on critter city on the page about training shy rats for some tips.  I would also make her a play area. Check out the getting started page for directions. I find it better to let them have their own play area.

let me know how she is doing!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: blondie seems fine
my daughter and i buried snow white on tuesday made a cross out of stones, prayed and mourned
unfortunately i still see her in her last moments and question what more could i have done that i may not have tried and still feel like she counted on me to look out for her in this cruel world and i failed her i let her down i let her die it hurts
i built a play village out of my daughters old little people toys for the rat to explore/hide/exercise etc.
i've taken her out for 3 outings today she climbed into my braid to hide when we went out each outing is only 2blocks and back
do you think boys are better or nicer or more loving than girls perhaps or are the sexes indifferent to temperament?

Answer
Your taking her outside of the house, as in "outdoors?"

Please do NOT do this.  There are so many dangers that can happen unless she is caged.  She could get away from you for starters but the most dangerous thing that can occur is a large bird will and has come down out of nowhere and scooped up peoples rats right off of their shoulders or out of their hands. The people are so startled and it happens so fast...I can tell you horror stories.

Keeping her safe in a cage during outdoor trips or just letting her play inside where its safe in a nice safe enclosure with toys to play with including YOU as her biggest climbing toy, and thats all she needs to exercise and be happy!

As for seeing her in her last moments.......trust me, every rat owner that sees their rat die has a hard time getting that image out of their heads. I have close friends that both witnessed their rats death, first the panic attacks followed by gasping  and they are also haunted by it.  I have been there many times, it is a vision that burns into your soul, but keep in mind you were there for her during this time, you held her and comforted her.  As far as her depending on you, rats do not think the way we think they do, even though they seem like they do.  They are smart, yes, very smart in fact, but they do not have the same thought process we have.
She knew you loved her by the care you gave her.

As far as male vs. female, I love them both. I find males to be more cuddly when they get older and also prefer to sit on your lap for hours while the female is always on the go.   
I wont own any more females because of the way they are prone to mammary tumors.  If I do, that means I have to have them all spayed at once at a young age and have to come up with over $700 for the Vet bill so its easier to have boys.