My Unlikely Love Affair with Decorative Dumbo Rats

I'll be the first to admit it - I'm a sucker for cute animals, and when I stumbled upon decorative Dumbo rats, I was hooked. These little guys have stolen my heart, and I'm here to share my experience with you.

What sets them apart from regular decorative mice? Dumbo rats have those adorable, oversized ears that make them look like they're straight out of a cartoon. But don't let their looks fool you - these guys are smart, social, and full of personality.

My Story. I've always been an animal lover, but I never thought I'd be the type to have a pet rat. That was until I saw a video of Dumbo rats on TikTok, and I was sold. I started doing some research, and before I knew it, I was at the pet store, cooing over the adorable little faces.

Choosing My Pet. I spent hours researching, and when I finally found the perfect little guy, I knew I had to have him. His name is Coconut, and he's a stunning male with a coat that looks like a husky's. I was a bit worried about getting a male, but I figured it would be a good opportunity to learn about their behavior.

I just put him in the cage and he's in shockI was a bit worried about Coconut's behavior at first, but it turned out he was just a bit skeptical. He'd peek out of his cage to say hello, but he wasn't too keen on being handled. That was until I got him a companion - a female rat named Chupik.

Coconut's Character. Coconut was a bit of a handful at first, but once he got used to having Chupik around, he was a completely different rat. He'd curl up in her fur, and they'd sleep together like they were one big happy family.

But things took a turn for the worse when Chupik turned out to be pregnant. I was shocked, to say the least, and I had no idea what to expect. But as it turned out, Chupik was a great mom, and she took care of her babies like a pro.

The little ones were curled up like a ballThe pregnant oneReproduction. Chupik's pregnancy was a wild ride, but it was also incredibly educational. I learned so much about rat behavior and reproduction, and I was amazed by how well Chupik took care of her babies.

nursing1 day1 week offspring (Coconut+Chupa) 3-4 weeksslightly grown (1.5 months)Chupa's Character. Chupa was a sweetheart from the moment I got her. She was curious, playful, and always up for an adventure. She'd curl up in Coconut's fur, and they'd sleep together like they were one big happy family.

Something I loved about this product was how well the two animals got along. I was a bit worried about introducing Coconut and Chupik, but they took to each other like they were old friends. They'd play together, sleep together, and even share their food.

подкусывает его за хвост (играет так)Показывает, что он тут главный в клеткеЧупа выбирает Кокосу блошекВместе пытаются утащить игрушку, становятся сумасшедшими из-за нееWhat led to Chupa's death? During the birth, one of the pups had positioned itself horizontally instead of vertically to come out. We found this out from the vet when we realized that time was running out and she wasn't giving birth, and to be honest, she had been pretty inactive in the days leading up to it. That was just an unexpected outcome, and it's a pretty rare occurrence in rats, but unfortunately, it happened to us.

New Neighbor 2.0 I realized it was fate when Chupa, who was supposed to be a boy, ended up with me, and Coco needed a female companion. Plus, he'd be happier with a wife. My next neighbor for Coco was a standard decorative rat, called Cora. I couldn't stand her. She constantly gnawed on her cage, stripping off all the paint, like she was trying to escape. And she was a free spirit - she wouldn't even try to care for the kids, and would beg to be let out with the male. Unfortunately, the babies kept dying after each birth. It was heartbreaking to have to dispose of them. My family and I didn't approve of her behavior, so we ended up selling her through the website. I was the one who initiated it. It's interesting that later on, my mom and I spotted her in a pet store! Apparently, the sales associate bought her to expand their inventory.

What's Next?

New Neighbor 3.0

Just like before, Coco needed a companion. This time, I finally managed to buy a rat from the breeder directly, rather than from a pet store. It ended up being twice as cheap, and I had a lot of options to choose from. The parents were a mix of Husky and Siamese, and I fell in love with the Siamese coloring - a beautiful, delicate pink hue. I named my little rat Cleo, and she was tiny. By this time, Coco was a massive male, and we had introduced a female to the mix.

Can decorative rats survive at 0 degrees Celsius? Winter was in full swing, and we had to take shelter in the basement. We spent two weeks down there, and I'm glad to say it was warmer than our apartment, where the temperature was a chilly zero degrees. We had no electricity, gas, or water for weeks, and it was a real challenge to keep warm. I wrapped the cage in plastic wrap and hoped for the best, but the hamsters managed to survive. I've read that they can die from drafts near the window, but our little guys were level 10 hard.

Cleo, on the other hand, had a tough time breeding. She passed away due to a rare condition called a tubal pregnancy. It's just heartbreaking. I guess we just weren't lucky with our hamsters.

For the rest of his life, Koko was alone in his cage. He lived for about 9 months before passing away due to an abscess on his cheek. It was a nasty infection that spread quickly, and we had to give him medication daily to keep him alive. When we stopped, he was gone a few days later. The vet said it could have been caused by a sharp object in the cage, but there was nothing like that there. It was probably just old age, as Koko was 2.5 years old at the time. He was a senior citizen, to say the least. Koko was my first beloved pet and the last one to go. He outlived all the girls.

MALE OR FEMALE: WHICH ONE TO CHOOSE?

I highly recommend getting females. Why? They're more energetic, social, curious, and affectionate. And here's the crucial part: they don't pee when you take them out of their cage, unlike males. For example, I'd take Koko out, start petting him, and he'd sit there loving it. But as soon as I stopped, he'd take off to explore and leave little puddles everywhere! I read why they do it, and it's hilarious. They're just welcoming you into their crew. They pee not just on your hand but anywhere they go, leaving behind tiny droplets. It's not hygienic, and it smells terrible, so we didn't let Koko out much. But female hamsters are a different story. They're calm, and you can let them out without worrying about the mess. Sometimes I'd cover the bed with a big towel and let both the female and Koko out to run around. One time, one of the females gnawed on my pajamas! I'm not sure which one it was, but I know it was a female. Koko, on the other hand, never caused any trouble, not even chewing on his cage.

Hamsters are incredibly smart. Koko would start making these weird noises when he needed to go to the bathroom. I'd take him out, and he'd just go. It was like he was saying, 'Hey, human, I need to go.' I learned to recognize the signs, and it was amazing.

INTERESTING/USEFUL FACTS based on my experience.

Kids love to curl up and sleep, often with their head resting on the floor. It's a pretty adorable sight.They often sleep with their tail sticking out of the cage, which can be a real challenge if you have cats at home. Think twice before getting a pet rat if you're a cat owner!You can't spin a hamster wheel with rats, and it's not just because they're not as agile. Their tail is actually a part of their spine, and it's super sensitive. They use it to balance and regulate their body temperature, so be gentle when handling them - no tail-pulling, please!Rats are total meat lovers. They go crazy for cooked chicken breast without any seasonings or spices. It's a great source of protein, especially during and after pregnancy. Just make sure to serve it plain and not greasy. They'll also munch on earthworms from a rotting apple - bonus points for creativity!When buying a food dish, get a ceramic one to prevent them from tipping it over. If you do get a plastic one, make sure it's got some weight to it so they can't knock it over.They love to sit right on the edge of the dish. A plastic one would be flipped over in no time!Be prepared to clean the cage - it's a total bummer, trust me. The smell is just awful, even with the ventilation on in the bathroom. You'll be gagging on the fumes.Some rats will just lick your hands for no reason. Why do they do it? They're showing you love and care, and they're basically giving you a gentle grooming session.You can live with them in the same room. My cage was right above my bed, and they were super quiet - almost never made a peep. The mess was minimal, especially when I had just one rat, Coco.They love sleeping in hammocks.In the hammockWould I recommend getting rats?

I've gotta say, these decorative Dumbo rats are an amazing alternative to dogs. They're a blast to be around, especially when you get to watch a whole family of them living together and taking care of each other. Don't believe the haters who say rats are gross - they're not, and I hope I've convinced you otherwise. Just treat them with kindness, don't be mean to them, and they'll never be mean to you. I highly recommend getting girls, it's way easier and they're social animals that need company. I ended up with a family of rats by accident, not the single pair I was planning for, but I'm not complaining - it's been an incredible experience. I've fallen in love with them, especially Coco.

Rats are way cooler than hamsters, trust me. They're so much fun! Ask me any questions you've got in the comments, I'll do my best to answer. Thanks for reading my review, I hope it's been helpful!