Rats for adoption



Chaska, MN

30 minutes from Minneapolis

"Every person should be lucky enough to be owned by Rats!"



D i s c o ' s C r i t t e r s Breedery:

I am a USDA licensed small animal breedery located in Chaska, MN.

Chaska is a Southwest Suburb about 30 minutes from Minneapolis.

My love for rodents started over 20 years ago when I acquired my first rat.

I fell in love with how fun, loving and intelligent rats are and it started my passion for all rodents.

In 24 years I have never been without rats and hope to never be!

At First, I acquired my rats from Pet stores and they had tumors, Mycoplasma issues, incurred enormous medical bills and didn't live over 2 years old.

I sought out a breeder who I began working for and she mentored me on rat and other animal breeding.

She was the first one to bring Blue, Hairless and Dumbo rats into our state.

After several years I took over the breeding on my own and have been concentrating on breeding for health, temperament and longevity.

She worked on these bloodlines for 15 years and now I have worked on them for over 15 yrs.

I specialize in breeding for health, temperament and longevity.

I keep Track of all parents, babies, litter and health information for every rat.

Rats are very social, loving intelligent friends.

I have found a lot of us who love rats are those who are considered the outcasts, freaks or weird and i think that is why i love rats so much, as I am viewed as a little odd.

I Enjoy adopting out my critters to rat lovers of all types.

I strive to provide a Family Friendly, LGBTQ Friendly safe low stress environment for those with Mental illnesses such as Anxiety and Depression.

I suffer from anxiety and Depression myself and know how difficult it can be.

I love sharing rat knowledge! :)

I try to make the adoption process friendly and interactive in a low stress environment.

I breed Fancy rats, Fancy mice, Guinea pigs, Egyptian Spiny Mice, African soft Fur rats, Degus, Hedgehogs, Gerbils, Syrian hamsters and Roborovski Dwarf hamsters.

I find placing animals in loving forever homes very rewarding.

I Enjoy interacting with other rat lovers and receiving pictures and updates periodically on the adopted critters.

I am trying to get the healthiest rats with the longest lifespans I can!

Having healthy pets makes having them a lot more enjoyable!

My Ratties are bred for Pet quality.

My goal is to place rats in forever loving homes!

I believe rats or any animal should be adopted for the personality and compatibility with you!

I prefer adopters come and meet the rats and find who likes you and not pick one out by a photo or on color alone.

Sometimes the "prettiest" one isn't the one who would be the best fit.

I have Dumbo eared and regular eared rats.

I have hairless, rexes and normal coats.

The rats come in many different patterns such as hooded, non hooded, Dalmatians, Berkshire, Self etc.

Colors produced are Blue, Russian blue, Agouti blue, Silver blue, Apricot, Agouti, Black, White, Chocolate, Siamese, Fawn/Tan, Chocolate, Cinnamon, Dalmatian and more!



My Rats are pet quality, which means they are bred to be healthy pets.

Rats need to be in pairs or more!

Rats are very social and can get very lonely and depressed without a buddy of their same species around.

Rats enjoy wrestling, playing and cuddling together.

I will not adopt out a solo rat, unless you own rats already.



Rats are addictive! Once you fall in love with them, you will want more and more!

The rat community calls it GGMR -Gotta Get more rats Syndrome. :)



Rats for Adoption:



Blue dots * in front help identify males, and red dots * in front help identify Females.



All terms used to describe ratties are generalized generic terms, others (rat organizations) may refer to them differently or with a more in depth title.

I try to list them with terms that everyone can understand, as some of the more in depth descriptions/colors can be confusing for those who aren't familiar.



Males:

* Tan Blaze Dumbo 7/24/20 (Mother Black Hooded Blaze Dumbo, Father Black Rex Dumbo)



* Black Blaze Dumbo 7/24/20 (Mother Black Hooded Blaze Dumbo, Father Black Rex Dumbo)



* Black Dumbo 8/1/20 (Mother Siamese, Father Blue Dumbo)



* Russian Blue Dumbo 8/1/20 (Mother Siamese, Father Blue Dumbo)





Females:

**********************************************************************************

* Russian Blue Rex Dumbo 5/10/20 (Mother Black Hooded Blaze Rex Dumbo, Father Russian Blue Rex Dumbo)



* Chocolate Patch Dumbo 5/22/20 (Mother Chocolate Blaze Odd Eye Rex, Father Dalmatian Rex Dumbo)



* Blue Hooded Dumbo 6/16/20 (Mother Black Hooded Blaze Rex Dumbo, Father Russian Blue Rex Dumbo)



* Agouti 6/12/20 (Mother Tan Rex Dumbo, Father Platinum Rex)



* Black 6/14/20 (Mother Chocolate Hooded Rex Odd Eye Dumbo, Father Siamese)



* Black Blaze Patchwork 6/20/20 (Mother Black Rex Dumbo, Father Hairless Odd Eye Dumbo)



* Black Dumbo 6/20/20 (Mother Black Rex Dumbo, Father Hairless Odd Eye Dumbo)



* Chocolate Hooded Rex Dumbo 6/30/20 (Mother Tan Hooded Blaze Rex Odd Eye, Father Chocolate Odd Eye Rex Dumbo)



* Blue Blaze Patchwork Dumbo 7/13 /20 (Mother Chocolate Odd Eye Dumbo, Father Dalmatian Rex Dumbo)



* Tan Rex Dumbo 7/24/20 (Mother Black Hooded Blaze Dumbo, Father Black Rex Dumbo)



* Black Blaze Rex Dumbo 7/24/20 (Mother Black Hooded Blaze Dumbo, Father Black Rex Dumbo)



* Black Dumbo 8/1/20 (3 available) (Mother Siamese, Father Blue Dumbo)



* Russian Blue Dumbo 8/1/20 (Mother Siamese, Father Blue Dumbo)



* Russian Blue Rex Dumbo 8/7/20 (Mother Chocolate Odd Eye Dumbo, Father Dalmatian Rex Dumbo)



* Hairless Dumbo 8/7/20 (Mother Chocolate Odd Eye Dumbo, Father Dalmatian Rex Dumbo)



* Russian Blue Blaze Dumbo 8/7/20 (Mother Chocolate Odd Eye Dumbo, Father Dalmatian Rex Dumbo)



* Black Hooded Blaze Rex Dumbo 8/7/20 (Mother Chocolate Odd Eye Dumbo, Father Dalmatian Rex Dumbo)



* Chocolate Hooded Blaze Rex Odd Eye Dumbo 8/7/20 (Mother Chocolate Odd Eye Dumbo, Father Dalmatian Rex Dumbo)



* Black Blaze Rex Dumbo 8/7/20 (Mother Chocolate Odd Eye Dumbo, Father Dalmatian Rex Dumbo)



* Russian Blue Rex Dumbo (2 available) 8/10/20 (Mother Black Rex Dumbo, Father Hairless Odd Eye Dumbo)



* Light Blue Dumbo 8/9/20 (Mother Blue Blaze, Father Chocolate Odd Eye Dumbo)



* Blue 8/9/20 (Mother Blue Blaze, Father Chocolate Odd Eye Dumbo)









Bedding:

There are many different bedding types available to be used.

There is no perfect bedding as they all seem to have one sort of downfall.

It's really up to your personal preference.

No matter the bedding it should be changed frequently as ammonia from urine can burn or cause respiratory issues. Newspaper

Laid down newspaper with shredded paper from a shredder or from ripping into strips on top works very well as bedding and contains very little dust.

All newspaper inks are by law made with vegetable or soy inks and are safe.

The dull newspaper is what you want to use.

The shiny advertisements don't absorb urine well.

Pro: Cheap (or Free), easy to change and use. Low amount of dust.

Grocery ads, city pages, phone book pages and dull (Not shiny) junk mail can all be used flat or shredded.

Con: Doesn't contain the urine smell for long periods of time and needs to be changed frequently.

Recycled paper/crinkle paper bedding is safe and can be used for rats.

There are many different types available.

Pro: Safe and easy to clean.

Con: Avoid any with odor fighting chemicals added.(IE: Baking soda)

Can be expensive.

Aspen Wood shaving bedding is safe and can be used for rats.

Avoid Aspen with a strong odor or excess dust in the package.

You want to ensure the bedding is Kiln dried which almost all beddings are.

Aspen comes in a variety of cuts.

Finely shredded horse bedding. Small, Medium and Large flake. Aspen pellets

Pro: Absorbs smell. Aspen wood dust is considered safe. (not considered a carcinogen like other wood dust.)

Con: Top layer can appear clean when the lower layers are soiled. Can be dusty.

Pine Bedding is NOT SAFE!!

Pine bedding is dangerous!

It has harmful Phenols and Abietic acid in it that burn little rattie lungs causing scarring and many respiratory issues.

There are some that believe Pine is safe if it is Kiln dried.

Typical Kiln drying removes water (moisture) but it is not heated to a high enough temperature to remove all or a significant amount of the harmful phenol oils.

Pine can cause scabs and scarring on the rats lungs and tracheal sloughing.

A rat housed on pine for even a short period of time can result in Respiratory health issues and/or Mycoplasma flair ups for the rest of their life as a result.

There are studies stating Pine is the best bedding to use to control ammonia, this is due to the strong phenols combating the ammonia odor which is taking one odor to cover up another.

However that has nothing to do with respiratory safety as Pine can cause many breathing difficulties for animals and humans.

Pro: Absorbs Ammonia

Con: Harmful Phenols. Harmful Abietic acid. Dusty.

Wood dust is classified as a known carcinogen that can cause asthma, conjunctivitis and severe respiratory distress and many Pine bedding have a warning on them stating this.

Many humans have breathing issues such as respiratory distress, coughing and asthma when around Pine.

Cedar Bedding is NOT SAFE!!

Cedar should never be used for any animal.

Pro: None

Cons: Cedar contains Plicatic acid that burns lungs and is known for causing respiratory issues in both humans and animals.

Wood dust is classified as a known carcinogen and can exacerbate Asthma, Rhinitis, Conjunctivitis and cause cancer.

Cedar can cause breathing issues for animals and humans.

Carefresh/Clean N Cozy bedding is safe to a degree.

Pro: Good for nesting and urine absorption, low odor.

Cons: Can be dusty.

Can be dangerous if animals eat it as it can cause blockages in the intestinal tract.

Blockages occur when the bedding is accidentally consumed and expands from liquid that is in the digestive system.

Do to the density of the bedding the stomach acids can't break it down fast enough before it passes into the intestinal tract.

Many don't realize the dangers as Necropsies are expensive and not performed often.

Fleece is commonly used to line cages as bedding,

Pro: Easily rolled up and removed. Reusable.

Cons: Fleece is treated with water resistant chemicals which will cause the urine to run off and not be absorbed. To remove the wicking you can wash the fleece a few times to remove the wicking chemicals before use. Some wash with vinegar to help remove the wicking.

Fleece can trap ammonia from urine very quickly which could cause respiratory issues if not changed every frequently.

Hammock options

Fleece, towels (be aware of strings that nails could get stuck on), shirts, pant legs, scarves, stocking caps, blankets and fabric work well for hammocks that the ratties can sleep on.



Rat Food:

There are many rat foods available but not all of them are the best quality or appropriate for good rat health.

Avoid rat foods that contain Alfalfa pellets as rats do not like them and can not digest them well.

Avoid rat foods with small millet bird seeds. They are very small and are difficult for the ratties to grab and eat. Rats probably would enjoy eating them if they were able to pick them up.

Avoid foods with dyes or colorful food pieces as dyes can affect their digestion/Stools.

Rat food options include:

Mazuri Lab blocks:

Lab blocks are used commonly in laboratories and by "Feeder" breeders who want their rats to be of certain similar uniform size. And to ensure a consistent diet for testing.

Lab blocks can be difficult for small babies or elderly rats to get a hold of and nibble on due to their larger size.

Some pet stores and department stores sell blocks that contain Molasses, which is sugar and too much sugar is not good for overall rat health.

Oxbow pellet food:

Oxbow is commonly recommended in the rat community. Oxbow is a pellet food.

Many rats fed Oxbow tend to have foul smelling feces and a strong cage odor is a common complaint. Seed Mix foods:

There are numerous brands of seed mixes available on the market.

Look for food labeled for rats (or mice) and not for a variety of animals (not Hamsters and gerbils).

Tiny Farm Friends Reggie rat is an acceptable food.

Kaytee foods and treats are not known for being healthy but most are suitable for the occasional treats.

Homemade Seed Mixes:

Many people prefer to mix their food in bulk to save money and due to the quantity of animals they may have to feed.

Homemade food mixes can offer a variety of foods that rats enjoy.

There is some prejudice against seed mix diets by those who want to feed a consistent diet to main average size requirements for rats that may be used as feeders.

Many everal Misconceptions and false truths on seed mix diets.

There is a rumor that corn is not ok for rats. When asked why it is not safe they reference that dried corn could contain mold if not dried properly.

My rebuttal to that is any food can get moldy. The mold probability is higher in cheaper lower quality pre packaged store bought seed mixes. Corn is completely edible to rats and is safe to be part of their diet.

Scratch grains also known as Hen scratch which is commonly used as part of a chicken diet and contains corn crumble pieces and oats is a good alternative to use instead of the larger cracked corn or whole kernel.

The smaller corn pieces found in Scratch grains are more likely to be dried thoroughly.

Farmers would not tolerate feeding moldy food because of the health issues that could occur to their Chickens and other livestock.

I have found the Scratch grains to always be of good quality and completely dried.

Sunflower seeds:

Sunflower seeds are common to be mixed or found in seed mixes.

There are two main types of Sunflower seeds. Black and white sunflower seeds and black oil sunflower seeds. Black oil sunflower seeds all black, smaller in size, meatier seeds and contain more natural oil.

Black and white Sunflower seeds are black and white, larger in size and not as nutritious.

Black and white sunflower seeds are the same type humans typically eat, however the seeds for humans generally contain salt which should be avoided.

There is a difference between animal food seeds and human food seeds. Generally the difference is size and the pet food seeds have not been washed.

Dried pasta added into a homemade food mix helps provide a hard food option that can help keep their teeth a good length.

Oats, Oat grains, dried/uncooked oatmeal and oat cereals help aid in healthy digestion.

Oats are known for helping calm aggression and temperament issues. *It is a good idea to examine any type of food before feeding, to check for mold, bugs or other contaminants.



I mix up my own food mix diet and my rats do very well on it.

I typically also feed my rats something from dinner everyday.

They enjoy pasta with tomato sauce, bread, cereal, vegetables and some fruits.

Rats can have meat such as beef or chicken. Some donâ€™t seem to enjoy beef very much.

Most really enjoy chicken. All meat products should be cooked and not fed raw.

Uneaten leftovers should be cleaned out of the cage quickly as they could begin to rot and decay.

Rats can eat almost anything you will eat! Foods unhealthy for you, such as oily, greasy, salty and sugary foods should be avoided or fed in very limited moderation.

Rats test all new foods and then wait a little while and if they don't get sick then they will come back to finish it.

Sometimes one rat in the pack will test the food and then not all of them will.

As time passes your rat will learn to trust you and may refrain from testing foods as often.

The testing of their food has been a great survival tool for wild rats and makes it difficult to poison them.

Rats do not have a gag reflex and are unable to throw up. That is why testing their foods can be helpful to prevent illness.



My Rat Food Mix:

I mix my food in a plastic bin container with a lid which helps keep it fresh and protect from bugs and from the ratties stealing and stashing it.

I mix equal parts of Black oil Sunflower seeds and Scratch grains (Corn and oats)

then I mix in about 10% Malt-O-Meal Honey Nut Spooners (Generic Cheerios), Malt-O-Meal Puffed wheat, Malt-O-Meal Oat clusters or other healthier not overly sugary cereal.

I also add in about 10% dried pasta (Which is good for their teeth) ( I use a variety of dried pasta and typically use a different type every time I mix up a new batch of food)

I also mix in dried oats/oatmeal and unsalted nuts on occasion.

Oats and oatmeal are great to feed to ratties with upset tummies/runny stools to help keep them regular.

I feed 1 to 5 pieces of Purina Little Bites/Purina small dog Dog food per rat a day. Dog food provides a good source of extra protein especially for pregnant and nursing mothers.

I also feed them some sort of human food on a daily basis. (IE: leftovers from lunch and dinner)

Most rats enjoy Mashed potatoes, peas, corn, pasta, anything with tomato sauce, breads, cereals and just about anything you would eat!

Please remember if it is junk food for you, it is junk food for your rats, feed "junk food" in moderation.



Adoption Process:

Please email DiscoPanth@gmail.com with questions, if you are interested in adopting and to set up appts.

All rats are to be picked up and chosen at my location.

I will not meet, ship or deliver.

I am Located in Chaska, MN.

We set up a Date and time that works for both of us and you come see if you like any of the ratties and if they like you! :)

I do not reserve rats based on color.

All ratties should be picked by who responds to you and interacts with you, not based on color alone.

Interacting with the rats helps ensure you pick the ones that are a good fit for you and them.

All rats have different personalities.

If you are new to rats please use my other ratties pages to learn all about them!

Rats do best in same sex pairs!

I will not adopt out a single rat, unless you have other rats already.

Rats need to be in pairs!

Young rats will typically get along with all other rats, they just want a friend.

Sometimes older rats who have never had friends (Pet store rats) don't like friends and introductions can be difficult.

Rats are very social and thrive when they have at least one friend.

Rats can become very lonely and depressed if they do not have at least one friend.

Having a human companion is not the same as having a friend of their own species.

Rats need a buddy to play and cuddle with when you are at work, school or just not at home.

It is my personal policy to not adopt out any rats (Or other animals) to anyone who uses pine bedding as i feel it is very harmful to animals and human health as i have seen many respiratory issues caused by it.



Adoption Fees:

All rats are $16 a piece

All Adoption fees are to be paid in Cash or Via Paypal.

Most of my Rats become available for adoption at 4 weeks old. Most available ratties are under 3 months old.

Large (over 4 months old) or Retired rats (over a year old) are sometimes discounted in price to help them find good homes!



Adoption Notes:

Rats do best in same sex pairs or groups!

Rats feel more comfortable when they have at least one other rattie around.

Rats can become very lonely if they do not have another rat friend.

Having two or more ensures they have a friend to play with when you are unable to be home.

I encourage adopters to adopt 2 or more ratties at a time!

Please note Females are typically smaller than males and can slip in and out of large cage bar spacing easily.

Females and baby rats should have 1/4 inch or less cage bar spacing.

Females typically are quite active and want to run and play all the time.

Females will run by and say hi, While males are more likely to sit with you.

Males can be quite active when young but as they age they get lazier and are more likely to sit and hang out with you..

Just because the rat or any animal is the color you like does not mean it is the best fit for you.

Ratties should be picked out by whose personality is compatible with yours.

Examples: If you are laid back you may want a laid back rattie, if you are very active, Females may be a better fit.

I try to have ratties available all the time.

Please bring a small box, tote or animal carrier if you have one with you at the time of adoption.

After an Appointment time is set up, I give adopters my address and phone number.

Once we have an Appointment time set up, it is set for the time I am expecting you to arrive.

Please if you are canceling or running late please call me or send me a text letting me know as soon as you can so i know you are on your way.

All Adoption fees are to be paid in cash or Via Paypal at adoption appointment.



Animal Keeper Travel Carriers

Animal keeper travel carriers are available to purchase to bring your new fur kids home in.



These Keepers are made of plastic and are the large size.

They come in a variety of lid color options.

They are $16 each.



D i s c o ' s C r i t t e r s now has a Facebook page!

Please like our page and feel free to post photos and updates on your adopted critters!

Disco's Critters



Rats make great pets and Friends!











Updated 9/15/20



Email me for Adoption Information and/or Questions.

Email: DiscoPanth@gmail.com

