Thread: The Little Mammals

So, aside from my dogs, I also have two rats and a cat. Annddd they have little stories too, so here we go again xD

We'll start with the odd one out. Draevyn (Named after Eric Draven in The Crow)
I adopted Draevyn on April 28th 2011. I went to the pound for a kitten that I saw on petfinder, but I gave the others a shot. Cats of all ages and sizes and colors. An entire litter of Persian kittens rolled around and a group of beautifully marked Siamese kittens slept in their bed. But in the bottom, all by his lonesome, was this little plain, yellow eyed tabby. He hadn't made a sound, I hadn't even noticed him there until he grabbed my leg through the bars. I said hi, then kept looking, holding a whole slew of kittens and older tom cats (my favvorriteee xD I love kneading) But, Petey -as they called him- kept grabbing my leg and peeping. So I asked to hold him. This cat brown nosed me so hard, rubbing against my chin, chewing on me, purring. I just said 'Yeahhh I think he wants me.' so I signed the papers, and listened to my mother whine the whole way home about him not being pretty enough for her.
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._4788289_n.jpg <- This is his shelter picture, actually. I hadn't even seen him on petfinder until I got home and looked over it again.
Draevyn was about a year old when I adopted him and was already neutered (which is not the standard practice for little shelters. Usually they're neutered after you adopt before they're officially considered yours) From what I understand someone brought him in the first time, then he was adopted. They got as far as a neuter, then returned him. I have a sneaky suspicion these people also abused him. He's had a few accidents in the house and every time has tried desperately to hide them, and when I found out, he cried and cried, hiding behind something, like he was afraid.
I have never had a pet so clever as Drae. He just has a way about him that I can't really describe... I know most everyone thinks their animal is the cleverest of them all so I won't ramble about it xD
So, pardon these pictures. I don't have a camera ATM so it's with a webcam DX
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...58225173_n.jpg <- trying to wrap christmas presents is kinda difficult with him around.
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...61030293_n.jpg <- Diesel's christmas present came in the mail. I swear I only left that box alone for a second. He has yet to realize the size difference. It can never work between them.
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...36069427_n.jpg <- Chillin' in his tower. He really loves him some tower.
http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...31645498_n.jpg

OLOOK.ANOTHERMUSICVIDEO xD -> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eu1LscLFv_M

Now for the smallest of fuzzies.
So, like on my official introduction, ask to not be lectured about how I obtained my rats. I know now and won't be repeating my offense.

I obtained Kalabar and Cassius on April 30th of 2010. I picked them out a week ahead of when I could actually afford them, and it was sheer luck I suppose that kept them there for another week.
Cassius was somewhere around 8 months old at the time, and was being kept in a 10 gallon tank by himself on the counter. People were walking by him making comments and sticking their noses up. I saw him on my way out and said 'He's so cute!' Because he is xD When I went back for him, there were people there trying to buy him. They had gotten there about two minutes before me, and as I walked in I heard the teller lie for me. "Oh, sorry, but she actually paid for him about a week ago. We've just been holding him for her." Thanks, dude!
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._5052753_n.jpg
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...11123143_n.jpg
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...19181543_n.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1cePK...eature=related <- A little hand wrestling for you.

Kalabar was about four months old when I got him. I don't remember the name he was previously called. From what the employee told me, he was born in that petshop and the man, being kind but ignorant, got attached to him. When they were fairly close to being weaned, someone came in and wanted to buy the doe and all the kittens for feeders. The employee managed to lie Kalabar to safety. He was placed in a 20 gallon tank in the back and kept there so nobody could just walk in and buy him. The owner was only going to allow it for a short while before the options were going to dwindle to take him home, or put him back out on the shelf. When I walked in, mentioning I wanted rats for pets, he came back with little Kalabar and told me that if I promised to give a good home, I could have him. I like to think I fulfilled his request.
These are of him when he was younger. I lack the camera now D:
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._5152137_n.jpg
http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._3966964_n.jpg
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._4447284_n.jpg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoTeSI8Zl_I <- Enjoying his first corn

This is a photo of the boys together on the day I brought them home
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot...5_833721_n.jpg

*I know that tanks and cedar are bad but I did not know at the time. They now share a three story Super pet with fleece lined shelves and an aspen litter box.*

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Edit:
Sooo, since Christmas I've wanted some fish xD
Then for my birthday, I got them. -belated be it, but still.
Now, I'm a mammal person, not a fish person. Fish scare me. That's just how it is. The only fish that does NOT scare me, is the betta (guppies are a close second) I don't know what it is about them, if it's their eyes, their mouths or their gills... or the image of them floating in the tank that's burned in my brain .-.
Still, they are beautiful.
So, knowing almost nothing about fish, I ran out and ended up with 3 male bangkok guppies and two mollies.
I need a foot up my behind for that. I got the tank on the 13th, the fish on the 14th, on the 15th my male molly died out of nowhere, I freaked out, tried to fix the water, ended up having to put my female molly in a bowl over night because she was attacking my guppies, annnnd I re-homed them on the 16th. They are all in a good home now, and I got to visit them today. I still feel bad for that, but I have NEVER been so stressed over an animal before. I felt like plucking my feathers out.
All I wanted was a Betta... my mother was the one who talked me into getting multiple fish. Needless to say, I will no longer be taking her opinion into consideration when it comes to my fish. -_-'
So, I spent the next few days gathering treatments and test strips, and learning. I'm still learning, but I now know enough to give my fish a safe environment to live in.
Wednesday I went on a little "rescue mission" to find a Betta. I ended up coming home with this tiny little Crowntail, who is just barely bigger than a guppy. But let me tell you, the attitude on this little dude is amazing. He attacked the filter (which is off, until I can get the hang of this cycling business), out right went for it, he flares at everything at least once a day and while fishing out an uneaten bite of food, he came after my finger. He's convinced he's just the shiznit and no man nor animal may enter his domain.
Meet Sinclair: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXqRc...1&feature=plcp

The video doesn't really show his coloring, but, depending on the brightness of the light he's under, he varies from a deep, black-purple, to black-blue with a hint of red.

We had our first major drama last night -something I definitely wasn't expecting. I had noticed for a while that it seemed out water was "evaporating" awfully quick... Well, it kept getting worse and worse. Turns out the tank was leaking from the back, and was not only emptying at a dangerous pace but was ruining our desk and floor too .-. Sinclair had to spent the night in a cereal container, while we completely emptied the tank and boxed it back up. I was so worried about the temp dropping. With the help of hot water bottles, it stayed at an even 76 throughout the night. I got about 3- hours of sleep, but he made it! xD We ran out first thing this morning and got him a brand new home. He seems happy to be back.

All of your pets are lovely. Your stories and videos were very nice also.

For all those squeamish about rats ... rats make wonderful pets. A neighbor a long time ago moved and dumped their pet rat outside in the rain and did not come back for him. I rescued him and he became my best buddy for about 4 years. He was very ill when I found him. I nursed him back to health. I don't know how old he was. He would find a way out of his cage when I was at work and would be sitting in my recliner waiting for me to come home. I named him Radar. He was black and white and amazing. He did however like to chew the buttons off of my pajamas when we played on the couch in the evenings. Lol!

They really are wonderful pets. They require quite a bit of education and work to care for, but it's very rewarding. They're perfect for someone who would like to have dogs but cannot for whatever reason, like apartment living and dorm rooms, allergies, etc. They can be taught tricks, litter trained, etc.

Annnddd, we've added a new one xD

Congrats on your new addition

Congratulations on your new Betta ... crowntails are my favorite! He is prettier in real life I am certain. It is hard to capture the beautiful colors they come in unless you have a professional camera! I tried it on my phone once to photograph a couple my Niece had ... not worthy of what they really looked like! He is pretty!