Meet Lemmy!

So, long story short, my boyfriend and I spotted this sweet little guy in a pet shop (I know, I know, I shouldn't have bought him from there, but I seriously couldn't stop thinking about him) and ended up going back and bringing him home at the end of the day. We've had him about 2 weeks now, he was 6 weeks when we brought him home, so he's about 8 weeks now. Little Lemmy's a rex baby, and just so sweet, and tiny. After intros are done he'll be going in with the older boys. He currently gets play times with them, that all go well, so it'll be an easy adjustment when the time comes

For a longer story, read ahead, but warning, it gets kind of graphic.

So Rich and I spotted Lemmy in a pet shop. We weren't planning on bringing any new ratties home, and certainly didn't plan on getting any that day. We were killing some time before going to a movie, and stopped in the pet shop, and happened to see the baby rats. We were laughing at how cute they were, running and playing together, and we especially had our eyes on this one little rex baby with a few black spots, who kept running up the the glass and looking at us. Then suddenly this sales associate and a customer walk up to the tank, and the sales associate says "This size?" and the guy nodded, and right then I knew what was going to happen, but I couldn't look away, and I started panicking. So the sales associate reaches into the tank and grabs one of the babies by their tail, and drops it into a little take-home box, all the while chatting with the customer about how big his python is. I was in tears at this point, and Rich had to lead me down an aisle away from everything to help me calm down. My heart was so broken for that scared little baby who was never going to be loved, and spoiled like he should have been. I was so devastated. We left, and went to see our movie, and all during the drive, and the previews we were talking about that little rat who probably was going to end up like his brothers. After the film, Rich asked me if we should go back and get him, and I said yes, so we swung in and grabbed him while we could. So now Lemmy's safe and happy. I feel bad having paid that awful place for him, but I couldn't leave him behind. I'm heart broken for the rest of those babies. At least Lemmy will be healthy and well loved his whole life.

He's beautiful and I would of done the same! Cannot believe they didn't take the feeders out of a different location!

What a sweet little boy :heart:
Sometimes you just have to follow your heart...

He's beautiful. Nice one Kat!

Thank you guys <3 He's such a little doll, he's grown on us so much already. He's been getting daily breakfast with the older boys, so they associate him with food and are excited to see him, then they all eat together as a family, it's adorable. I'm lucky in that my guys are pretty chill, so luckily I've never really had issues with intros.

He's such a playful little guy, and loves being cuddled. He chases fingers like a champ, haha

It really is sad when you have to watch them give them to people for food. I'm glad he has a good loving home

You do know that unless he is at least 8 weeks old he is too young to be playing with any rats over 12 weeks of age, no matter how gentle they are.
I have seen too many gentle rats on here who were fine and then killed the baby they were being introed to, because that is normal behaviour for a rat
You may be lucky and it might not happen but it is a huge unnecessary risk and if it happens, it will be too fast for you to intervene

SQ said:

You do know that unless he is at least 8 weeks old he is too young to be playing with any rats over 12 weeks of age, no matter how gentle they are.
I have seen too many gentle rats on here who were fine and then killed the baby they were being introed to, because that is normal behaviour for a rat
You may be lucky and it might not happen but it is a huge unnecessary risk and if it happens, it will be too fast for you to intervene

Click to expand...

I said in the opening post that Lemmy is 8 weeks old.

How is little Lemmy doing? Is he part of the "family" yet?

He's doing really well! Growing way too fast like all babies do, sadly. He's almost fully introed into the big cage at this point. If I'm home, he's in there with them, but he has his own separate cage for night time, and when I'm not home still. In about a week, I think he'll be ready to move in full time!

Lemmy <3 <3 He's getting so, so big! He's moved completely into the big cage now, and thoroughly enjoys climbing on top of the pile of his sleeping big brothers, leaping off, and doing laps around the cage. Danzig, Doyle, and Draven are young enough where they're still super playful, and they goof off with him. It's so cute.

He's still my little mommy's boy though. I get all the kisses!

Such a handsome man he is growing into! :heart: