I originally had just two dogs for a few years (b4 that we fostered kittens) , then I adopted 2 male ratties last year (my first) and my husband said NO MORE. He was against rats bc he , like many others , saw them as gross vermin (his mind has changed a bit since then but not completely) then recently I adopted a little brown irish berkshire who was to become snake food which i just could not let happen of course. Then I recently bought a huge cage for my three ratty boys and decided I could fit another one in (the cage is big enough to fit 8!) so I looked into a breeder this time and made the arrangements today for a little 6 week old variegated to come home to me this weekend. I have made four my limit, I realize even now, four will be a bit of a challenge as just these three are tough to keep track of when i open the cage and let them roam a bit. I also have three kids under 6 and two teen step kids so I have a full house as it is. I would LOVE to have more, and I will... in the future. Right now I want to give my ratties lots of love so they can each have a happy full life and I cant do that with a hoarde of rats so four it is and four it will always be.