Species: Brown Rat Rattus norvegicus

Expected lifespan: 2-3 years

DOB: Around Febuary/March 09

Although many people have a dislike of rats they make fantastic pets and can entertain for hours with their antics. The more time you spend with them the more they'll come to accept you as one of their rat pack.

Marble and Domino are two very sweet little rats that enjoy nothing more than bouncing around in their big cage or being let out to run around the hallway and stairs. They are both black hooded rats and sisters but on first glance it can be difficult to tell them apart. Marble has a slightly higher forehead than Domino and has a gap in her stripe at the base of her tail. Domino also has a telltale spot on her left side.

Marble started out as the dominant rat of the pair but Domino took over before they were fully grown. The two were introduced to Scrabble and Cluedo to live in the same cage as a group of 4-5 female rats mimics their behaviour in the wild. Since then Jigsaw, Silver and Hidey were added. There is always an "alpha" rat and at the moment the two girls are near the top of the pile after displacing Scrabble. Domino is a little more territorial than Marble and is also more vocal. She will make little grunting sounds as she waddles along on occassion though we have never heard any of the other rats do the same.

Marble later became quite timid but regained her old confidence and despite now having a disability she does actually pick fights with the other rats sharing her cage. None of our rats have ever been seriously injured in a "fight" and they do so to determine their rank in the group. Whoever pins the other on its back first is the winner.

All of our rats enjoy getting together with other female rats for a play, groom and cuddle but Marble can sometimes be a bit of a trouble maker when there are other rats around she doesn't know as well as her usual cage mates. She is the only one of our group who will fluff up her fur when in the company of other rats. As this behaviour usually indicates a fight will follow she is taken away from the others for some attention from us instead then put back when she has calmed down.

Marble unfortunately suffered from an ear infection in the Autumn of 2009 and despite treatment with antibiotics she has been left with a permenant head tilt. This means that she has slightly more difficulty in getting around due to her head being tilted to one side and so can no longer be taken out for shows. She has been retired and along with Scrabble and Cluedo will live out the rest of her days without going out on shows.

Both rats behaved well on visits though as pet rats rarely bite anyway. Marble's sister Domino is now our main show rat.

The Tower

All the rats are allowed free range time in the hallway and stairs of the flat although used to be allowed this time in the lounge. Unfortunately Scrabble kept finding her way inside the recliner sofas so a new plan had to be thought of. The rats enjoy running up and down the stairs and bouncing around in the hallway. They get at least two hours free range time which is split up during the day though as you can see they have a fantastic cage with plenty of toys and places to snooze.

Marble at the vet

When Marble and Domino first came to live here they both had snuffles and had to be put on a course of antibiotics. Marble was diagnosed with an inner ear infection in Autumn 2009 and this caused enough damage to leave her with a head tilt. She is still a perfectly happy rat despite her disability and still enjoys climbing and running around in her free range him.