January 13, 1999

The time has come. The babies aren't babies anymore, but little rats. They're ready to go to good rat homes. Brook has done as good a job as a mom can do. She raised seven rats as if she was an experienced mother taking care of her seventh litter. They are past breast feeding. They are just about as big as their mom. The boys have been separated.

They are all human friendly, some more than others. The boys really like to play around with themselves as well as their dad. They've been living with their dad for almost a week. The last couple days, when I've come out in the morning, I've found the boys all crowded with their pop in the hammock. It's great. Felix is a fine father. He gets along better with his sons than he does with his step-brothers.

The girls have been living with their mom in the 25 gallon tank. I had a guest staying over for a few days, so I had to move the tank from the bathroom to my bedroom. I had to barricade the bottom of my bed so the girls can't get under there and destroy my phone wire when they were running around. But no matter how well I thought I had it stopped up, they'd find a way. The last day my friend was here, I just had to keep the girls in the tank. I couldn't take the chance of them getting to that main wire, which would require a technician coming in and fixing. Finally my friend left and the girls were let free in the hallway and bathroom and as I write, are having a great time.

Brook has given birth to seven ratties, raised them well and still looks like a little showgirl. She can climb better than any rat I've ever seen and loves to hang with her boyfriend, Felix, despite the fact he can't really do anything anymore if you catch my drift. When I put her in the hallway to play around, I've got it sectioned off with large pieces of board. She can jump so high, soon she'll be able to reach that top with one jump.

Girl One. I've been calling her Goldy 'cause she's a pretty little golden girl. The most friendly of the seven, she's also the most beloved by those who see her in person. She wrestles with her mom and her sisters, loves to be pet and like her mom, loves to climb. Every time I come to the girls, she's the first one on top of me. She'll take any treat given to her and in the light, she glows like a Christmas light. If I ever was to enter rats in a show, this would be the one.

Girl Two. This is one of the Socks Twins. I can't tell them apart. They look exactly the same. This is the one that is a little more shy than the other. This Sock spends more time in corners and under towels. She'll come out to be pet, but after the others are out first. Once she gets pet and a treat, she won't leave.

Girl Three. This is the other Socks Twin. She's the second most gregarious of the girls next to Goldy. She sees her mom climb on my shoulder all the time so I'll take her out, she does the same. It's hilarious to see both of the twins on my lap at the same time. It's like a Disney movie (you know, where the twins are always cousins. When does that ever happen in real life? Twin cousins?) Both Socks Twins have super shiny black fur.

Girl Four. I've been calling this one Swan (after a character in one of my favorite books, Robert McCammon's Swan Song) although whoever takes her can of course call her whatever they want. She's an investigator. When I come in and sit, the others will crowd around to get treats, Swan will look to see if she can get out the way I got in. She's a very active girl, which is why it's hard to get a good picture of her. She's all over the place.

Boy One. Dusty the great. He's turned out to be a striking little fellow, eh? He's a really good little guy. He's been sitting on my lap for a while when I'm at my desk, but then starts getting too curious and wants to wander around. The Dustman I am keeping. Of all the rats, he's the one who's most comfortable around the camera, and I think it shows. He's always posing.

Boy Two. Hercule is the mini version of his dad. Of the three boys, he seems to want to be on or with his dad the most. He really reminds me of his dad when he was this age. Hercule is the shyest of the three boys. I'm keeping him too.

Boy Three. Kato is a cool, playful little guy. I love that dot on his head and it's what keeps me from mixing him up with his brother Hercule. It's funny how two of the boys came out looking just like their dad, and two girls came out all black with white socks and tummies. Two of the rats came out with their mom's colors and one just came out golden.

That's them. The Magnificent Seven. Right now, the four girls are still up for adoption, as is their mom. Hope people with rats will take them, at least two at a time. I hate to separate them since they all get along so well. Held from day four, fed lots of good food with lots of playtime, these are seven great little ratties.