My sister had a rat about fifteen years ago...he was SO SWEET! Back then, it wasn't quite a known thing to get rats altered, so he wasn't, and thus would occassionally nibble your finger or have his hormonal "moods", but otherwise, he was so sweet...I loved sweet Mi Hijo.
Mi Hijo got to be over a foot long, not including his tail. He was what they said to be a "hooded pack rat", and just grew and grew. But he was so wonderful. He lived to be about four years of age, and we still miss him being in the family, all this time later!
He was also interesting to watch, when she would let him out for play time. I liked watching him hug the walls as he went around the room, and he would now and then venture into the middle of the room to hang out with me, sniff the phone, or clothes on the floor, or sit by my lap. He was really special.
So, while I understand how special and wonderful ratties can be, at the same time, I just don't know at this point if I could house one of my own. Obviously if I saw a need, and was able to meet it (which we can't right now, and wouldn't be able to for quite a while), I would extend a hand to open our home to a sweetheart rattie.
I also had three gerbils for 4.5 years. They were really wonderful, too. Three triplet (literally) boys, black with white features. They were really fun, AMAZINGLY smart...all three knew their names. I sure loved those little guys...
