By: Hazytalk / Ballbreeder.com

Not many people are fond of rats. They are often misunderstood. Many people think of disease infested menaces. This probably stemmed from the black plague. Contrary to common belief, rats were not spreading the plague. It was the fleas that the rats carried. Ok, so maybe the rats played a little part by carrying the fleas, but believe it or not, rats are very clean animals, spending most of their lives washing and grooming.

Another misconception is that rats bite. Just about every animal bites, but rats only tend to bite when cornered or scared. I would rate rats as an excellent beginner pet. Even above rabbits, gerbils, or hamsters. Gerbils and hamsters can be fast, frightened and hard to handle, and actually are more apt to bite.

Rats are quick learners. They can learn their names, play games, and are even ticklish. When tickled, they let out a high pitched laugh that is inaudible to the human ear. That’s right, rats giggle. If you handle them every day, they will snuggle up with you, and really enjoy your attention. So don’t shoot down the idea of getting a rat.

Two of my fancy rats are Whimsy and Mimsy. They are both females (pregnant at this time). They love to play with cat toys and are great escape artists. I find them on top of their cages frequently, and I have no idea how they get out. Since I noted that they are both pregnant, anyone interested in a great pet can respond to this blog and let me know.

Hello. Today I would like to discuss Blue. Blue is a Blue Diamond Iguana. His full name is Blue Diamond Philips. Iguanas are not a great starter pet. They are a very long commitment (they can live to be over 25 years old). A lot of people underestimate their size. After two years, they can grow to over 3 feet long and when they are fully grown, after 7 years, they can reach over 6 feet.

Now, think about how you would house a six foot long dinosaur. That’s basically what it is. It needs humidity, so you can’t keep it in something that has a lot of ventilation. It needs lots of room to move around. And it needs heat. Along with heat comes special lighting. Without special lighting that provides UVB rays, Iguanas cannot produce the vitamin D3 they need to metabolize the calcium from their food. Many Iguana owners do not know the basics and are baffled when their Iguana is in poor health, has lack of color, doesn’t get as big as it is supposed to, or even dies. A lot of research and care is particularly important for raising an iguana properly.

Blue loves to eat different vegetables. His favorite is romaine lettuce, but we like to keep a balance of different fruits and vegetables for a multitude of vitamins and minerals.

Blue is my girlfriend, Ann’s, favorite pet. She holds him every day and feeds him out of her hand. One funny thing about Blue is that he knows when it is bedtime. At around 11pm, he climbs up onto his log in the corner, shuts his eyes and goes to sleep. We then shut his lights off (except for a red heat lamp) and let him get some shuteye until morning. He’s a heavy sleeper too. He won’t wake up until we turn the lights back on. He’s slept until noon before.

Here you can see our cat, Amber mesmerized by Blue.