nce upon a time there was a woman who loved animals and had a daughter with similar interests. They lived in Washington state (a beautiful place to live) and kept busy taking care of 14 fish tanks and a cat named Gus.

One day they were going to the mall and saw a fish tank sitting in front of someone's house in a junk pile. Knowing that it was junking season they stopped and picked it up.. afterall one persons junk is another persons treasure right? *s*

Ashleen (the woman) eyed the fishtank and decided it was a ten gallon tank and proceeded to travel around town going to all her favorite discount fish equipment stores purchasing the necessary equipment to get the tank running. Well Ashleen has bad eyes it was a 20 gallon tank yeah yeah.. no no. no matter what she did she couldn't find a hood to fit that darned tank. then she realized it was 1/4 inch too small to fit any normal hood.. and frustratedly took all the parts back. Her last stop their favorite pet store....PETCO!

Wouldn't you know that as they walked into the store they decided to go and look at the critters...(are you seeing any danger signs here) Did you figure it out yet? Caren had always wanted a rat and here they were with a tank that only a screen top would fit. They looked into the cages in the small animal department ... a darlin little black hooded rat looked back and before we even realized it Kimmie was on her way home with us.

We didnt know anything about rats except that they were cute and good pets. Kimmie was a little skittish but we could hold her and she adored Caren and the feelings were mutual. Ashleen wasn't getting any rat time and so she made up an excuse saying Kimmie was lonely and three days later Rosie a blue hooded girl was on her way to kimmies side. Kimmie and Rosie were friends from the first moment they met mostly cause Rosie is a totally friendly rat and very calm and let kimmie be the boss *L*.

Daisy a cinnamon doe who had already had 2 litters of kittens came to live with us a few weeks later. She was a rescue that Petco took in but had her labeled as a feeder and Ashleen would have nothing to do with that. Daisy and Kimmie didn't get along at all in fact Kimmie hurt Daisy by biting her so they had to be in separate cages for a while. And so Daisy wouldn't be lonely ....yes you got it Annie came to live with us. Annie is a Himalayan rex very cute little girl and good friend to Daisy.

Yoshi came a few weeks later another rescue and the father to Kimmie and Rosies babies. He is a Blue Agouti. Last but not least in little Kenji. The youngest of our group about 6 weeks old when we got him. He was purchased to keep Yoshi company you know it really is true that ratties are social creatures Yoshi really loves having Kenji around. Kenji is a chocolate hooded rattie boy very adorable and will maybe be a daddy to Annies first litter.

Well thats the story of our beginning. We have 27 babies right now but thats another story. Click on the link below and you will be able to see more of the going on at the Rodentia Madre Ratterie.