Sharing an interest of mine.
I've had pet rats for years now, but sadly my mental health probably won't allow me to have them much longer. Especially with the baby coming. I still have 5 lovely ratties but I don't spend as much time with them as I should. But I've had a few real wonder rats through the years, and I thought I'd share my love here on my journal.
Venus was one of my ultimate soul ratties. I got her completely by accident. We were stuck at her breeder's house for the duration of the most wicked storm in years and I was certainly not going to buy any ratties. But we sat there for 4 hours and this little kissing, snuggling, playful beauty was put in my lap. I was doomed from the start. She died in 2007 and I still miss her.
Here she is, my beautiful girl:

She was very laid back

Because she was so lovely, I had her mated twice which produced the most wonderful babies.
Here is the first litter at the milk bar. :o)

And here is the second litter in much the same situation. Although mum seems a bit more distracted this time around. Being pregnant myself now I can't blame her. Foooooood.

When she had her first litter I had a friend film her while piling even more bedding onto her already enormous nest. I took the top off the cage so people could see better. Under that pile of paper is a nest with little pink babies in it. And apparently it could never ever be too big!
And yes, it's me holding the roll of toilet paper.