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Here in Australia rats are just starting to gain popularity as pets  Its still hard to find good food, medicines and vets that know what they're doing with them (at least where I live) but I get by. I had two young rescue rats and decided to add a baby before they got older (in the hope that it would be easier to introduce them) I picked out the most adorable little guy who was so calm sitting in my hand. Turns out he is deaf - I first suspected this when he wouldn't wake up - I poked him and he jumped a mile and uttered a huge EEP  My two older guys are so sweet and accepted him right away.Its amazing the difference in their personalities! My biggest guy Dexter is a sook and loves cuddles and his brother Jack is very excitable and gets really happy and bouncy especially when I come home or someone opens the fridge! Basil the little deaf dude(lovingly nicknamed "Special Ed" for a while) rarely vocalises and ended up being a pretty small guy, but retained his chill attitude and love of exploring. I have taken the little one twice to my daughter's class to meet the kids for show-and-tell. He doesn't mind traveling at all and likes to sniff a variety of new people. Most of them have never seen a rat but he is always a huge hit, and gets big laughs when he climbs down my shirt and pops his head back up. Isn't it funny that kids are never scared of rats and always think they're adorable - but so many adults won't even think about touching one (EWWW!)?
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Jun 30, 2010 03:41
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| # ¿ Apr 25, 2024 14:12 |
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Thats funny. What color was it? Maybe it had been bred from wild rats (sometimes called Wharf rats?) Giant rats would be pretty cool >.>
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Jun 30, 2010 04:23
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Here's how I'd feel about it: Everyone I know would freak the gently caress out though.
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Jun 30, 2010 09:51
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Carebear posted:Is anyone interested in seeing pictures of how huge Neko is? I might take some tonight. Updating the FAQ later tonight, too. Always interested in rat pictures!
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Jun 30, 2010 23:35
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Thats funny. Mine love grapes. Although, they've never met a food they don't like.
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Jul 14, 2010 06:48
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Ugrok posted:Thank you very much ! Just keep touching them for at least 1/2 an hour at a time, don't let them get away from you. They WILL get used to you. You kind of have to force them into it. Do some research on "forced socialisation" on rats. Thats what people are talking about when they say to carry them around with you. Its not cruel, I promise After they have calmed down during these sessions you can let them explore up your arms, shoulders or whatever. At first they will quickly retreat back to the safe bag. It lets you really get used to how rats behave and you can judge when they are ready to move on to the next step. For the next couple of days if you want to wait, give them a treat every time you walk past the cage - cheerios work well  They will really learn to trust you by the frequent attention. Rats are curious and sweet and will want to investigate you soon enough!
Big Bug Hug fucked around with this message at 11:27 on Jul 21, 2010 |
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Jul 21, 2010 11:17
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I'm so happy you were able to get instant results. I love the markings and huge eyes on that little white girl. Ahh, I miss having baby rats. I always find it amusing also how they go into a grooming frenzy whenever they get back in the cage - as if they want to wash the human stink off them
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Jul 23, 2010 08:48
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From what I've seen rat sizes can differ greatly between individuals (I'm Aussie though so our pet rats might differ a bit). Yours look like they have quite a bit of growing left to do though At a guess mine were full sized at 5 months or so? I didn't really pay that much attention, sorry to say. Anyone know when rats officially reach maturity? Just wait til they get a bit older and more used to you and start seeking you out for attention. One of my boys would never leave my shirt if he had a choice and just boggles every time he gets in there, sniffs at my lips and snuggles up to me. My little deaf guy was always a bit aloof, but the other night he figured out how to boggle while climbing around in my shirt as well and it was a moment.
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Jul 23, 2010 11:55
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quote:Are they going to kill each other overnight tonight? Will they eventually get along? Should we rush out and buy a crappy small cage just so we can quarantine them for a while? Right now Trudy and Joan are sleeping on the top floor and Wrinkles is exploring the bottom, but I just don't know what kind of trouble they'll get into when the lights go out.
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Aug 3, 2010 09:50
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One in particular of my boys rearranges everything in the cage including putting everything in the hammock and shoving things off shelves. They will occasionally curl up exposed on the top or even the bottom if the house is warm. Usually though especially in winter they are in the hammock in a big sleepy rat pile. Maybe its warm in your house
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Aug 5, 2010 05:26
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I don't think a second hand cage would be a problem if you clean it well.
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Aug 7, 2010 04:13
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Sorry  I dread the day I have to deal with that. It's going to suck. But he looks like a very spoiled and happy rattie.
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Aug 9, 2010 09:53
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Yarn! posted:Update: I drove by and parked when I saw the cage was still outside. The rats were not breathing, I'm guessing the heat killed them. There is a police dispatch a block away and they couldn't send anyone I guess. I'm at a loss, I don't live in the best neighborhood and I didn't want to knock on the door. I wish there was something I could have done. That bites.
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Aug 10, 2010 09:34
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You're pretty well researched, I think you'll be good. Its pretty cute how excited you are (I dont blame you, baby rats are awesome) Word of advice - your ratties will eventually destroy those hammocks and I wouldn't spend money on more - I make mine out of super cheap polar fleece or old clothes, then I don't care when they get "renovated". I tend to give mine cardboard boxes to destroy too in favor or plastic igloos. Don't overwhelm the little ones with too much stuff as soon as they get in! They look set to be spoiled little happy rats though. They will probably enjoy the rope toys and things they can destroy. edit: Oh - I tried having two water bottles and they only EVER drank from the highest one. I just put the vitamins in every second time I change the water or so and it seems to work ok for me (I'm not very precise) Is that true about tap water? o_O I give it to mine - but I'm in Australia. Big Bug Hug fucked around with this message at 03:08 on Aug 15, 2010 |
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Aug 15, 2010 03:02
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Never seen a rat chomp down super fast on something inanimate. Mine always tend to roam around doing exploratory (soft) nibbles and its easy to catch them. But my guys have never shown an interest in chewing cords either (in fact the only thing they've damaged while out is cloth). Maybe others' do?
Big Bug Hug fucked around with this message at 10:47 on Aug 17, 2010 |
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Aug 17, 2010 10:43
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Do it while they are young and if you follow the guidelines people have posted in this thread on introducing rats, you'll be fine I had no problems introducing a baby to my 4-month old rats. Do it carefully is all.
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Aug 19, 2010 10:44
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Hahaha wrinkes is so cute.
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Aug 19, 2010 23:48
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This page lacks pictures. Look at that pudgy belly
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Aug 26, 2010 00:09
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Not sure if baby shampoo is ok or not, but its easy to find rabbit/small animal shampoo at pet places edit: oh yeah mine have had exactly one bath, when I wanted their tails clean cause we were going visiting dog days are over posted:Hey so it turns out taking pictures of young energetic rats is hard! I'm impressed you got one non-blurry picture, I don't think I managed to get any when my two oldest were babies. Your girls are cute, I've never seen anything like that color in Australia
Big Bug Hug fucked around with this message at 07:48 on Aug 26, 2010 |
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Aug 26, 2010 07:35
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I'd still give them a couple days of playing together outside the cage (neutral territory), and if that goes well, pop the little one in with the older one for a short time under close supervision. They'll probably be well used to each other by then and you should have no probs.
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Aug 29, 2010 01:08
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I love the feet. That is one cute little ratty
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Sep 4, 2010 10:22
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Sorry, I haven't had to deal with old rats yet, but to me it sounds like she is just ageing. Maybe someone else can help.
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Sep 7, 2010 10:32
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Dr. Spaceman posted:I didn't realize rats would boggle when they were stressed. If I am petting Peaches and she boggles for example, how can I tell the difference between her being stressed and her being happy? Mine boggle when in a happy rat pile in their hammock and I am sure thats contentment, not stress. However one of mine I take outside regularly - he likes to sniff the air and loves meeting new people. But sometimes he acts a bit anxious and doesn't want to go out. There is definitely teeth chattering and sometimes boggling there, and I figure something is stressing him when he withdraws into my shirt or tries to get back to the cage. If she only boggles while you're petting her she is probably just enjoying it
Big Bug Hug fucked around with this message at 00:47 on Sep 8, 2010 |
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Sep 8, 2010 00:43
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Yeah they are indeed awesome Everyone was saying earlier how we all want to own one.
Big Bug Hug fucked around with this message at 11:09 on Sep 9, 2010 |
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Sep 9, 2010 11:07
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No, with rats you DO want to force them to spend time with you. Read the rest of the thread for the info on "forced socialisation" - its not cruel like it sounds I promise, and it works really well edit: here's a quick link, but really this thread has the best info http://e4n.kuddlykorner4u.com/behavior.html#forced Make sure you start out with giving her a treat every time you walk past the cage until she gets the idea that your hands aren't scary and she gets good things from them. Big Bug Hug fucked around with this message at 06:48 on Sep 10, 2010 |
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Sep 10, 2010 06:38
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CompactFanny posted:But DON'T give the treat through the cage bars! This leads to a terrible snatchy habit.
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Sep 11, 2010 00:56
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lol. Poor rat. Get her a small animal carrier - I use a hard plastic one with a clear perspex lid and good ventilation all around the bottom. It has a clip to close it and there's no way they're getting out of there. Then again I can't imagine any of mine figuring out how to unzip a zip. Something like this: http://www.equinecaninefeline.com/catalog/ferplast-aladino-animal-carrier-small-hamster-mouse-p-396.html
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Sep 12, 2010 02:11
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Thats so sad, I'd like to know how other goons deal with it too
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Sep 16, 2010 07:44
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I decided groups of 3 was better for me so there will be two left when one dies, take that as you will
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Sep 22, 2010 05:45
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Its a shame but I would probably seperate them
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Oct 29, 2010 23:24
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Haha, I have boys, and one of them is a real squeaker. Whenever they're playing or tussling, squeak squeak squeak. His brother rarely does, but his is quite low as you describe and mostly when taken by surprise or when one of the others has him pinned. Maybe the low squeak is because he is bigger? The youngest one is deaf and barely makes a noise. But when he does, it sounds really retarded. I guess he doesn't know what a rat is supposed to sound like?  Also be sure he doesn't have a respiratory problem, though I'm sure you probably can tell the difference between squeaking and wheezing. audrey posted:I left them in the cage together overnight and they seemed okay, in the end. I think Eli (the fat one) knows something's up, she kept nudging the other ratty (Nico) with her head last night. Watching them today, she seems pretty disinterested in her except for cuddling up, and I saw her grooming Nico earlier.
Big Bug Hug fucked around with this message at 13:23 on Nov 2, 2010 |
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Nov 2, 2010 13:19
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All of my guys have had wheezing probs at some time or another. If it gets bad I always give them steam. Just take them in the bathroom and shut the doors and steam up the room while the rat sits with me for about 10 minutes wondering what on earth we're doing. But try warming him up first, I say. Indigestable posted:Thanks, RazorBunny and Big Hug Bug! I was worried it might be respiratory but it's not all the time, only when I tickle him or he's sitting on my shoulder. He is really pretty big so that must be why it's low-pitched. Despite him being 2-3x their size, one girl or the other always has him pinned on his back audrey posted:I had to take Nico to the vet to be put down the day after that, so at least they spent some quality time together before she died.
Big Bug Hug fucked around with this message at 09:28 on Nov 4, 2010 |
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Nov 4, 2010 09:23
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So you occasionally travel but when you do its for a couple of months at a time? I am guessing it wouldn't be practical to take them with you when you go? Just a thought. I agree that it doesn't sound like the best situation for rats. I have left mine alone for 5 days once (with people checking them) and I was worried about them. They clearly missed me, too They will get attatched to you and pine when you are gone, so its just not nice for them.
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Nov 4, 2010 23:49
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Explosions! posted:bad vet I hope your little guy will be ok. I actually have used Tetracycline from a pet store (packaged as bird antibiotics) for my rats in a pinch. It worked well for me. Maybe your bf could get hold of some of that? The stuff I have is mixed with their drinking water and they seem to like the taste fine. edit: missed the part where you said you got Doxycycline(?) I'm sure he will be fine!
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Nov 5, 2010 22:36
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Explosions! posted:I'll have to keep the bird antibiotics in mind if I need some again, but by the time I make it to town to buy them (~ 1 1/2 hrs to a well stocked pet store) I could probably just get more from the vet. It would really piss me off if a vet said they knew about rats just to get your business >.<
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Nov 9, 2010 01:51
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Only one of my rats has ever chewed on the bars, its really weird, and usually in the same spot. Funnily enough I found something he likes to chew (rawhide strips) and peg it to the side of the cage and he will go to town on that instead. I think he just wants to chew and wear down those teeth. Have you tried different fun chewable things?
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Nov 9, 2010 10:28
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Eh true I suppose. My guy will only do it if there's no rawhide in the cage so I don't mind keeping up the supply
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Nov 9, 2010 12:32
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I don't think the cage is so terrible since it's obvious you let the little guy have a lot of out time Its really up to you in regards to not having the money for potential vet bills but I wouldn't let the cage stop you. Big Bug Hug fucked around with this message at 03:50 on Nov 12, 2010 |
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Nov 12, 2010 01:56
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They will scuffle and playfight a little, but they'll be cool if you introduce them carefully. Especially if you bring in a baby rat.
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Nov 12, 2010 07:59
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| # ¿ Apr 25, 2024 14:12 |
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Thats strange and sad, but I bet you probably didn't do anything wrong. Probably just a freak thing Don't let it put you off rats. I've never seen a rat do anything violent.
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Nov 13, 2010 00:05
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