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Bear Rape posted:Question about rat behavior: is it weird that 2 of my rats (both of them PEWs and I believe they're also siblings) like to try to give bedding/food/toys to my dog? It is the weirdest thing. Any time my dog lays next to the cage, they'll start trying to press things through the cage towards him. There's a small pile of bedding and grain in front of the cage where he'll sit and watch them sometimes. One of my rats do that, and been doing it since before we got a cat, so I don't really think they do it for an audience. Maybe some do. It's definitely normal behavior. The first time Pau did it was when we switched out her paper litter with magazine paper and she HATED IT. Now she just shoves piles and piles of paper when it's time to clean the cage. I've seen her shove out toys she's been unimpressed with as well. You're right, it's pretty loving cute, to see them in a zone working diligently on this litter shoving project. Rats are little perfectionists, if they don't like the quantity of litter in their cage, they'll get rid of it until they're satisfied.
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Sep 3, 2012 17:10
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That is adorable. I really do need to change their litter I suppose (I was using a type of carefresh they didn't like as much as the plain so maybe that). This is the first time I've seen them do it, but I have seen rats in pet stores push their bedding around. Maybe something other than my dog prompted it because I moved them away for a bit and she kept going even while I was moving her. Rats are crazy, that's why I have six. 
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Sep 3, 2012 17:22
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My guys tend to try and pull things into the cage.
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Sep 3, 2012 18:05
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Bear Rape posted:Question about rat behavior: is it weird that 2 of my rats (both of them PEWs and I believe they're also siblings) like to try to give bedding/food/toys to my dog? It is the weirdest thing. Any time my dog lays next to the cage, they'll start trying to press things through the cage towards him. There's a small pile of bedding and grain in front of the cage where he'll sit and watch them sometimes. This is probably some nefarious plot. My rats used to feed the dog so they could rip out big chunks of her hair for nesting when she was nearby. Poor dumb bald dog.
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Sep 3, 2012 19:24
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Oh my gosh, that's awesome. I love watching rats interact with other animals. So I had Hector time again today. I ditched the gloves on a gut feeling, and surprisingly he didn't bite me! He did poo cannon me again, so we both walked away from it covered in poo poo, but I have hope this will all pay off. When I handed him his canteloupe at the end he crazy eyed me... then took it! It could be a fluke, but it might not be as well.
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Sep 3, 2012 20:48
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Invalid Octopus has been nudging me to put more ratpix up while she's away.  Folly, you're weird. Only slobs eat on the toilet.  Angela enjoying food with her chubby chubby face.  Evidently she doesn't always like to get her hands dirty.  EVERY picture of Gypsy, she looks like she's been caught in the act of something unsavoury. LegioPraetoria fucked around with this message at 00:12 on Sep 4, 2012 |
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Sep 4, 2012 00:07
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Aw all my good rat ladies except Liza 
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Sep 4, 2012 00:12
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Olive Bar posted:Oh my gosh, that's awesome. I love watching rats interact with other animals. It sounds like progress to me 
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Sep 4, 2012 06:13
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Progress happened at dinner time. I grabbed some bone marrow from a ham and made him reach juuuuuust outside of the cage to get it. He ran and hid it, then walked slowly back up to the front of the cage and his ears went from being down to perking up as he looked at me like I've never fed him. One less fear pose is definitely progress. Today, he takes treats from me, hopefully in time he'll love me.
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Sep 4, 2012 07:30
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Olive Bar posted:Progress happened at dinner time. I grabbed some bone marrow from a ham and made him reach juuuuuust outside of the cage to get it. He ran and hid it, then walked slowly back up to the front of the cage and his ears went from being down to perking up as he looked at me like I've never fed him. One less fear pose is definitely progress. Today, he takes treats from me, hopefully in time he'll love me. That's so cute If you can get photos of him, post them. I want to see this guy 
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Sep 4, 2012 09:03
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LegioPraetoria posted:Invalid Octopus has been nudging me to put more ratpix up while she's away. Look at the little cutieeees I am not looking forward to this weekend, I don't want to give my friend's rats back to him. 
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Sep 4, 2012 09:07
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There's actually a picture either on this page or the last, but more need to be taken.
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Sep 4, 2012 19:13
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Oh man I just had the most adorable breakthrough. Until tonight I've always had to pick up the rats to get them out of the cage, and they'd both struggle initially/try to dodge my hand. Tonight though Eve came and walked onto my arm, then scooted up and snuffled around in my hood, all of her own volition. After a few minutes she went back to the cage, then hopped right back out again and onto me. I was feeling a bit crappy and it perked me right up
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Sep 4, 2012 21:55
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After two months my girls still won't just run up my arm in the cage without a cheerio to persuade them and 5 minutes of waiting. Once I pick them up they run right up to my shoulder and hang out there and will eat and groom up there. Maybe when they get old and lazy they will relax enough to casually stroll up my arm.
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Sep 5, 2012 01:13
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My rats will only run up my arm if I'm wearing sleeves because then it's happysleevefuntimes. Feeding them with sleeves on end up with like half my rats all up in my clothes. I'm just trying to feed you guys jeez stop 
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Sep 5, 2012 01:26
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One of my girls, Waffles, has developed an obsession with crawling inside my clothes. She started out going from my shoulder down the front of my shirt and then made the natural progression to going down the back and when I am laying on the couch or in bed with them, up either pant leg right into a snuggle with my balls. It'd be cute if it wasn't for those claws and the ever present chance of mistaking my dick/balls for food.
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Sep 5, 2012 01:47
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OlDirtyBehrmann posted:One of my girls, Waffles, has developed an obsession with crawling inside my clothes. She started out going from my shoulder down the front of my shirt and then made the natural progression to going down the back and when I am laying on the couch or in bed with them, up either pant leg right into a snuggle with my balls. It'd be cute if it wasn't for those claws and the ever present chance of mistaking my dick/balls for food. Haha. My rats love being in my clothes too. But if I wrap a blanket around me they are usually happy just to get in there. Try that?
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Sep 5, 2012 02:42
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Waffles won't stop there. She is determined to touch my balls. She can be distracted with treats and me scratching her behind the ears and behind her front legs but when I let her go where where wants, she will make it up my leg sooner or later. Mostly sooner. And I lied, it is still cute despite my genitals potential peril.
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Sep 5, 2012 03:29
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At least you won't be cold in the winter I guess...
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Sep 5, 2012 06:22
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Bear Rape posted:Question about rat behavior: is it weird that 2 of my rats (both of them PEWs and I believe they're also siblings) like to try to give bedding/food/toys to my dog? It is the weirdest thing. Any time my dog lays next to the cage, they'll start trying to press things through the cage towards him. There's a small pile of bedding and grain in front of the cage where he'll sit and watch them sometimes. Eve did this, though I don't think she was reacting to my dogs since she was doing it where none of them watch from anyway. It was like she was building a little fort or something https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91vUjHmSXyc hey. hey. what is this   I'm about to get 100x more annoying itt Fraction fucked around with this message at 18:47 on Sep 5, 2012 |
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Sep 5, 2012 12:02
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Today, Hector didn't poo cannon me. He's not a happy camper when we spend time together, but at least he didn't poo cannon me.
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Sep 5, 2012 22:19
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 Top to bottom: Chell, currently nameless, Valentine.
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Sep 6, 2012 20:03
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YESSS . Need more pics, forever more pics.
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Sep 6, 2012 20:05
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If Valentine had been in the center then I would've made a joke about printer contrasts. They're adorable! 
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Sep 6, 2012 20:06
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Invalid Octopus posted:YESSS They are settling in (read, two of them are clambering everywhere and one is pretty traumatised in the corner) atm but tomorrow, yes, there will be pictures. They get tonight to settle in then tomorrow forced socialisation begins.  I think my mum wants to name the nameless girl so urgh that could be fun! ^^ Aren't they just!? They're super scared right now so just letting them settle in/get used to sounds around their cage, since they were in a teeny mouse cage and didn't get much stimulation at the shop. Fraction fucked around with this message at 20:19 on Sep 6, 2012 |
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Sep 6, 2012 20:10
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Need new rats in my life ugh.  Will unfortunately have to wait until I move somewhere where I can realistically get some. In the meantime I will just look at pictures in here, and YouTube videos.
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Sep 6, 2012 20:12
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  rats rats rats. I'm trying so hard not to pester them but my god they are cute They're very wary but not terrified enough to not investigate when I was up against the cage, which is I think a good sign.So far I've had to veto 'Maisy', 'Cheryl' (as in Cole  ) and 'Snowy' for the nameless girl. I reeeeally want to name her Rapture hnggE: names decided and we now have Valentine, Chell and Alice
Fraction fucked around with this message at 23:14 on Sep 6, 2012 |
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Sep 6, 2012 22:07
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Selling a nice Ferret Nation cage in SA Mart: I am selling it because my last ratty, Faye, died yesterday. R.I.P Faye (2009-2012) 
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Sep 7, 2012 02:09
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While those cages are awesome (I have one), you might want to lower your price. They are $162 dollars shipped on amazon.
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Sep 7, 2012 02:24
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Rats love beef and mushroom pot pie, yes they do!    
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Sep 7, 2012 04:06
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Am I okay to/should I start giving my rats fresh veg immediately? They're on reggie rat until my money comes through so I can buy a load of different grains to do a grain mix, but I don't want to upset their stomachs by giving them too much too soon  I forgot how much rodents poop and how much it SMELLS when they're scared urgh  Chell is a loving rocket too, she sprang off my lap and onto the cage and ended up underneath it until I could grab hold of her. Then she rewarded me by pissing everywhere when I grabbed her          (with flash)  BOOP Alice is obviously a pink eyed white and Chell looks like a poor black, but not 100% what Valentine is. Maybe beige?
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Sep 7, 2012 10:51
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Olive Bar posted:I am going to try the glove technique, but I can't hand feed him because he goes straight for my fingers. Keep him isolated. Never let him out of the cage unless you are cleaning it. When you need to clean out the bedding pick up the entire cage and put it somewhere high so he wont jump off. He should be hidden inside his igloo or house when you move it. Lift out the house and then clean the cage. Set the cage up and tip him out inside of it, then you can clean the igloo. Don`t clean his igloo too much because it's a pretty brutal way to do it. Let him have his safe spot so he will always hide there. You`ll know where is when you need him to be somewhere you can easily contain him. When I had a viscous rat like him I would open his cage door and reach my fist in. Basically I would have my hand open on one side with treats inside my hand balanced on my pinky. If he wanted them he had to shove his head in my hand to grab it. Do not let him get at your fingers. Drop a few treats on his head so he knows what they are to begin with. Don`t drop them in more than once a week. You don`t want him to think they just rain down from the sky. If he bit me he wont get it. Never reward bad behavior. He attacked my hand a few times, but he stopped biting completely and became one of the nicest rats I`ve ever had. Ketchup. Here he is, sleeping on his balls, on my mouse mat waiting for me to wake up.  Posted this before but lets rehash: I`ve only had the one rat that I couldn`t curb or train, but that was because he died before having the chance. Casper and Booger.  Booger was a total monster. He spent his entire life trying to kill his brother, Casper. He could not be handled, and even when you put him on something high, he would loving jump off. I adopted them both together and he just got more and more violent as time went on. I always let my rats free range my room, leaving the cages open with food and water. I had to keep Casper locked up, to save him from Booger. I tried the treat-fist method with him to try and soften him up a bit. Didn`t seem to work till one day I was sat at my PC, saw his evil glowing eyes underneath my monitor. I slowly went to grab him before he could scarper off. Something was wrong, he normally would have bolted at the slightest noise and I would catch him at the last second and get bitten. He just stayed there waiting. I switched on the lights and he was still there. I figured 'okay hes softened up now and wants to be picked up' so I picked him up as gentle as possible. He offered no resistance at all. I knew something was wrong with him. He squirmed a bit, I could tell he was in pain and then he started screaming. Dear god that sound he made as he died will never leave me The only time I ever got to cuddle him was when he died. He was so unbelievably soft, but thats also how I felt the massive solid lump inside his stomach. He was probably in pain from cancer the whole time. He came to me when he knew he was gonna die so he wasn't a bad rat. I will never believe there are any rats beyond saving because I've never met one. Give it time, lots of time and just always be nice. Failing that look for a medical problem. I still have Casper. The trauma of Booger still shows in his skittish behavior. He`s very old now, so he has trouble walking but he gets around. Few days ago I was giving him an ear rub, something I haven`t done for a while. Didn't cross my mind at the time but rats that cant use their hind legs cant clean their ears. SO MUCH WAX Cleaned them out with some cotton buds and now just have to remember to do it every week. 
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Sep 7, 2012 20:30
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I'm sorry to hear about Booger, having an aggressive rat sounds so depressing  FYI guys Alice is asleep on my lap right now. They are all still pretty scared but Alice is the least timid. I can't believe how tiny my girls are compared to Adam and Eve!DEAR GOD she woke up, looked at me and started boggling omggg. I feel like a proud parent. Fraction fucked around with this message at 21:33 on Sep 7, 2012 |
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Sep 7, 2012 21:07
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Boggling is so creepy, especially the first time you see it and have no idea what it means. I thought my rat was going to explode from happiness!
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Sep 8, 2012 15:28
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Wow slidje, that is loving awful. I'm so sorry. Hector is coming along though, so I have high hopes, he hasn't tried to bite me in a few days and I can even handle him without gloves now. Hopefully he chills out as time goes on.
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Sep 8, 2012 17:26
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Quite a while ago there was some talk in RN about walnut hull litter. Have any of you guys used it? Nearly out of Carefresh and wouldn't mind a change.
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Sep 8, 2012 17:51
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Invalid Octopus posted:Quite a while ago there was some talk in RN about walnut hull litter. Have any of you guys used it? Nearly out of Carefresh and wouldn't mind a change. Haven't tried the rats, but I tried my mice on it. It definitely helps with odors but it's very course and didn't look very comfortable to hang out on. If your rats are litter trained and you use fabric bedding it'd prob be amazing for their litter pans, but if you're lazy like me and don't litter train and use it as their main bedding, they probably wouldn't like it much.
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Sep 8, 2012 19:20
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When I see my rats going crazy when I bring in some leftover roast vegetables and a little bit of meat, I know I made the right choice with pets Of course, then watching just lick the juices off the food and then leaving them in the 'rubbish' corner is a little special as well   Also enjoy terrible photography!
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Sep 9, 2012 12:06
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Invalid Octopus posted:Quite a while ago there was some talk in RN about walnut hull litter. Have any of you guys used it? Nearly out of Carefresh and wouldn't mind a change. I use it in the corner litter box in my rat cage. The boys still aren't 100% on the litter box, but a lot ends up in there. They wouldn't use it at all before I put the grate back on it. I use the non-clumping version, which is decently large pellets. I don't think the pellets would be comfortable to live on, and the clumping kind definitely wouldn't be, so I'm not sure I'd recommend it as a replacement for CareFresh. My rats also use their litter box as a kind of midden, and if I give them something like peanuts they always deposit the shells there. By the way, I discovered that I could literally buy a new fleece blanket for every single cage cleaning and it would still be cheaper than using CareFresh. That's only because I have an IKEA nearby and they sell fleece blankets for $2.49, though.
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Sep 9, 2012 14:11
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RazorBunny posted:Boggling is so creepy, especially the first time you see it and have no idea what it means. I thought my rat was going to explode from happiness! Yeah I already knew of it so thankfully knew what it was, but it's still adorably creepy. Holy gently caress two of the rats are SO crazy. Alice is the one who's slept on me and boggled and, tonight, ran all over me investigating smells (but only pooping like five times in 20 minutes, she was fairly calm). But I had valentine out and had her held tight between two hands, and it wasn't too bad despite her attempting to escape a few times - then when I went to put her back she leapt onto the cage, dropped down onto the floor and it took me five minutes or so of panic to get her back. She screeched and squeaked when I finally grabbed her Is there any suggestions for socialising escape-prone rats? Or just keep on doing what I'm doing?
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Sep 9, 2012 20:03
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