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wtftastic posted:Allergies to rats are actually pretty common and I've heard (from people who work with them for research purposes) some of them can really get you to have a bad reaction if you are allergic, and others not so much. Could be grooming (saliva) or dander related I guess? Fair enough! Its a definite possibility that my old rats may have been cleaner than my current rats, who are lazy bastards.
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Nov 27, 2012 06:27
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| # ? Jun 4, 2024 09:16 |
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Gambian pouched rats are really ugly and smelly irl. Their poop smells like a ferret's, ick. Seeing one in the flesh has pretty much destroyed any desire to ever get one v v
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Nov 28, 2012 17:00
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They're supposed to be pretty wild animals yet. It's too bad the US population was so successfully stomped out as I suspect they could be bred to be much more docile. Need to do this for the poop though: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ieAmdixoJ4w (that is one giant freaking rat)
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Nov 28, 2012 22:14
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My doublepost is a good to brag about my girls. I have a coworker with a stubborn dog that she can't housetrain so she just lets it use puppy pads in the house. I was sort of  about the whole setup but she says training that dog is very hard.It took all my effort not to tell her how easy it was to litter train my rats. I put the box in, and they used it about 80% right off the bat. Smart little buggers. I can't recommend it enough, only using a little bit of litter is so much nicer. Delta-Wye fucked around with this message at 22:42 on Nov 28, 2012 |
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Nov 28, 2012 22:32
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So I just got two little girls, they are adorable! But I'm worried about one of them; she bites. I've only had them for about a day so I know it's early days yet. I've been trying to let her come to me and sniff my hand/fist, but whenever she gets near a finger or a knuckle she BITES and tries to drag it backward. It's like she doesn't understand what hands are? It hurts, she's drawn blood on me and she lunged at my husband when he pulled his hand back and drew blood quite badly. What do I do? I'm trying to get her familiar with me, give her treats when she comes over to investigate on her own etc, but she just seems so bitey with fingers. It's made me nervous when I try to interact with her and my husband is scared to try. I've never had a rat bite me that hard before when exploring what the deal with hands is, at most they'd nip and then when they realised it wasn't food, let go. It doesn't feel like the regular 'oooh what's this' exploring that I've experienced with my rats in the past.  The other one is too shy to come explore yet so I don't know what her deal is. They are about 14 weeks old. edit: I don't think she's trying to keep us out of her cage because we are letting her come out and explore and come to us of her own volition. When she sniffs around near us as soon as she finds a hand, it's biting time. Atargatis fucked around with this message at 00:19 on Nov 30, 2012 |
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Nov 30, 2012 00:12
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Rats exploring water! SS104380 by GreyishOrange, on Flickr  SS104385 by GreyishOrange, on Flickr
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Nov 30, 2012 01:19
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Why aren't those rats actively trying to maul you?  e: I think I've found a solution to my rat socializing issue! I'm going to see if I can have Biscuit neutered, because they have about the same amount of energy and weird spazzy behavior, and are around the same age! I really hope that works. 
Hardwood Floor fucked around with this message at 01:45 on Nov 30, 2012 |
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Nov 30, 2012 01:22
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Reorganized the cage a bit today. They also all got sprayed by a squirt bottle a lot since I'm a big jerk. Get over it, rats. 
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Dec 1, 2012 00:02
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Is there any way I can keep Cubone for shoving her face in my ear? I'd like to have her out with me more but she has a habit of doing that and bruxing because she's so happy but it tickles too much and I end up putting her back in her cage. My rat seems to be getting more  by the day.
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Dec 1, 2012 03:23
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Atargatis posted:So I just got two little girls, they are adorable! But I'm worried about one of them; she bites. I've only had them for about a day so I know it's early days yet. I've been trying to let her come to me and sniff my hand/fist, but whenever she gets near a finger or a knuckle she BITES and tries to drag it backward. It's like she doesn't understand what hands are? It hurts, she's drawn blood on me and she lunged at my husband when he pulled his hand back and drew blood quite badly. Does your hand smell of food when you handle her? Do you have food-scented handwash? Google/look through this thread for info on forced socialisation. I'd advise grabbing some thick gloves so that when she bites you, it won't hurt you as much. Invalid Octopus posted:Reorganized the cage a bit today. They also all got sprayed by a squirt bottle a lot since I'm a big jerk. Get over it, rats. Look at you and your pretty fleece lined cage 
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Dec 1, 2012 09:32
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Fraction posted:Does your hand smell of food when you handle her? Do you have food-scented handwash? I make sure my hands don't smell of food, and I don't own any food scented handwashes or lotions or anything like that. Thanks, I'll look into that!
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Dec 1, 2012 16:14
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Fraction posted:Look at you and your pretty fleece lined cage And look at the minimal damage they did overnight   They are not, however, always bright. Angela (himalayan) tried to pull that green and blue tube into the wooden nesting box right there.  edit: for EVIDENCE   
Invalid Octopus fucked around with this message at 18:50 on Dec 1, 2012 |
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Dec 1, 2012 18:40
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We got our girls last night -- a champagne capped dumbo named Amelia and a mismarked black capped named Faye! Faye is about a week younger and a little camera-shy, so this post will be Amelia-heavy. Amelia is climbing up the inside of my sleeve as I type this.  You can see a little of Faye in these pictures of them mauling my boyfriend:  
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Dec 1, 2012 22:43
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This is an excellent precaution against RES, but you really can't be too careful...
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Dec 2, 2012 02:07
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Amiss posted:This is an excellent precaution against RES, but you really can't be too careful... Pardon my ignorance, but what's RES?
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Dec 2, 2012 02:48
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I'm assuming they mean Rat Explosion (Exploding?) Syndrome. It's very serious and only more adorable pictures of them can stop your rat from exploding.
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Dec 2, 2012 03:04
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Sounds like a serious condition. I'll get right on that.
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Dec 2, 2012 03:10
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I visited my friend and her rats recently The little roan rat I posted pics of in here, Pippin, is now living with the no-longer-preggo three legged rat, Stumpy. The first day of introductions didn't go well, but they groom each other and sleep together now. I think Stumpy is just glad to not be pregnant and to finally have a friend. Stumpy  Pippin  Mojo  Samwise (Ren in background)  Samwise  Jojo  Jojo  Samwise  Dobby  Sirius  Sirius I hope I don't post too much rat pix itt  Sam and Dobby are so big. They're apparently littermates to my girls, which would put them at about six months old now. But Sam is like 1.5x the size of even Alice, and Dobby is just... huge. He's like a little kitten. I can easily hold my rats in my hand or balanced on my palm, but (as shown) Sam just kinda flopped everywhere. Her other boy rats aren't nearly as big. I don't get it  Not The Platypus posted:We got our girls last night -- a champagne capped dumbo named Amelia and a mismarked black capped named Faye! Faye is about a week younger and a little camera-shy, so this post will be Amelia-heavy. Amelia is climbing up the inside of my sleeve as I type this. You definitely need to take more steps to guard against RES. These pictures just aren't enough, and babies are very susceptible to it. Pew! Pew! you should probably post more pics soon. You have a lot of rats. You don't want them exploding, right?
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Dec 2, 2012 12:47
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I'm sorry, have a gif that's a WIP of an avatar: Also good news kinda! I had to put Cubone with Donut, my other female dumbo, because of some cage-swapping antics and they are getting along pretty well, considering. Unfortunately at the same time I had to isolate Vanguard (my female hooded who was originally in with Donut) because she viciously attacked Donut for no real reason.  And then bit me hard enough to draw blood when I pulled her away. Are rats just prone to getting violent as they get older or something?
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Dec 2, 2012 15:17
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Good morning, Amelia! She had a busy night of hiding all of her food and dismantling the ladders in her cage. Edited to add: Faye!  Amelia with a carrot 
Patchouli Patrol fucked around with this message at 01:18 on Dec 3, 2012 |
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Dec 2, 2012 15:19
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Hector : 
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Dec 4, 2012 19:11
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Something I fed the boys must have made them extra stinky, because I just cleaned the cage a day and a half ago and it already reeks like I've forgotten it for a week. Guess I'm cleaning it again today! I'm debating wheeling their cage into another room and closing the door this weekend, since we're having a Christmas party. I don't think they'll be bothered by the noise or anything, but there will be a lot of kids around and I'm not sure I trust all of them to not try and open the cage doors. Garrus in particular will nip your fingers if he thinks you have food (though he's never actually bitten, just nibbled) and I worry that someone might get freaked out by that. Or, you know, try to grab a rat and hurt it.
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Dec 4, 2012 20:44
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I'd probably put them in another room. They might miss out on the bustle, but they'll probably prefer to not be grabbed/potentially dropped, etc. Dumbo roan, nine weeks. She needs a name. The others are all named for game characters: Chell (Portal), Alice (Alice: Madness Returns), Valentine (Resident Evil) and Mad Moxxi (Borderlands).
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Dec 5, 2012 16:25
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Fraction posted:I'd probably put them in another room. They might miss out on the bustle, but they'll probably prefer to not be grabbed/potentially dropped, etc. Yeah, that was pretty much my thought. I need to remember to open the vents in the office so it isn't freezing cold, and I'll put them in there. They'll be perfectly happy as long as they get some of the hors d'oeuvres  quote:
She's lovely! And I approve of the theme 
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Dec 5, 2012 16:50
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I think she's going to be called Pandora. Panda for short
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Dec 5, 2012 21:48
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Costco had an "Italian Five Grains" blend today and I grabbed a bag. It's farro, barley, durum wheat, whole grain oats, and rice. It appears to be parboiled (the listed cooking time certainly indicates it). Can I give this to the rats as-is? I'm finding conflicting info about uncooked rice, and no one addresses parboiled rice (which isn't fully cooked, but isn't raw either...). I don't mind cooking it for them, but I'd like to be able to just toss it in their bowl and let them crunch away.
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Dec 5, 2012 22:18
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I've never had any trouble feeding any of those grains raw.
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Dec 5, 2012 22:54
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Can rats fart? 
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Dec 5, 2012 23:35
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Atargatis posted:I make sure my hands don't smell of food, and I don't own any food scented handwashes or lotions or anything like that. What's worked for me if it's more curiosity-chomping than aggression is getting some treat for them to lick off your finger like yogurt, and giving it to them on a spoon first. They'll quickly get the idea that licking is the most effective way to eat it, and that biting is unpleasant because metal is underneath and it doesn't yield any extra yogurt. Then put it on your finger, and give it to them that way. They'll start out by licking, but eventually they will probably rake you with their teeth. Hopefully gently. When that happens squeek like 'eee' and pull your hand back. If it was just a curious nibble they'll look startled as gently caress and stop, then start licking again. Eventually they'll get the idea that your hand needs to be treated like a living friendly yogurt creature and not some weird faceless grabbing monster.
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Dec 5, 2012 23:57
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Superconsndar posted:I've never had any trouble feeding any of those grains raw. I assumed that would be the case, but I found several websites that were like "OMG never feed your rats raw rice, it will make their stomachs EXPLODE!!!" But these same sites had advice like "Never EVER EVER feed your rats insects," which is just silly.
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Dec 6, 2012 00:11
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RazorBunny posted:I assumed that would be the case, but I found several websites that were like "OMG never feed your rats raw rice, it will make their stomachs EXPLODE!!!" Well, at least wild-caught insects. I tried pet store baby crickets that I had bought for a centipede and my girls wanted nothing to do with them. "What do you mean, the food is trying to run away? gently caress that, give me a treat."
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Dec 6, 2012 00:33
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My housemate has axolotls who feed on live mealworms so naturally we fed some to my rats who absolutely love them. It's a combination of cute and horrible when they go all gooey on them.
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Dec 6, 2012 00:37
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My rats love to destroy big cockroaches (huge hissers, B. craniifers) every now and again. They love hunting them down and being super gross while they tear them apart. It's extremely hardcore. If given more than one at a time, they will chomp the first one in half and pull it apart to make time for the second.
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Dec 6, 2012 00:38
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Delta-Wye posted:Well, at least wild-caught insects. I tried pet store baby crickets that I had bought for a centipede and my girls wanted nothing to do with them. "What do you mean, the food is trying to run away? gently caress that, give me a treat." Nope, I saw several sites that said "Never feed your rats insects, not even captive-bred." I've never tried feeding live, but I've given the boys freeze-dried and they go bananas.
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Dec 6, 2012 01:03
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RazorBunny posted:Nope, I saw several sites that said "Never feed your rats insects, not even captive-bred." Don't get me wrong, they are our cute precious babies, but they are still rats. They are anti-koalas; I think the list of things they can't eat is a lot shorter than their list of things they can eat. I wonder what the thought process is that makes someone type "never feed your rats insects" out. Vegetarians maybe? I often give my rats bits of meat and tons of bones to gnaw on. They don't seem any worse for it.Maybe insects are too high in fat? Probably depends on how you prepare them 
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Dec 6, 2012 01:09
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Delta-Wye posted:
Rat people are often crazy delusional vegan furries, crazy delusional obese women who post as their rats on the internet and knit little hats for them, or some terrifying crossover of the two. The reason for anything weird they say or do is usually "crazy."
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Dec 6, 2012 01:25
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I imagine the rationale must be something insane, considering insects are a huge part of rats' diet in the wild.
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Dec 6, 2012 01:52
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Rats can definitely fart. My girls do, anyway. They are masters of the silent-but-deadly. Re: insect eating. When I was housesitting, I had my rats out on my dad's lawn, and Molly found a slug and tried to eat it. Judging from her reaction, it tasted pretty nasty. I've never tried to give them bugs on purpose, though.
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Dec 6, 2012 03:21
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I have a mealworm colony for my geckos, and I give them to the mice and rats occasionally. The rat I have currently just flips out because there are bugs in his cage, kills them, and then leaves the bodies so I stopped giving them to him. 
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Dec 6, 2012 03:46
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I keep trying to get a picture of Mordin's crazy pug tail, but he seems to know when the camera is out and goes and hides. If I take him out on a bed or something he huddles up so you can't see it. Harrumph.
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Dec 6, 2012 04:31
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