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It'd probably be okay to do it occasionally (no more than once a week I guess), but yeah I'd imagine that'd be too much protein/calcium if you gave too regularly. Super would probably know better/more though. And Super, goddamnit, where is the new thread Fraction fucked around with this message at 21:12 on Jan 3, 2013 |
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Jan 3, 2013 20:39
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I've done that. Won't hurt them. edit: NO YOU WERENT SUPPOSED TO ASK ME ABOUT THE NEW THREAD!!!!!
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Jan 3, 2013 20:49
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Sorry, I know this question probably gets asked all the time, but I'm wondering about cage sizes. I've been shopping around lately because I've been interested in getting myself a nice little group of fuzzy roommates. I looked at the Martin cages linked in the OP, but I'm still not really confident on just what the minimum size for a rat-livable cage ought to be. I found a (what seems to me) like a really nice one in a pet store, but I'm not really sure it's big enough. It's got two levels of 60cm by 40cm, plus two full-width wood platforms of about half again that each, so about 180cm by 40cm total (about 70 by 16 inches), with combined height of about a meter. Is that enough? If so, how many rats could I fit into there without running into problems? I don't really want to get less than 3 because they need social contact so much, but I also don't really have the money to get anything substantially bigger. I'm hoping someone can help me out there.
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Jan 3, 2013 21:59
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Have you tried the rat cage calculator? http://www.rattycorner.com/odds/calc.shtml Generally speaking though, each adult rat needs something like two cubic feet of livable space. With rats I'm pretty sure there's no such thing as "too much" cage space though, so bigger is always better.
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Jan 3, 2013 22:08
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What's the exact measurements for height/depth/width of the cage overall?
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Jan 3, 2013 22:08
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Pew! Pew! posted:Have you tried the rat cage calculator? http://www.rattycorner.com/odds/calc.shtml Fraction posted:What's the exact measurements for height/depth/width of the cage overall?
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Jan 3, 2013 22:27
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Oh I got confused by the 180cm and poo poo. But yeah I was only going to input the dimensions into the calculator.
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Jan 3, 2013 22:29
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     The plastic thing Ange is sitting on in the first pic is this toy, designed to shame stupid animals. It has three levels, and right now they have gotten 2/4 treats from level 1. I think they might end up having an easier time with level 2, though, since level 1 seems easier for bigger animals. They're also having a lot of fun with the tent and tunnel combo! And, of course, everyone likes a good ol' beef knuckle. edit: casa de las ratas 
Invalid Octopus fucked around with this message at 02:46 on Jan 6, 2013 |
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Jan 6, 2013 02:27
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Whateva, double posting some rat pix. My rats are smarter than yours.    
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Jan 6, 2013 20:26
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How long does it take you to pull everything out to clean, IO? My friend's mum (who has Dobby and Sirius) has a dog brain puzzle for hers. I need to get my puzzle toy back from a friend and stick it in for my rattards. Speaking of which,  Mad Moxxi loves da bones
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Jan 8, 2013 10:29
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It takes about 15 minutes to clean the cage with my BF. I take everything (that's not attached to the cage) out, wipe down the panels and igloo, and put everything back with clean fleece, while he changes the litter, food, and water.
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Jan 8, 2013 16:56
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 You and your stinking litter trained rats!
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Jan 8, 2013 17:35
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How long does it take you to clean out your double? I'm kind of always tempted to get the CN second level but it's so huge and I feel like cleaning would be a PITA. But...the rats...
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Jan 8, 2013 20:41
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We got another girl today. IMG_0348 by cerebruminc, on Flickr
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Jan 9, 2013 02:32
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I was taking some pictures, and it's dawned on me that Ada's eyes are probably not black like I've always thought, but a very deep ruby. It's hard to tell in person except in very bright light. It would explain the excessive amount of headbobbing she's always done in comparison to the other three, maybe. Thoughts?
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Jan 9, 2013 05:27
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Invalid Octopus posted:How long does it take you to clean out your double? I'm kind of always tempted to get the CN second level but it's so huge and I feel like cleaning would be a PITA. But...the rats... If my rats were on fleece & litter trained, it'd probably take me like half an hour. Since they're on a thin layer of cardboard, it instead takes over an hour because I have to use wire wool to scrub off the poop stuck in the corners.  You should definitely expand if you can afford it. After my five, I'm planning a max of 3 rats at a time, and they'll be staying in the Aventura. RoboRodent posted:I was taking some pictures, and it's dawned on me that Ada's eyes are probably not black like I've always thought, but a very deep ruby. It's hard to tell in person except in very bright light. She does look ruby eyed to me. My PEW, Alice, sways and bobs at me so it's very likely just that.
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Jan 9, 2013 10:21
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Fraction posted:After my five, I'm planning a max of 3 rats at a time I don't believe you 
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Jan 9, 2013 15:18
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Invalid Octopus posted:I don't believe you shut uppppppp or the rat gods will hear youuuu In all seriousness, five rats is a LOT of rats. In the evenings, I get fairly swamped trying to get hold of everyone at once. I can't have them all free ranging, because there's just too many to keep an eye on. They all get snuggles, but if I had two/three I'd be able to get them out more and wouldn't feel guilty about my endless favouritism*. * you all, being rat ladies, must know that favouritism just can't not happen with rats. Chell is my bestie
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Jan 9, 2013 15:37
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Fraction posted:* you all, being rat ladies, must know that favouritism just can't not happen with rats. Chell is my bestie I try so hard to not have favourites. And then Molly comes bounding across the room to greet me, drapes herself over my shoulder, and falls asleep there despite really being too big to stay there comfortably.
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Jan 9, 2013 17:39
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I'm sooo excited to be getting a little baby boy rat in a few months. BUT when my bf emailed the vet asking when he would be willing to neuter, the email he got back from the receptionist just said "As long as the testicles have descended 4 months." I know ratballs generally descend around 4 weeks, which is when a lot of vets are willing to neuter, so I'm hoping that the receptionist just misheard or that the vet will be able to be convinced to do it sooner. The breeder's willing to hold onto him as long as we need (so that he can keep getting rat company), but it'd be a serious bummer if he couldn't come home until 4 months. I was expecting more like two =\
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Jan 9, 2013 19:26
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Invalid Octopus posted:I'm sooo excited to be getting a little baby boy rat in a few months. BUT when my bf emailed the vet asking when he would be willing to neuter, the email he got back from the receptionist just said "As long as the testicles have descended 4 months." I know ratballs generally descend around 4 weeks, which is when a lot of vets are willing to neuter, so I'm hoping that the receptionist just misheard or that the vet will be able to be convinced to do it sooner. The breeder's willing to hold onto him as long as we need (so that he can keep getting rat company), but it'd be a serious bummer if he couldn't come home until 4 months. I was expecting more like two =\ I think it's more of a rat size thing. Our vet always liked them to be a little older and bigger too. But yay rat boy!
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Jan 9, 2013 20:13
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Invalid Octopus posted:I'm sooo excited to be getting a little baby boy rat in a few months. BUT when my bf emailed the vet asking when he would be willing to neuter, the email he got back from the receptionist just said "As long as the testicles have descended 4 months." I know ratballs generally descend around 4 weeks, which is when a lot of vets are willing to neuter, so I'm hoping that the receptionist just misheard or that the vet will be able to be convinced to do it sooner. The breeder's willing to hold onto him as long as we need (so that he can keep getting rat company), but it'd be a serious bummer if he couldn't come home until 4 months. I was expecting more like two =\ I've heard 8 weeks too. Is he your regular rat vet? Edit: RM is probably right, it might make it an easier operation. You could check with other vets. Big Bug Hug fucked around with this message at 01:41 on Jan 10, 2013 |
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Jan 10, 2013 01:39
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Big Bug Hug posted:I've heard 8 weeks too. Is he your regular rat vet? Reading online, I saw everything from 4 weeks to 6 months, I was just hoping it would be closer to the 4 weeks end. He is our regular vet, and he's been great so far (if on the expensive side, but we're in a big city and he's the best rat vet here).
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Jan 10, 2013 01:41
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yeah afaik the smaller they are the harder it is to gauge the amount of sedative to use, and so they tend to err on the side of caution and wait until they're a bit larger and easier (and therefore safer) to sedate. At least, that's what my rat vet told me when I had a rat vet.
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Jan 10, 2013 02:05
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Aww. Four months just seems too long to not bring him home. Can you house him separate from your girls until he can be snipped?
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Jan 10, 2013 02:06
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Big Bug Hug posted:Aww. Four months just seems too long to not bring him home. Can you house him separate from your girls until he can be snipped? Yeah I can, I'd just prefer not to. I have an extra cage he'll have to be in for a week or so after surgery anyway. But if he's with the breeder he'll be hanging out with rat bros and that's obviously the nicer thing to do, rather than keep him isolated for months. Here's hoping the vet is willing to be flexible on the age, though.
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Jan 10, 2013 02:16
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What makes happy whenever I am sad? Rat yawns, rat yawns make me happy. So I told my boyfriend in May I am getting more rats or a cat. This is a ploy to get him to give in, he absolutely doesn't want a cat. They go in my animal room anyway so he doesn't have to deal with them. Cats knock poo poo over man, I love them though, don't misinterpret, but its time for more rats.
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Jan 10, 2013 03:45
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Plus, if you have enough rats, they can combine like Voltron to form a cat.
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Jan 10, 2013 16:54
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Invalid Octopus posted:Yeah I can, I'd just prefer not to. I have an extra cage he'll have to be in for a week or so after surgery anyway. But if he's with the breeder he'll be hanging out with rat bros and that's obviously the nicer thing to do, rather than keep him isolated for months. Here's hoping the vet is willing to be flexible on the age, though. Only solution is two boys rats so they have company until they're snipped.
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Jan 10, 2013 18:55
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Rodent Mortician posted:Only solution is two boys rats so they have company until they're snipped. Don't say that, my BF reads this thread and aspires to owning All The Rats 
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Jan 10, 2013 19:29
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Invalid Octopus posted:Don't say that, my BF reads this thread and aspires to owning All The Rats Too late. We're screwed now. Edit: No, really. All The Rats.
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Jan 10, 2013 20:48
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Fraction posted:You should definitely expand if you can afford it. Rodent Mortician posted:Only solution is two boys rats so they have company until they're snipped. You guys are both really really bad influences and I'm considering both of these now
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Jan 10, 2013 21:05
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Invalid Octopus posted:You guys are both really really bad influences and I'm considering both of these now MORE RATS FOR THE RAT
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Jan 10, 2013 21:11
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Invalid Octopus posted:Don't say that, my BF reads this thread and aspires to owning All The Rats Well, if you don't get them snipped, he'll get what he wants.
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Jan 11, 2013 21:17
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Ok guys, I need your help here. I recently moved and it was stressful for my two older boys so they decided to get lice. My vet has them on ivermectin once a week with lice baths every week as well. He said nothing else was wrong with them and I trust his opinion, he's awesome. I was going to give it two more weeks and then take them back to the vet, unless one shows signs of something else, is this a good plan or should I go back sooner? Also, can the lice spread to me, because ew.
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Jan 11, 2013 23:29
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The lice are species specific and wont spread to you, and yup, ivermectin 1-2 times a week for 3 weeks is pretty standard.
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Jan 11, 2013 23:31
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Superconsndar posted:The lice are species specific and wont spread to you, and yup, ivermectin 1-2 times a week for 3 weeks is pretty standard. Maybe if you'd get around to making a new thread you could use my information on self-dosing with ivermectin. :> Totally just a hint.
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Jan 11, 2013 23:41
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Thanks! I'll keep covering myself when I hold them anyway, because again, ew.
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Jan 12, 2013 01:11
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Girls. Giiiirls. You have toys, including a badass piņata that is full of treats. Why do you insist on ignoring the toys and repeatedly ripping the roof off of your house and chewing the bars, instead?
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Jan 12, 2013 18:38
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Because rats are adorable little assholes
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Jan 13, 2013 01:54
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