|
It's definitely a tough call. I think van Buren was fairly happy as a solo rat, but I made sure he was always out with us whenever possible. He basically lived on our couch for the last few months of his life, and just went back to his cage to eat, sleep, and poop. He liked to just hang out under my laptop while I sat cross-legged on the sofa, and poke his head out occasionally to say hi. Physical comfort is important - right now Garrus wants nothing to do with the other rats, and is MUCH happier by himself, but he gets cold easily without a ratpile to snuggle in. I wadded up an entire twin-sized blanket and squished it into his cage so he can burrow in. I'd say try to keep her interested in things like new foods and exploring, and play with her a lot, and see how she does. Hopefully she will bounce back from her loss and be okay.
|
#
¿
Nov 25, 2013 02:11
|
|
|
|
| # ¿ May 16, 2024 09:58 |
|
|
They'll poop on you less the more socialized they become - rats poop out of fear/stress, and it tends to be runnier than their normal droppings.
|
|
#
¿
Dec 6, 2013 21:28
|
|
|
dovetaile posted:The ratlets are breathing much better today and I have another question. Will feeding them crickets [dead ones from the pet store; my brother has a beardie] have any adverse effects on them? Nope! My guys love crickets and grasshoppers and such. Don't give a whole lot, they don't need that much protein, but a few as a treat is fine. Also don't give them the ones that have been gut loaded or dusted with calcium.
|
|
#
¿
Jan 17, 2014 02:52
|
|
|
JGBeagle posted:Great, my rats aren't even a year old. Guess I might as well start psyching myself up for an inevitable tumor. You may get lucky. I adopted three rats of unknown provenance that someone had dropped off at my local Petco, and two of them are going strong at 2 years old with no signs of tumors anywhere. The third passed away quietly in his sleep at 1 1/2 years old, never having had any obvious respiratory issues or growths. They could start showing symptoms any day I guess, but so far I've been fortunate with them.
|
|
#
¿
Feb 1, 2014 00:09
|
|
|
Joker lost a noticeable amount of weight while I was out of town. I'm really hoping it was just that he didn't eat as much because of stress, because he seems totally fine - eating well, moving around fine, all the usual. No lumps or weirdness, no funny breathing. Just suddenly kind of skinny, where before he had a little bit of pudge.
|
|
#
¿
Mar 13, 2014 00:31
|
|
|
I bought a bag of paper Easter grass today. I'm sure the boys will make an enormous mess of it, but they'll have fun, so I don't mind vacuuming it up. I'll tuck it in the cage later this evening when they wake up.
|
|
#
¿
Mar 27, 2014 19:17
|
|
|
You can name a boy rat Rita 
|
|
#
¿
May 30, 2014 16:44
|
|
|
|
| # ¿ May 16, 2024 09:58 |
|
|
I always feel a little bad taking a dirty stinky blanket out of Garrus' cage because he works so hard to make a perfect little nest with it.
|
|
#
¿
Jun 22, 2014 17:24
|
|