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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2011 18:59:54 GMT -5
The plastic is probly not a good idea. Rats like to chew. A wood house and a ceramic bowl would be a much better choice. That cage is DEF WAY too small for him. Poor guy probly can't even turn around well. That house looks to be too small for him too. I find it hard to believe he can fit in it. Poor baby. I really hope you can get him from her.
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Post by shilohismygirl on Jun 4, 2011 19:09:55 GMT -5
Thanks, vkp23! I appreciate the input. I will probably go ahead and take the house and the bowl that is plastic out. I know it is WAY too small for him. It's cruel.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2011 19:17:50 GMT -5
Rats dont eat what they chew on so I think its fine. I sometimes put a plastic igloo in my rats cage.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2011 19:19:34 GMT -5
Oh I should add too, like Candice said. when you can get away with it let him ride around on your shoulder. They LOVE that. Makes them feel a part of things. I would walk around the house with like 2-4 on my shoulder at once. tails wrapped around my neck and all. I had like 21 rats all at once. I feel bad for that poor guy cause rats are really smart and the lack on enrichment not to mention the size of that cage has got to be about driving him nuts. Good luck! I really do hope she lets him go to you.
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Post by shilohismygirl on Jun 4, 2011 19:27:18 GMT -5
Me too! I'd love to do that. He seems a little skittish about people picking him up much, and rightly so since he's not been handled as he should have been. I will try to get him more used to me first, where he feels more comfortable about being around/on me.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2011 19:52:04 GMT -5
Yeah I'd pay TONS of attention to him. Maybe a little bell ball and roll it around with him. They really do love their people. I would be hanging around in my room letting the free roam (boys and girls at dif times of course) and they would climb up on my chair and climb up my chest and would groom me for ever. The would be grooming my hair my ears my nose and would even try to groom my teeth. I would let them some times it was a game to them cause they knew I preferred not to let them do that. But it was funny how they would use their little front paws to try and pry my lips apart. Nudging at my lips with ther nose like they were saying "OH come on! You teeth are dirty! You need a good cleaning. It's cool I know what I'm doing."
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Post by shilohismygirl on Jun 4, 2011 19:56:20 GMT -5
AWWWH. Such sweeties! Oh, I need to know about floor time and rat proofing. What should I know in that area? What kind of area is safe for us to play around in? Are they prone to jumping off of high surfaces like beds or if he's on my shoulder? Also, will he eventually let me hold him firm enough to cut his little nails? I've also been talking to him up a storm to him and also petting him every time I go past. I also sing to him sometimes.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2011 20:30:13 GMT -5
I would think along the lines as you would a ferret only rats can fit in tighter spaces. Cords, sockets. Def want some where safe where he can't get loose out side. Like one room with every door crack blocked. Make sure he knows his name. All of mine knew their names and would come out from where ever they were hiding to me. They will fall but if it isn't a high jump they should be ok. A jump off a shoulder would almost certainly hurt them. So just don't do it unlit you can tell he's comfortable with it. They have good balance but can still fall or jump if scared. You can tell if someone is on your shoulder and are ready to get down. He should eventually let you hold him to clip his claws. Mine still never liked it but they didn't really fight much about it. It was no harder for me to do the rats claws as it is for me to do the ferts. If you are singing to him he will almost def associate that with good things and will like for you to do it often. That is a good thing.
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Post by shilohismygirl on Jun 4, 2011 20:35:20 GMT -5
Great, because I sing lullabyes to my furkids, and so I just go and sing to him as well. Not like his 'mom' is ever home.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2011 21:44:15 GMT -5
He looks like a blue dumbo rat like my DJ! So cute! The plastic is ok, he wo't injest it. He will outgrow it though Hope your trade works out and you can get him some hammocks, DJ loves his and couch potatos out on it! Great links on rat care and diet everyone who contributed, these are some I haven't seen yet
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Post by Deleted on Jun 4, 2011 22:27:47 GMT -5
He looks like such a sweet boy, I hope you get to spoil the heck out of him soon!
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Post by shilohismygirl on Jun 4, 2011 22:58:42 GMT -5
Me too! <3
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Post by Deleted on Jun 5, 2011 6:30:50 GMT -5
Hes so cute, I'm so glad that you are there to help the poor guy! Ever since I got my Penny I've feed her on a mixture of fresh fruit and veg and also some special rat pellets and ever since shes looked a LOT healthier (shes a rescue). Shes currently lives in a temporary cage and i use ceramic bowls for her food and water and i give her lots of cardboard boxes and tubes to play in. As for bedding I tend to use a dust free pellet cat litter as it absorbs really well and smells a lot better then shavings etc and for her sleeping area I give her a handful of hay in a box Also I let her out of the cage at least once a day to have a good run round my room which she loves although it can be hard to catch her when she doesn't want to go back in to her cage! I hope she decides to let you keep him, good luck!
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Post by shilohismygirl on Jun 6, 2011 18:58:08 GMT -5
Hey, all. Update about Happy. I still haven't been able to talk to SIL, because she hasn't been home. What the heck? Anyway, I have been giving him good food to eat from Candice's recipe and list of foods he can, can't have, and tomorrow I'll be stocking up on his food at the health food store/grocery. I have been holding him a lot, bringing him into the same room as me if I am going to be in that room a lot that day, and though it seems quick, he is becoming more and more comfortable with being held. Today he used his little hands to pull my mouth open to have a look inside there. Silly boy. He will crawl up onto my shoulders some, and makes a little noise. I looked up noises online, but I am still not sure about this noise-maybe it's called bruxing? It's a little chittering noise, and he usually does it when I am petting him so he does not seem to be in distress when he makes it. He also licks my fingers and grooms my hands.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2011 19:23:00 GMT -5
Hey Gwen! Just wanted to pop in and say I agree with littleweasel and suzie - plastic is okay - after all, they will run on plastic solid-surface wheels, I really like the Flying Saucer kind the best as they have more room for their tail and back (it's topless). They don't eat the plastic, but can chew (females tend to be more chewy usually, hehe).
Dishes I prefer heavy ceramic dishes as they can be messy! That little plastic house looks like it was meant for a dwarf hammy or a mouse. I can't see how it's going to be of any use to him unless he wants to stand on it!!! I also prefer the glass bottles but the plastic water bottles are okay IF they are BPA-free. I don't know if you have air conditioning, but one cheap way to make a cage air conditioner if you don't (so that he doesn't overheat) is to freeze two bottles of sealed drinking water, and put one in the cage, then swap them out as they melt.
A good cage for him would be the one-level Critter Nation. I think you could put 2-4 rats in there. Some rats get overwhelmed by the two-level CN but they will get used to it after awhile and it gives you lots of room for more rats if you would eventually like! You can always put the ramp off to the second level if he gets scared from too much open space.
The noises he is making IS bruxing - CUTE!!! It means he's a happy little guy (and boy is he ever adorable).
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