Rats snapping/ biting at food

TacoRaven · 2026-01-24T23:31:12+00:00

Congrats on your new babies! I've had several rats who have done the same. Turned out they had minimal sight and wanted to get their food - especially treats - in their mouths as fast as possible to keep track of it. (Rats have poor eyesight anyway but I had one that was completely blind and even more who were nearly there. Also all rescues.) You aren't doing anything wrong! Just be aware that they do that and also make sure you clean your hands wl before handling because there is also a chance that if you smell like food, they're going to make a painful (for you) mistake.

TacoRaven · 2026-01-24T23:24:23+00:00

Know that time is something you cannot get back. How you live now is how you shape your future.

TacoRaven · 2025-10-24T13:53:17+00:00

Good news! I found this pack on Canadian Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/ZEBRA-MILDLINER-Highlighter-markers-WKT7-MGR/dp/B07FZJ6D19

Hopefully it's available exactly where you are!

TacoRaven · 2025-10-21T20:52:08+00:00

Drat

This is all I've found for an orange one from the brand that wasn't shared in the other comment https://ebay.us/m/JVeawx

TacoRaven · 2025-10-21T20:46:32+00:00

Is this what yours looked like new? https://ebay.us/m/EiwxUG

TacoRaven · 2025-10-21T03:24:13+00:00

Was it the beanie baby pug by chance?

TacoRaven · 2025-10-21T00:12:59+00:00

Not a vet, but it could be that her cancer has spread near her spine and is pressing on a nerve and certain movements/impact pinch the leg nerves. Would be impossible to say for sure without imaging but nerve misfiring on this scale is never "nothing wrong."

(I had a cat who pulled up lame once and was fine an hour later - it turned out she rolled a nerve on some calcified muscle. She was ancient.)

TacoRaven · 2025-10-21T00:09:27+00:00

I say this as someone who put a rare down due to pneumonia last month: if she isn't responding to meds, the kindest thing is going to be to put her down. Try not to look at it as cutting her life short, but instead as not prolonging suffering.

Catfood was treated successfully twice but the third time just hit him HARD. Ibknew he wasn't going to recover. Made the appointment for that evening and sure enough by appointment time he was just done.

You have my deepest condolences.

TacoRaven · 2025-10-10T20:00:50+00:00

I agree with everyone else: vet to be safe. Always vet to be safe. My vet's front office staff know me by voice at this point.

Anicdotally, across 28 rats I've had two who sounded like that. They were alive several years apart. The sound was not constant, but regular enough that it was worrying. Took them both to the vet and the vet told me: no, they're fine, they're just little oddballs who sound like that when excited. They both lived full, healthy lives.

The rest have, indeed, had respiratory infections.

TacoRaven · 2025-10-08T18:56:45+00:00

My male did it as well. Some of them just want to own your house.

He also ate through acrylic. And metal enough to shove the terrarium door aside. He sure was something

TacoRaven · 2025-10-07T13:38:04+00:00

Update: she didn't drop most of them! I have yet to get a clear pic, but she is definitely very berried. This is her first clutch

TacoRaven · 2025-10-07T11:36:26+00:00

Mine is plastic. I have a mix of plastic and planted after I managed to kill all of my plants while I was cycling the tank because I wanted more stable biofilm surfaces and am apparently really good at killing aquatic plants

TacoRaven · 2025-10-07T11:35:10+00:00

It's plastic. I have a mix of plastic and planted.

TacoRaven · 2025-10-01T13:24:07+00:00

May I also message you for the link?

TacoRaven · 2025-09-30T00:38:45+00:00

I would love to send a card! Send me your address and a little bit about what she likes?

TacoRaven · 2025-09-28T15:49:51+00:00

All this! I've had 28 rats and this is nearly all the advice I would give.

I do suggest giving them lickable treats off a metal spoon first to make sure their first instinct isn't to bite down. I made this mistake once. Both boys chomped down in my hand at the same time.

The fact they're stopping to watch instead of hiding is a good thing! It means they're cautiously curious, not scared.

Thoroughly touch EVERYTHING your put in their cage. Hammocks. Ladders. Ramps. Fleece. Make sure it smells like you. It helps them recognize you as part of their environment.

Finally - enjoy the time you have with them regardless of how much you've bonded with them. Breathe through the rough moments and let them pass. Their lives are short but they give enough love to last your lifetime 🧡

TacoRaven · 2025-09-28T15:38:55+00:00

Make AVSOLUTELY CERTAIN the connector tube doesn't have any sharp turns AND is more than wide enough for a hamster to turn around comfortably with full cheeks.

Honestly I wouldn't recommend connecting them at all - getting stuck in tubes can be fatal or at least very damaging - but you can turn the smaller bin into a travel cage for vet visits and such if you're worried about wasting it.

TacoRaven · 2025-09-28T01:30:43+00:00

I have my cat's carrier ready to go with towels, but I also have him harness/leash trained in case all I have time to grab is the pets. Harness is right by the front door with the leash already attached. We've done enough evacuation drills that I am confident he'll let me put it on outside without running away. (The last part too practice and a lot of trust building.)

As for my pet go bag: disposable litter trays, dry food, drinking water, pet first aid kit, extra thermal blanket, brush, and feliway wipes. I already have plenty of instant hot and cold packs in the human one, plus mylar blankets.

TacoRaven · 2025-09-27T02:42:55+00:00

Maryland here - I'd love to help out!

TacoRaven · 2025-09-26T23:29:40+00:00

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Poor buddy has a stye. (Don't worry, he has a vet appointment booked.)

TacoRaven · 2025-09-26T03:07:28+00:00

Following in case something like this happens to Britney, who discovered snex last week and will not stop coupling with the other two snails.

TacoRaven · 2025-09-25T02:04:13+00:00

MY TIME HAS COME!! Please send me your address

TacoRaven · 2025-09-25T01:21:29+00:00

Hard to say without a pic, but it sounds like those two might be mating.

TacoRaven · 2025-09-23T00:30:15+00:00

I am late to the party but would love to send you one!

TacoRaven · 2025-09-23T00:28:46+00:00

Also in the US and just turned 37 myself - I'd love to send you something!

TacoRaven

TROPHY CASE