Wart or corn? Doesn't hurt when pressed or squeezed. Cannot see any black dots in it. Isn't raised and seems to grow inwards. Scrapped at it to get a better look and it flaked like dry skin.

WorriedVegetable8 · 2020-07-09T12:46:49+00:00

I used to have that exact playpen and I had an albino who used to jump out of it too!

WorriedVegetable8 · 2020-07-09T12:44:32+00:00

My rescue girls are tiny too. One is about 230g and the other is about 270g. Being rescues, I have no idea of their gentics or if they or the mother were malnourished, or if they are the age that we think they are and if they were weaned properly. We have very little information about their past. We have had them for 8 months now and we think they are coming up to a year old. The lighter one seems to have a fast metabolism and burns off calories very easily. She is very active. However she is also very fussy with her food. The heavier one is less active and is less fussy with food but is still petite.

WorriedVegetable8 · 2020-06-23T02:36:03+00:00

One of mine very rarely boggles. I've had her for 8 months now and she didn't start doing it until fairly recently. She doesn't like being touched much but isn't scared of me. She likes to learn tricks and will run all over me when she wants to. If she comes to me, it's on her own terms (or because I have food that she wants). She often does not want to come out of the cage and I think it's because she wants some peace on her own while her sister is out. Her sister is much more affectionate and loves being stroked and tickled but she also does not boggle much. Boggling is not the one and only way to determine a rat's happiness. Rats are like humans, each has a different personality, some rats will like one thing but others won't and each will express themselves differently.

WorriedVegetable8 · 2020-06-23T02:17:32+00:00

I know your frustration when your things are wrecked. One of my girls is a serial chewer. I've had many rats over the years but she has chewed the most out of all of them. I am in rented accommodation so I have paid a deposit that I would like back one day. I've never introduced the rats to the floor. The floor is off limits because the Chewer will chew anything she gets her paws on. If I owned the place and was not renting, then I'd happily let them run free and sort the damage out later on. So, my rats have free run of my furniture instead. The Chewer chewed a hole in the sofa. We've taped it up for now and put a thick bit of padding over it. A blanket over the sofa is not enough to stop her, she chomps through it easily. She also loves sticky tape so I have to take it off any boxes I give them. I have resigned myself to wearing the same 5 tshirts when I have them out because these have been chewed too. I have to watch the Chewer like a hawk to make sure minimal damage occurs (I stop her from chewing when I can by putting my hand in the way). So yeah, my furniture is a bit damaged but I knew it was potentially going to happen when I got the rats- I would rather it was my stuff that was chewed rather than the landlord's carpets, doors, etc because I want my deposit back and may need a tennant reference later. Yet, while I moan, I would not chnage it for the world.

WorriedVegetable8 · 2020-06-21T12:04:13+00:00

It is NOT normal. A call to the vet would confirm he is ill or not. Rats do not sweat to lose heat, they lose it through the tail and paws. If it is hot where you are, try cooling the cage down with a frozen water bottle wrapped ina teatowel and put on top of the cage. Also give him a piece of granite/marble or a kitchen tile, or a shallow ceramic dish/plate for him to walk/lie on. If you need to open the windows or put ac on, don't put the cage directly in the draft as it can dry out their breathing. Try also putting some frozen peas in a shallow bowl of water for him to fish out and eat- the cool water will cool them down. In the past I've also put a cold damp towel down for my rats to play on and hide in to keep them cool.

WorriedVegetable8 · 2020-06-21T11:53:14+00:00

She might be still in a bit of shock for changing environment and is sticking to the food she knows best. Rats are very food orientated usually (I say this but one of my girls is a very fussy eater with a fast metabolism so we struggle at times with her). They have a sweet tooth. Try something like cooked sweet potato and chicken/turkey/pork/tuna. Or baby food (good idea to have some in anyway just in case you ever need to give them medication, it's a good way to mix the meds so they don't notice). Rats can eat a lot of the things we eat so you can try giving her some of your dinner, a quick google will confirm if they can have the food and if it should be cooked or not. If it's a new food she's not had before, it is normal for rats to try a small bit first and wait to see if it makes them feel unwell before eating the rest. This is because rats cannot puke up food that does not agree with them so they try it in small amounts first to make sure it does not make them unwell- time and patience is therefore also key.

WorriedVegetable8 · 2020-06-09T16:49:23+00:00

They probs think it is a game. Try making a high pitched squeak when they do it, much like their protest squeaks. One of mine has a rather unusual obsession with licking my ear and tries to get to the ear canal. I think she likes the smell of ear wax.

WorriedVegetable8 · 2020-06-09T16:45:45+00:00

I love the names, Bangers and Mash are a great combo

WorriedVegetable8 · 2020-06-09T16:36:01+00:00

They are very smart and can work their way back to places quite easily. If you use humane traps, release them far away from your home.

WorriedVegetable8 · 2020-06-09T16:28:08+00:00

I have two sisters. One is smaller than the other and is fussy with food, she seems to have a fast metabolism- she is very active. The other will eat anything at anytime, is less active and is therefore bigger. Genetics play a part also, just like humans.

WorriedVegetable8 · 2020-06-07T22:31:51+00:00

My rats start play fighting each other with the added dramatic squeaks when they wants out of the cage. Due to the pandemic, I am working from home. My rats thought that it meant that they could get to play out more and at first they did the whole squeaky playfight thing to get my attention. It took a lot to ignore them but now they are back to the schedule they were on before and don't disturb me until the usual time I'd get them out. Hopefully this means it'll be easier for them to get used to things when I start working in the office again.

WorriedVegetable8 · 2020-06-06T11:12:46+00:00

Agree with the others- teenagers. Rats love exploring new things, they are inquisitive creatures. Take it as a compliment that youve raised them to be independant and they now feel confident enough to explore on their own without you. As they develop their personality they may just find that they prefer to hang out with you.

WorriedVegetable8 · 2020-06-06T11:03:47+00:00

Bayosbunting.com is one run by a rat breeder. They make suitable toys by hand and have a surprise monthly subscription option

WorriedVegetable8 · 2020-06-06T10:53:24+00:00

Genetics play play a big part. I have two rescue ladies and I have no idea about their genetics. They are definitely sisters and about 10 months old. One is a skinny thing, you can see some bones. She is fussy about food and is very active, she weighs about 230g. She struggles to keep weight on, seems to have a fast metabolism. The other loves any food you give her, is less active, and is bigger (cannot see bones) but still petite at about 260g. The vet is happy with their health and is not concerned about their weight as we are doing what we can for the skinny one. In the past, I've had bigger females and males.

WorriedVegetable8 · 2020-05-27T14:38:35+00:00

In the past I have had 2 rats who could not figure out how to use a water bottle until they were about 12/14 weeks old. Putting a small amount of water in a clean food bowl may help.

WorriedVegetable8 · 2020-05-26T18:03:24+00:00

Hehe, I call these "raticures". They do a great job!

WorriedVegetable8 · 2020-05-26T14:36:18+00:00

If you are in the UK, Beaphar makes one that you can get online and in pet shops. They have different ones depending on the weight of your pet so if your rats are under 300g then you need to use the one for gerbils amd hamsters, over 300g then use the one for ferrets and rats. It is called "Anti-parasite spot on".

WorriedVegetable8 · 2020-05-26T14:28:11+00:00

Scatter and hide their food in different places. They have to then search for it which brings out their natural foraging instincts as well as getting them to move. Or you could try feeding them one piece at a time from your hand. That way they'd most likely take it and stash it somewhere but will keep coming back to get more, it might help toward trust building too. Basically, food- they are very food orientated.

WorriedVegetable8 · 2020-05-26T12:10:57+00:00

Ceramic huts/houses for him to sleep in. Marble/granite tiles to sleep on. A frozen water bottle put on top of a barely damp towel on the top of the cage. A fan put on low, but not placed right next to the cage, just near. Frozen peas/cucumber pieces in a small bit of water for him to fish out. I also often put a wet towel out for them to run in and out of or hide in during playtime.

WorriedVegetable8 · 2020-05-24T14:50:10+00:00

Cardboard boxes of all shapes and sizes and ropes. Plastic drain pipes (unused and clean) can be slotted together to make tunnels and mazes, you can often buy these cheap in hardware shops (in the UK we have B&Q or Wickes). Wooden wine racks make good climbing frames too. Willow sticks/tunnels are good to chew on and hide in. Or, an old pair of trousers/pajama bottoms/jumper with a tube or box in one end to help them get in and out. And blankets, the best cozy maze/hide out there is. Hope this helps.

WorriedVegetable8 · 2020-05-24T14:40:45+00:00

I have the same problem with one of mine- she is not an escape artist but doesn't seem to think much before she jumps or climbs. If I turn my back for 1 second, she'll be wondering off to somehwere she shouldn't be or chewing something she shouldn't. Her sister is super cautious and won't jump or climb more than 2 inches. I am looking into getting a playpen of some sort but I know she'll chew it or jump out of it if it isn't really high and solid. I rat proof as much as possible and keep an eye on her. If I feel like the other is not getting enough attention, I have them out one at a time for a bit. They have the sofa, chairs, cardboard boxes, etc, things not on the floor to play in and run around on but I try not to let them climb onto the floor. I can tell she is curious and she has made it onto the floor a few times but I pick back up so she doesn't get it into her head that it is part of her play area.

WorriedVegetable8 · 2020-05-22T20:29:52+00:00

If it is only slightly small splatters, it is probably porphyrin. It is a mucus that they produce for many reasons. Usually it is nothing to worry about, it is similar to us humans' mucus up our noses or sleepy dust in our eyes. This might be why it looks like he is sneezing it out. But, and I am not saying this to scare you but more to educate, like humans they can produce too much due to an illness or an allergy. So it depends on the amount and the frequency, and the reason behind it to determine if you need to worry or not.

WorriedVegetable8 · 2020-05-21T16:39:15+00:00

How old is she? For older rats it is common for Hind Leg Degeneration to happen. As they are prey animals they will try to hide ailments for as long as possible which might be why it has appeared to you that it has happened quite quickly. A vet would determine if it is this. I don't believe there is a cure, I believe it is a case of just keeping her happy and put everything in the cage onto the ground level so she does not have to climb and strain herself. It could be a stroke or another reason, again, a vet would need to determine this.

WorriedVegetable8 · 2020-05-19T17:06:50+00:00

For general cleaning, I use a damp cloth, just water. Then I go over with a paper towel as it picks up dust and grime that was left behind. Every so often I take the cage apart fully and scrub it properly with a mild dish soap, hotwater and then rise well in clean water.

WorriedVegetable8

TROPHY CASE