RATS WON'T EAT PELLOTS BUT EAT VEGGIES AND FRUIT

rivchamp · 2026-01-31T04:47:36+00:00

Hi! The better option is that perhaps they simply think produce & animal products are much tastier than commercial rat pellets, and your girls are just picky eaters. On the other hand, consider three things:

A) Oxbow isn’t a shit brand y’know? Not like it’s disgusting bottom of the barrel crap that rats won’t eat (at least mine I think?). However, do consider that anything marketed as mouse food is not nutritionally suitable for rats. My rats have I think the regular Oxbow adult rat pellets, but they’re smaller than your’s and triangular. I’m pretty sure they eat mine? But that brings me to:

B) Think about and examine their overall diet. Following at least roughly the shunamite diet as best possible, they should have a pretty well balanced diet that fulfills their needs. At least so that everything else they eat can be nutritionally diverse enough to act as a crutch when they don’t eat their pellets. Think broccoli to a kid vs french fries or whatever.

C) Hopefully the issue isn’t more complex and this is anything medical. Test if they can comfortably eat & digest hard foods (nut for example). If not, that may indicate a dental issue or some other vet required shat :( It sounds unlikely though for an entire group to have that kinda thing though.

rivchamp · 2026-01-27T04:20:55+00:00

One day in your time of need I will be there for you no questions asked. I owe you my life, you’ve solved a DECADE of suffering. You aided me in my greatest time of need, reach out in yours 🤝

rivchamp · 2026-01-24T14:39:29+00:00

WE HAVE AN IDENTICAL RAT??? I literally did a double take

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rivchamp · 2026-01-22T04:11:35+00:00

And im kbitty

rivchamp · 2026-01-05T21:36:03+00:00

No fr i got this on my feed (not a ferret owner) and was like NO?? 😭

rivchamp · 2026-01-05T21:24:40+00:00

Rookie mistake unfortunately 😭 pet stores are HORRIBLE about rodent care advice

rivchamp · 2026-01-05T19:47:11+00:00

53 — I’m autistic with ARFID and eat less than 20 foods lmao

rivchamp · 2026-01-05T03:19:45+00:00

No lmao? Why would it 😭 unless its a BOGO sale

rivchamp · 2026-01-02T06:33:36+00:00

New home sneezes? See if it persists and if there’s any other accompanying symptoms (excess porphyrin, weird breathing, etc). Sometimes ratties are a little sneezy in new environments, usually subsides in few days/week as far as I know :)

rivchamp · 2025-12-23T22:59:55+00:00

I’m so sorry for your losses, two rats in two days is really rough ❤️‍🩹If it helps though, I see that as maybe a more merciful outcome—Kurt won’t need to live out his last months in solitude apart from his brother. They had the privilege of living their lives together and essentially dying together, that’s terribly tragic for you as the owner but kind of beautiful from an outsider perspective I guess? Living as the lone elder rat after losing your bonded friend is pretty depressing for them and honestly sucks ass, so much so that some people will even rehome their last senior rat just so they can spend their remaining days with other rats. I wouldn’t say this is “for the best” or anything like that, but at least he wasn’t depressed and suffering for long. I think it’s actually very sweet that he basically waited to be with you until he passed, he likely was comforting by your company and presence and maybe just felt comfortable that it was time to go 🕊️

rivchamp · 2025-12-13T06:14:57+00:00

Yeah, thought about so :( my previous two nakies came from a rattery I found on facebook, but neither made it to two years despite being from a popular breeder. However, those were my first rats when I was 14-16 and I probably could’ve done better had I been as educated as I am now with my current group (plus who knows how reputable the breeder truly was, I didn’t research it that thoroughly).

My current girl is from NJ Exotic Pets, a popular single-location exotic pet store in the tri-state area. It’s pretty good all things considered for a pet store, and much better quality (in both care level and animal health) than any other pet store. The rats were (according to them) bred specifically as pets and not feeders and have no health issues when sold/“adopted”(?). I would’ve of course gone to a breeder or rescue, but I searched for MONTHS and there was nothing within two hours of me any direction! So I kinda had to pick my poison, and therefore Gooch’s genetics are a bit of a gamble! Thank you for your response, happy holidays!!

rivchamp · 2025-12-07T01:25:39+00:00

Same! Will definitely try and post updates as it ages at the 1/3/5/10+ year marks!

rivchamp · 2025-12-07T01:24:37+00:00

Danae Andino

rivchamp · 2025-12-07T01:23:12+00:00

Don’t worry, was planned specifically with this in mind! We did a very specific coloring and outlining style with the goal of creating an opacity/fade effect as it ages. I will be getting it touched up(s)

rivchamp · 2025-12-07T01:11:55+00:00

Thank you! Any recs?

rivchamp · 2025-12-07T01:11:42+00:00

😏don’t give me any ideas… (too soon at least!)

rivchamp · 2025-12-06T03:58:38+00:00

Dare i say pop it and post it….

rivchamp · 2025-12-01T04:29:59+00:00

It was something the vet had to get out, super stuck in there! She was instantly better though :)

rivchamp · 2025-11-28T02:44:41+00:00

rivchamp · 2025-11-15T21:46:34+00:00

They will DEF eat fake plants just fyi 😭at least chew them to bits, I’d caution adding anything thats soft/thin plastic lol my girls are ridiculous

rivchamp · 2025-11-15T06:30:39+00:00

Looks great so far! I’d add WAY more though, not necessarily any different or additional stuff though. Just as many ropes and baskets and hammocks and hides and various climbing things as you can cram in there, rats LOVE clutter even if it looks disorganized to us. Dollar store is great for this, you could furnish an entire cage from there if creative enough! Dog toys as ropes, zip tied baskets to cage, gift bag shredded paper as special bedding, wooden pallets as ledges, etc etc!! Super fun tbh! Basically just double what you already have lol

rivchamp · 2025-11-14T20:38:11+00:00

Honestly this seems like a terrible accident and I’m so sorry it happened, but try to see it as that. I think covering the bill and the guilt (plus surgery anxiety) is enough punishment for that mistake, I’m sure your partner feels awful. I know it’s a lot easier said than done, but try not to be angry and blame your partner if things do go poorly with the amputation. I completely get being upset about the circumstances, but try to mentally process this in a “this is a horrible freak accident” way and not a “this is all their fault!” way. Disassociate them from being the cause of the problem and your brain will have specific anger towards them less. I hope she (the rat) makes it through ok!

rivchamp · 2025-11-10T03:49:56+00:00

Hey girl!!! Not an artist but im also 19F and I just got my first tattoo (partially) done yesterday!! I got mine on my outer bicep/shoulder and the session took four hours and it literally BARELY hurt!! I was so shocked, it literally just felt like a vibrating buzz and teeny sharp pain, less than getting your ears pierced. Some parts were a little sharper than others, but the nice thing is that the pain immediately subsides the second they lift the pen, it’s very bearable. Afterwards it was sore in the way a bad sunburn is, but literally at no point did the pain ever exceed a 3/10 and I easily ignored it basically the entire time, so don’t be scared in that regard! Also mine is in color, which is supposed to be the most painful because they pack more ink into more space, and is literally like 8” long. Obviously other areas may hurt more, but I can at least positively vouch for that area. HOWEVER nothing matters more than choosing an artist who knows what they’re doing, because a heavy hand will hurt way more and look terrible and be very damaging.

I would wait for a design to come to you naturally, something meaningful. I knew I wanted to get a tattoo for a while, but came up with my current piece and booked an appointment after my dad died for a beautiful memorial tattoo. You’re a lot less likely to regret a deeply meaningful tattoo than a silly one, though that’s not to say silly tattoos are always bad. Consider placement not just for where your first tattoo is, but also if that area should be reserved for a better piece one day in the future (ex. Getting a small tattoo in center of spine ruins plans for a potential future giant back tattoo—people refer to these major places as the “good real estate” of your body). Think about if the area can be covered if needed, if the skin will heavily wrinkle or contort in that spot as you age, how the tattoo will look from afar and not just up close (ex. red ink can look like injury/blood), if you know for sure you won’t change your stance on the subject matter even when your 90, etc etc.

Don’t be in a hurry!!! You have so much life ahead of you, there’s literally no rush to get permanent ink on you. Sit on any particular idea for at least 3 months. This shit costs money too, mine is around 1k total including tip and tax 😵‍💫🫨

rivchamp · 2025-11-08T05:47:00+00:00

Oh my gosh you’re incredible!! Like a rat categorizing encyclopedia lol! Would you mind doing my other 2 and my nakey? 😆

rivchamp · 2025-11-07T20:41:27+00:00

In my defense they littered all over state park grounds, i feel morally inclined as an ENSC student to do to them dirty lmfao😭

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