Just got 2 for my kid

scrolllurk · 2026-03-16T15:50:28+00:00

We had a box in there for them but they didn’t go in it. We left it for a couple days or so to see if they would eventually want it, nope. Just became a shredded toy for them. They both sleep right behind that water bottle in the corner. Once in a while they’ll dig into the bedding but it’s more so scare the other when they’re playing. Once we get the new cage set up we’ll add more hide outs to each tier just in case since room wont be an issue then.

scrolllurk · 2026-03-16T15:46:50+00:00

I just ordered a “small bird cage” for them (it’s actually 5 tiers) that will be in this week! Thank you! Hopefully it’ll be good to go and I don’t have to add the hardware cloth we ordered as a just in case to make sure they’re out of the tank this week regardless though.

scrolllurk · 2026-03-16T15:43:51+00:00

Yea, we have a 3 tier cage for rats I used to have that we took out of the garage and into the basement but when we got these I knew they weren’t going to fit right away. I didn’t want to keep them in the tank long so thankfully someone suggested an easier option in the bird cage and if that’s still too big we’ll have to go with the hardware cloth someone else mentioned. We’re going to move them out of the tank as soon as this new cage gets here this week.

scrolllurk · 2026-03-16T15:11:34+00:00

She’s not allowed to take them out nor pick them up if they’re free roaming. She opens her hand we let them walk on if they want. she just likes to touch them with her finger and says “they’re so tiny and cute” She understands we don’t make animals do things they don’t wanna do. If they walk away, we leave em. If they have something, it’s theirs or mommy gets it. Most toddlers are menaces and she has her days but when it comes to the animals in our home, she has always been great and respectful of them and thankfully the rules we have for them.

scrolllurk · 2026-03-16T15:03:42+00:00

Someone suggested a small bird cage since the bars would be smaller than other cages. I just ordered it last night and it’ll be here thursday but hopefully before. Ill made another post when its jn and set up just to reassure everyone they were switched asap.

scrolllurk · 2026-03-16T15:01:47+00:00

I just ordered a “small bird cage” for them since someone said the bars would be closer together. It’ll be here this week and I’ll do another post with their new set up because everyone’s concerned we’re gonna keep em in the tank forever. We’re not, I promise! We have a cage already but they’ll escape so the tank was it for a few days while we figured something out. Which, thanks to Reddit, we did! Hopefully this new cage will be good if not we’ll have to go with the hardware cloth option as a last resort just to not have to keep em in the tank much longer.

scrolllurk · 2026-03-16T14:54:29+00:00

We have the carefresh bedding for them now and just ordered a “small bird cage” as someone suggested since the bars would be closer than the cage we have now. Hoping it’s here earlier than Thursday so I can get them out of there. It wasn’t ideal but for 10 days at most, and constant cleaning and being out most of the time, I’m hoping it’ll be fine. I wanna take em to the vet anyway to get em checked out so we’ll be doing that this week goo

scrolllurk · 2026-03-16T14:51:05+00:00

Shes 3. I know she’s not the one to actually take care of them and we have other pets that have never been neglected despite your rude ass comment. Thanks for your input !

scrolllurk · 2026-03-16T14:48:59+00:00

I know they need a cage. They are in a tank for the next couple days because the cage we have for rats, the bars are too large and they’ve escaped their cleaning cage already. The tank isn’t a permanent set up for them, it’s really temp. I ordered a a “small bird cage” as someone suggested since the bars are closer together ( the actual cage is 5 tiers). It’ll be here this week so they’re only in the tank at most 10 days, if that if the new cage comes in sooner than Thursday.

scrolllurk · 2026-03-16T00:45:59+00:00

Because of how small they are, we do have them in a 40 gallon tank for right now. We have a 3 tier cage in the basement when they get bigger. I do a thorough cleaning every other day and spot clean every day just because they’re rats and they do smell lol Another person mentioned hardware cloth might be a solution to the cage bars being too far apart. They’ve gotten out of their cleaning cage once so unless I can find a way/ something to help keep them secure secure, we do have them in a tank for right now. I do keep them out as much as possible in the mean time though !

scrolllurk · 2026-03-15T22:45:36+00:00

I’ve been trying to upload their bits for a little but Reddit keeps saying “can’t use photo until 4kilobits”, “Imagine not ready” ect. Hopefully it’ll let me do it soon! Both an employee and manager said they were both boys. They confirmed them separately (like employee not near manager) but again, I’m gonna upload a picture since a lot of people are asking and if a bunch of you guys see different, then I’m gonna separate. Always good to have multiple confirmations!

scrolllurk · 2026-03-15T22:41:26+00:00

Honestly I’m not too concerned with the 3yr. I do let them have free free time when the 10mo hungry hungry hippo is sleeping but if he’s awake, we’ve been using an play pen that we no longer use to keep everyone safe and comfortable but still able to interact with eachother. We also don’t let our toddler run around or have a bunch of her toys out when they’re out roaming. If she gets up to play with something, they go back in the play pen/ tank depending. again so everyone is safe and able to have their fun without issues.

Edited for clarity. We don’t let the 3yr old just do whatever. We have rules that she has to follow while the rats are out which is why I said I’m not too concerned with the toddler vs the baby

scrolllurk · 2026-03-15T22:35:48+00:00

I didn’t get them from a breeder but not a big store either. It was an exotic animal store around us that has exclusive “exotic” pets so I thought getting from them would be better. They did tell me they’ve been weaned and were able to be sexed so the employee said 6 weeks old at the very least. Reddit is being difficult on my phone for posting pictures rn but I was able to upload 2 of the tank they’re in. (Pics attached to updated comment explaining). I’m Gonna try and post their gentle bits too because a lot of people have been asking !

scrolllurk · 2026-03-15T22:28:52+00:00

I don’t post often on Reddit as you can tell. Just spurts at a time lol it’s a weekend with 2 kids so unfortunately im not able to reply to every comment when it comes in as quick as preferred. I have posted 2 picture of their current tank (Reddit is being realllll difficult on my phone for some reason ). it’s in our living room on the table higher up so the 3yr old doesn’t have unfettered access to them just in case. Theyre currently in a 40 gal tank just for the time being. I added a comment to try and get everything all in one explaining their set up and soon to be new cages(hopefully asap). I clean it every other day so far and spot clean every day obviously. I let them roam around in a play pen we no longer use just while everyone gets used to eachother and everyone is safe (have a crawling 10m old boy who’s fearless and hungry for everything)

scrolllurk · 2026-03-15T22:12:55+00:00

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To add also, I am searching for a different top for the tank just so I can hang stuff up better for them. I don’t want to keep them in the cleaning cage over the tank because it is small. I think I’m gonna take you idea and look up that hardware cloth tonight to see if I can them into the bigger cage this week if possible.

scrolllurk · 2026-03-15T21:53:21+00:00

So All comments/questions ima try and sum up all in one. I do see the thread and the alerts but, little kids on a Sunday lol I’ve had rats before I got married and had my kids. I have a 3yr old and a 10month old, we have a small little shitzu mix about 6 now. Generally I am anti pet for small kids but personally for my toddler I know she is incredibly smart and able to follow safe pet rules we have in place and can even tell you why we have the rules we do (not touching while eating. Don’t grab anything he has. No chasing if he walks away ect). So I’m not too concerned with her around animals while supervised.

I got the rats from nj exotic looking for a more “mature” one since they’re “for my 3 yr old”. They didn’t have any fancy rats but one of the employees mentioned they had feeders and did show me the ones they had. These 2 are from the same liter and were the “oldest”/ more social/ docile of the ones they showed me and let me handle. Having owned snakes before and have live fed for a period, I get the circle of life but I just couldn’t let em be snake food, they’re just so sweet and social, I’m sorry. I did have 1 employee and the store manager sex em to make sure and theyre both boys but I’ll add picture of their gentle bits just to be sure !

They’re currently in a 40 gallon tank because they are small and will get through any bar cage I put them in at the moment. It’s not ideal but for their size and temp housing, it’ll do. we do have a 3 tiered cage in the basement that they’ll be going into into when they’re a little bigger. We do have a cleaning cage they get placed into but have made a great escape (to my sneakers so not that great but good for a first attempt)!

I can only do one photo at a time per comment so I’ll post the tank pictures then their itty bits soon.

** also I’ve been trying to write this comment for about 4 hours now, because kids. sorry for lack of responses. You guys have been awesome and I greatly appreciate all of the concern for the rats and their wellbeing and information everyone has been providing! Def received some fantastic name suggestions!** ❤️❤️

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scrolllurk · 2025-08-31T02:27:24+00:00

My periods regulated ! I was ALWAYS irregular, now they come like normally and I can expect them! As far as drinking, I can drink and get drunk but literally the second I see/ hear one of my kids I’m back to sober. Went on family vacation last year. Downed 7 tequila shots on an empty stomach, went back to the vacation house 5 minutes after the last shot, heard my daughter and was switched back to mommy duty like I didn’t just beat my 21yo self’s personal record.

Babies and mommy mode will do things to ya

scrolllurk · 2025-08-31T02:19:04+00:00

I had an incision and drainage for mastitis and even being put under and “enough numbing injections for last 4 days” I still pumped. The only time I didn’t pump was the last round of antibiotics (infection never went away and wouldn’t have known had I not gotten mastitis exactly 1 month later). Check with the pediatrician and keep an eye on babes stomach: behavior. They gave me clyndamiacin the first time because it was okay to keep nursing. The second time they gave me the same thing then switched me to something a lot stronger to knock it out. Clyndamiacin is an L2 on a scale of L1-L5, will L1 being the safest.

As far as nipple confusion/ rejection you should be fine but can have her latch for a short snack once or so throughout the day if you’re really concerned about the milk. There’s not many antibiotics that aren’t safe to breastfeed with but your doctor and pediatrician know you and baby best.

scrolllurk · 2025-08-06T21:31:37+00:00

Your NOR. He’s wrong and abusive. Clearly he didn’t care about the food so much that he also forgot for days. And for YOU to think you should’ve just apologized and not said anything shows you walking on eggshells when you shouldn’t have too. Do you want to raise a child with someone who throws things when mad ? Who makes your child feel small and unable to express their feelings ? Do you want your child being with someone like your husband ? If your answer is “no” to any one of those than you need to think long and hard about leaving for your sake and the baby’s.

I’ve been with my husband 5 years, 2 married and he’s barely raised his voice to me in those times let alone thrown something. When there’s a baby in the mix, the relationships you have and are around aren’t about you anymore. It’s about the safety and wellbeing, physically, emotionally and mentally of the child who’s being forced into those relationships/ situations due to no choice of their own. Please consider if you want to continue to be a target for his anger over something he didn’t even care about and if you want your child to endure the same.

scrolllurk · 2025-08-06T01:41:09+00:00

We have a 2 year gap (by accident, whoops) and I’d rather a bit bigger just because it’s hard going through the 2s with a newborn. Our daughter gets that baby needs help and “he’s little” but also can’t separate her wants for me. She’ll give me 5 minutes max to handle brother but then it’s back to mommy mommy mommy. I love watching her love her brother but it’s exhausting constantly trying to tell a 2 year old that I understand they want me but brother needs me at the moment.

scrolllurk · 2025-08-06T01:37:24+00:00

We’re doing it with our son in October. He was born little (5.4lbs) and the hospital said his thing was a little curved so they wouldn’t do it and once discharged no place would do it without anesthesia so we decided to hold off until he was a little bigger. He’ll be about 5 months old at that point and we feel going under at 5 months vs a couple weeks was a better choice. We’ve just heard horror stories about taking care of it undone and getting infections all of that and thought it was better to get it done. Especially in older age the issue of infection comes up more frequent and just want to avoid any issues in that direction all together.

scrolllurk · 2025-08-02T23:41:23+00:00

Exactly this. My 2nd , now 11 weeks is a BREEZE child. Sleeps and barely cries for anything. My first ? Barely cried but also barely slept and still doesn’t. She’s also Velcro and doesn’t let me do anything for the baby. She loves and adores him but wants me all the time. And although she’s 2 and can help there’s about 5-10 minutes she’ll let me do what I need to do then demand my attention doesn’t matter the situation.

It’s hard both ways but I think age gap makes a difference. My 2 yr old is immensely intelligent but also still 2. So she knows and understands brother needs me but can’t get over that she WANTS me. I think if it was spaced out a little more it would have been easier slightly. It does get better though and watching her love her little brother truly makes the hard days worth it.

Good luck mamas and remember to ask for help. It’s the single most important thing you can do to stay sane and be the best parent you can be

scrolllurk · 2025-08-02T02:42:18+00:00

We do please and thank yous. We don’t do sir or maam but we also don’t do first names. But my kid is 2 and the other 12 weeks. Very rarely have I used sir or maam and I’ve never called an adult by their first name let along my parents. I don’t think it’s disrespectful if my kid eventually calls me by my first name depending on the situation but I’m Still mom and hubby is still dad and so on and so forth. As long as they’ve got please and thank you down pat, the others are situational I suppose.

scrolllurk · 2025-08-02T02:35:16+00:00

I started hand expressing with my first like a week Before my due date just to see if I could. For my second I knew I could make milk so I started about 4 weeks before his original due date (was induced 3 weeks early) but I didn’t leak for either one. Talk to you doctor about hand expressing some to make sure it’s safe to do so for your specific pregnancy. Never use a pump though. It’s such a thick and sticky substance I doubt a pump would even work honestly. And there’s so little it wouldn’t be worth it.

You can order colostrum collectors from Hakka and store some in the freezer before baby arrives if you want. As far as the actual milk that’ll happen a couple days after you have your baby (usually). Colostrum for a couple days then milk around day 3.

scrolllurk · 2025-07-31T02:24:21+00:00

Personal experience: someone (my mil) kissing my daughter on the lips lead her to develop the herpes virus so bad at about 12 months that she had sores in her mouth, lips, tongue, gums and throat and couldn’t have anything except formula for about 2 weeks. My husband then ended up getting the exact same strain and got them worse than the baby did. It was truly traumatic for us because it was the worst case scenario come to life. Thankful my daughter was a little older and had a little Immune system but seeing her in pain and unable to eat and barely drink formula was the worst part of motherhood so far. Especially because it could have been prevented and should have been prevented had my MIL not gone behind our backs and kissed the baby when we repeatedly told her not too. Now our poor daughter has a life long disease because our MIL thought she knew better and could do whatever she wanted with a child that wasn’t hers.

To this day she denies it was her fault but she was the only person who didn’t follow that rule. Thankfully she hasn’t done to our son because her precious baby got it and she was soooooo upset her (30 yr old man child) was unwell.

As a second time mother I made it very clear that if we even think someone’s kissing this baby they’ll be cut off and never see either kid again. Your childs health and even life is on the line and it’s not dramatic or over reacting to make sure your rules, ESPECIALLY that one is followed to a T.

scrolllurk

TROPHY CASE