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Post by Dezzi on Sept 14, 2009 19:42:51 GMT -4
I was at Paws for a Cause (an SPCA dog walk-a-thon) with SARSBC (the rescue Andrea works with). I didn't see Andrea, but we did have two rats boys that got adopted out. I got to play with them until their new family came home and it got me thinking, why not? I love rats, I have always wanted them, I have space for them and time, so why not? So I am considering fostering a pair of rats. I have been doing a bit of research and read through all the threads on here. So far my main concern is the distance between them and the hamsters. I was planning on having them on the other side of the room. All the hams are in the entertainment room right now (which is the room I'm in the most and the only room the cats aren't allowed in) so I thought I'd put them in the corner beside the TV and then just have them out whenever I'm in there. Does that work? One site I was on said they can't be kept caged in the same room as other rodents? Any advicee at all is much appreciated  |
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Sept 14, 2009 20:37:30 GMT -4
We haven't seen Andrea in a very long time.  We wonder about Whizz and her bunnies. Rats are great. See my old rats threads going back years. Friendly and funny. Very handleable. The only drawback is they are more likely to get tumors than other rodents. I have no idea about hamsters in the same room nor why you would be concerned about it. If your concern is odors get something I have started threads about vis a vis odors - "Odors Away" - find it online, and look for it in hardware stores. Even with odors, I do not know what you think would happen. I have no hamsters near my rats, but GPs, rabbits, spiny mice, fancy mice, and gerbils are and have been with nothing noticeable.
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Post by Dezzi on Sept 14, 2009 21:36:29 GMT -4
Yea I miss her  I'm not worried about odors, I had read they can't be kept in a room with other animals. I guess that would make sense if they were free-roam, but they're not going to be out unless I'm home. I am super excited and impatiently checking my email to see if I have any messages about fostering. |
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Sept 15, 2009 1:21:57 GMT -4
I don't know what others think of this, but I'll stick to my guns if I get any more rats: -different ages -not related -6 mo. or younger (adding belatedly: same-sex) I love my rats, but this group has been a money pit as far as vet bills. My heart ruled over my head --my bad-- when I heard about these three brothers and I adopted them, ignoring my "rules" that I decided on while I didn't have any rats there for a few months. I think having unrelated rats will help avoid genetic predispositions. Of course, they are littermates so all the same age, and I adopted them "old" at one year of age. One has had to be put down already I would never EVER give them up, but in the future I'll avoid rash head-over-heels decisions. Good luck, and welcome to wonderful world of rat-love!! |
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Sept 15, 2009 14:24:08 GMT -4
>> I would never EVER give them up, but in the future I'll avoid rash head-over-heels decisions. <<
And when you see a truly needy pair of young rats looking at you wondering if you'll save therm from the damn snakes?
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Post by Dezzi on Sept 15, 2009 15:59:49 GMT -4
So wait... you DON'T want same sex littermates?
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Sept 15, 2009 23:56:28 GMT -4
So wait... you DON'T want same sex littermates? Same sex, yes. ALL littermates, I don't know any more. Littermates are nice to keep together. I wasn't even thinking to my past rats, but indeed, now that I think of it, health issues ran in littermates. Maybe it was a fluke, I dunno. |
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Sept 16, 2009 0:02:22 GMT -4
>> I would never EVER give them up, but in the future I'll avoid rash head-over-heels decisions. << And when you see a truly needy pair of young rats looking at you wondering if you'll save therm from the damn snakes? Moving this to another thread so I don't stray too far from the topic at hand! |
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Post by Dezzi on Sept 16, 2009 22:54:48 GMT -4
Hmm I checked other threads and can't find an answer (maybe I'm blind?) but what is this "Suebee's Mix" that everyone's talking about?
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Post by adoptaratcanada on Sept 17, 2009 0:18:37 GMT -4
Hmm I checked other threads and can't find an answer (maybe I'm blind?) but what is this "Suebee's Mix" that everyone's talking about? It's a homemade dry mix/rat diet: Recipe: www.ratsrule.com/diet.html |
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Post by Dezzi on Sept 17, 2009 0:52:08 GMT -4
Is it good? Do you just feed that or supplement it with something else?
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Sept 17, 2009 21:06:42 GMT -4
All mixes need supplementation.
I suggest you put that link in a new thread that I can make a sticky, otherwise it will get lost.
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Post by Dezzi on Sept 17, 2009 21:11:53 GMT -4
I made the thread |
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Post by Die Fledermaus on Sept 17, 2009 21:15:02 GMT -4
And I make it a sticky!
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Post by Dezzi on Sept 17, 2009 22:17:29 GMT -4
*claps* What teamwork! Ha ha.
Okay, so I talked to the lady who is in charge of rat fosters. The ones that need fosters the most are four big males, I'm not sure how old they are. There are three black berks (I think?) and one hooded. That means three are black with a white belly and one is white with a black head? Anyways, one of them has head tilt and all four have a skin condition that I will have to give them meds for. I might possibly be getting them on Sunday. We'll have to wait and see.
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