Janus and Orson pics (may take load time)

[rasputin]

Finally got the camera going.

Orson plays around on top of my PC monitor. He loves climbing around on the old flight stick that sits up there.



A full-body shot of Orson -- he's checking out my camera a few inches above him.



Janus munches a yogurt drop. The rats go through them in seconds -- about five bites.



A full-body shot of Janus -- right before he discovers the yogurt drop.

[dosergirl]

They are both beautiful.
I always wanted a pair of rats...but of course then i found Astrid....isn't that the way of the world.

[Die Fledermaus]

Very nice shots.

Tell us more about their individual personalities, and rat personalities in general, along with the time one requires per day.

Of course, I have no room now for them, but I am curious.

With my rabbit when I am doing work she is like a third foot snuggling up to me constantly! I often have to put her back in the cage as I can't move when I need to clean gerbil or hamster habitats.

[rasputin]

As with the other rodents, they would rather be running around unfettered than spending time with me. They are excellent climbers and love to make use of that -- if I open the cage door to take one out, the other frequently gets to come along by jumping onto the outside of the cage and starting to climb as well.

Janus is more social most days, but Orson has his outgoing moments. Orson has a dogged stubbornness that has put him under a tight spot more than once with me quietly repeating an invitation to come on out. Usually what I cannot do, a few sunflower seeds can start.

They roam wherever they can get to -- this has meant them quickly going from my shoulder to the chair back to the desk to the shelves to staring at other critters through the glass, in a matter of seconds. I know where they have gone usually by the thumping of startled gerbils.

While they greedily go for any offered food, they tend to be hoarders, and not cooperatively in the manner of the gerbils. Each will sneak around the cage to steal pieces from the other's hoard, not realizing the other is doing it right back. The best way to stop the squabbles that inevitably result is to offer just one block each, three times a day, and offer a few treats between.

They are friendly enough, often standing up on my shoulder to sniff in my ear or to poke through my hair, especially if I use an unfamiliar shampoo or conditioner. They have an urge to inspect my mouth if I have recently eaten, sticking their head in to sniff around at my teeth. One or two times I have felt the light tap of their incisors as they test the edibility of my own teeth.

They favor peanuts -- if we all have peanuts, they both want to check my mouth to see where the eaten ones go. This has been uncomfortable once -- I guess Orson thought he would check further in than usual. I had to pull him away struggling -- he wanted to check out the whole system.

They don't know their claws hurt or leave marks -- I have to wear thicker shirts when letting them ride around because they tend to just slide down my chest or back to check things out. This can be very painful and has made some interesting red marks. I also have scratches on my knees and arms.

They are climbers, acrobats, clingers, and occasional jumpers, but they aren't as frantic as the gerbs. They gnaw a little cardboard but nothing like the gerbs.

What else would you like to know?

[dosergirl]

That was excellent! thanks for really going in depth about their personalities. it's very helpful for us folks who do not have rats and never had.

the part about them exploring your mouth is priceless to say the least..

[Die Fledermaus]

I know someone I met at the pet store who claims he never cages his rats; they come and go as they please from their habitat, and when he arrives home they come right over to him like little dogs. Of course they potty in the right place in their habitat.

My rabbit, Poppy, is getting like that. She goes out the top of the cage and reenters when she pleases by pushing the door at the bottom. I only lock her in at night, or when I have to do work and it might be tricky to have her next to my feet all the time.

[rasputin]

There are a few spots where they could come to harm in the apartment if permitted to run free -- they have restricted free range sometimes when I can stay with them and shut a door.

Those spots could be fixed with slight structural modifications, but the apartment owners are very strict about the no-modifications part of the lease. Since they've twisted their heads off to let me keep the pets I have (knowingly or not) I don't think I'll bring more attention on myself right now.

I would love to have a domicile that lent itself to animals running free but I fear that is some years off.

Still, if only for the animals' sakes, I have begun saving and setting aside for a house. In four years I may be able to do something nice along those lines.

It does help that I owe no one money -- I make it a personal policy to have no more debt outstanding than my animals do.

[rasputin]

I give each of them at least 15 minutes each day -- if they play together with me they get a half hour or more.

They deserve more time and it would probably be better for me to put in about a half hour apiece. Many days they get that but some days I am too dang swamped.