RatsRatsRats!

[Ruth Edwards]

Sorry I started reading the thread in the wrong place.

[dreamtree1234]

Wow, congrats on adopting 7 more gorgeous rats to add to your rat family! They are all so lovely, and I can definitely understand why you needed to give them their forever home. I am utterly heartbroken that they had to endure such a horrific experience. Luckily, they were rescued by a wonderful person who cared for them and passed them on to your loving home. Now they can have stability and be showered with all of the tender loving care and attention that they so deserve. Thank goodness for you and your truly magnificent heart. You are the greatest thing that has ever happened to your family of 19 rats, and I applaud your devotion to change the so many lives for the better. They are all so gorgeous and full of personality, and I love them all. Hugs to you for making the world a much better place. I look forward to seeing the updates on their progress, reading about their funny adventures, and seeing lots more pics whenever possible.

[hrl20100]

Originally Posted by dreamtree1234

Wow, congrats on adopting 7 more gorgeous rats to add to your rat family! They are all so lovely, and I can definitely understand why you needed to give them their forever home. I am utterly heartbroken that they had to endure such a horrific experience. Luckily, they were rescued by a wonderful person who cared for them and passed them on to your loving home. Now they can have stability and be showered with all of the tender loving care and attention that they so deserve. Thank goodness for you and your truly magnificent heart. You are the greatest thing that has ever happened to your family of 19 rats, and I applaud your devotion to change the so many lives for the better. They are all so gorgeous and full of personality, and I love them all. Hugs to you for making the world a much better place. I look forward to seeing the updates on their progress, reading about their funny adventures, and seeing lots more pics whenever possible.

Aw thankyou so much for your kind words! Its certainly hard work, but 100% worth it! They have come on so far already, they all run up to me when I open the door of the cage-now keeping 13 hyper girls all in a cage when the doors are open? Now thats difficult!

[hrl20100]

Hey, just a quick update, no photos yet but I have some on the way!

So Erin, one of my eldest girls is really starting to show her age now. Her hind legs are weakening for one. The other night I noticed she was bleeding-rats don't get periods so bleeding from there is a very bad sign. She may have Pyrametra which is an infection of the uterus. It can only be resolved via an emergency spay, but she is so old I worry that she may not make it through the op. She is on pain relief for now and some antibiotics and since that day, I haven't seen anymore blood. She's also going blind in one eye which is very sad to see. But despite all of that she is very happy and loves coming out every day on her own for some nice quiet snuggles and extra treats!

All the girls are sucessfully living together now and they have full access to their SRS (Savic Royal Suite) and they absolutely love it. Boys on the other hand? They are playing up and are being a right pain in the bum!

My biggest boy Albus is being very dominant to the point where he does sometimes take it too far and does actually draw blood on my more submissive boys. I separated him for a few days and now I am trying to re-bond them. One minute they are fine-all snuggled up and eating together, the next all hell breaks loose and its all screaming and they are all flying round the cage fighting. I am pretty sure I will have to end up getting him neutered as he is such a nightmare!

All fun and games here as you can tell! Though thats what you get for having so many rats! haha

[Drago]

So sorry to hear about Erin, it could well be pyo. Whatever you do decide, hope she is alright!

Naughty Albus! Some rats really are just a handful aren't they? Hope he can learn some manners and stop wreaking such havoc

[hrl20100]

Some pictures as promised!

So here is Erin enjoying some alone time with us out of the cage away from all the other crazies! (and yes she is eating a wotsit)



Neville enjoying his piece of biscuit!


Sirius super relaxed!


Draco gets a few extra treats as he needs more food than the others as he is a hairless. Not always super unhealthy like this one! (Yes its a whole biscuit XD)

[Drago]

Aww such little cuties! I love the pics of Draco eating the biscuit- spoil him well. I always worried a bit too much when I had my hairless mouse, I wonder if hairless rats are as delicate?

[Thin Lizzy]

Oh heck, they really are taking the wotsit, taking the biscuit with their cuteness and cheekiness lol!
So blooming adorable!

[hrl20100]

Originally Posted by Drago

Aww such little cuties! I love the pics of Draco eating the biscuit- spoil him well. I always worried a bit too much when I had my hairless mouse, I wonder if hairless rats are as delicate?

Thankyou!
Hairless rats are prone to all sorts of health problems unfortunately. I'd never go to a breeder for hairless rats, just because its so irresponsible to breed them because of all the problems they do have.
They can't regulate their own body temperature very well at all, they are super prone to tumours and cancers, they have to eat a lot more because they can't keep weight on, they are very delicate in the sense that they have no fur to protect their skin, so often get cut and scratched easily. And to top all of that off, poor Draco also has a severe URI! So yes, they are very sickly, delicate animals, bless them.

Originally Posted by Thin Lizzy

Oh heck, they really are taking the wotsit, taking the biscuit with their cuteness and cheekiness lol!
So blooming adorable!

Hehe thankyou!

[Drago]

Oh goodness, I did not know I know hairless hamsters tend to be unhealthy and much more delicate as well. I suppose it's that way for most hairless animals then. Despite the issues and struggles he must have, Draco is irresistibly adorable!