R
Ratsandpiggies
Guest
Hi guys, I am new and came here for advice because I am at a loss. I absolutely ADORE my ratties, but it is stressing me out and making me incredibly upset because I don’t know what to do; I am not a first time rat owner.
I have two rats! One is a tan hoodled male albino Dumbo rat, he was a rescue that I took in about a year ago when the mother died and he was her only pup, I had to feed him, I raised him and I love him, eventually I realized he needed a friend but before I could get one from a breeder, my family (I still live with my folks) got a petstore rat, and of course though he was gravely ill and dying I wasn’t about to give him up!! So I got him vet care, bought him back to health, and I love him, he is just a regular fancy rat. He is actually a runty little guy and full grown now, I think. My tan dumbo is 1 year or so and the runty baby is 8 months but has never grown. I went through all the steps to introduce them, they got along great for a few months but then I started realizing my tan rat, Maui, had bloody bite marks everywhere, even on his face, and they were bad..And all the hairs on his legs were gone, I realized the runt, Calcifer, had none and I have no other rats so, I watched them for a while and realized he gets really aggressive, especially with food. I tried everything, more toys, more hiding space, they have a large cage and always have food to eat, I hold them around 2 hours a day each so I started giving both more attention, but even if I think about giving Maui attention Calcifer attacks him.
Now this is where it gets frustrating for me, my folks are headstrong and of course I can’t move out, and I am not sure I could separate the two, because Maui had lonliness issues in the first place and hurt himself because of it, I can’t get more rats because my folks won’t allow me to either and I am not sure Calcifer would be fit for other rats. Should I rehome one or both of them? It’s driving me nuts because I saved both of these rats from death or being abandoned, and I love them but on the other hand I can’t keep seeing my rat get hurt. Maybe it’s because they weren’t litter mates or because rats from petstores are so inbred? I am just not sure what to do, please somebody offer advice. I am afraid with how bad it is Calcifer might kill Maui. But I am also afraid if I get another rat, it might not get along with my boy Maui either. :,(
I have two rats! One is a tan hoodled male albino Dumbo rat, he was a rescue that I took in about a year ago when the mother died and he was her only pup, I had to feed him, I raised him and I love him, eventually I realized he needed a friend but before I could get one from a breeder, my family (I still live with my folks) got a petstore rat, and of course though he was gravely ill and dying I wasn’t about to give him up!! So I got him vet care, bought him back to health, and I love him, he is just a regular fancy rat. He is actually a runty little guy and full grown now, I think. My tan dumbo is 1 year or so and the runty baby is 8 months but has never grown. I went through all the steps to introduce them, they got along great for a few months but then I started realizing my tan rat, Maui, had bloody bite marks everywhere, even on his face, and they were bad..And all the hairs on his legs were gone, I realized the runt, Calcifer, had none and I have no other rats so, I watched them for a while and realized he gets really aggressive, especially with food. I tried everything, more toys, more hiding space, they have a large cage and always have food to eat, I hold them around 2 hours a day each so I started giving both more attention, but even if I think about giving Maui attention Calcifer attacks him.
Now this is where it gets frustrating for me, my folks are headstrong and of course I can’t move out, and I am not sure I could separate the two, because Maui had lonliness issues in the first place and hurt himself because of it, I can’t get more rats because my folks won’t allow me to either and I am not sure Calcifer would be fit for other rats. Should I rehome one or both of them? It’s driving me nuts because I saved both of these rats from death or being abandoned, and I love them but on the other hand I can’t keep seeing my rat get hurt. Maybe it’s because they weren’t litter mates or because rats from petstores are so inbred? I am just not sure what to do, please somebody offer advice. I am afraid with how bad it is Calcifer might kill Maui. But I am also afraid if I get another rat, it might not get along with my boy Maui either. :,(
Last edited by a moderator: