Incredibly new Rat Owner with an Incredibly odd situation.

[Jack's_Girl]

Let me start with my soon to be pet rat. His name is Jack. What makes him interesting is that he is a lab rat. (A Long-Evans hooded rat acquired from Charles-Rivers laboratories) Let me explain. I am a psychology student and since I am finishing up my undergrad one of my courses requires me to teach a rat (Jack) to press a lever for food reward. Once the course is over I am free to keep him and bring him home. I am quite attached to him and plan to keep him.
But this poses many problems. I am a student and I do not want my poor Jack to be bored as I will only be able to spend an hour or so with him a day. A solution to this problem is to get him a buddy. This poses a problem. I am afraid of pet store diseases as Jack has been kept in near sterile conditions and would not have any natural defences.
Second of all, he would be close to five months of age when I bring him home.
Does anyone have any suggestions?

 

[Melissa's ZOO]

Maybe your lab has another male rat you could also adopt?

 

[SQ]

Glad that you are going to keep Jack and that you are researching to find out how to properly care for him. I hope that others in your class are as concencious as you.

Is it possible for Jack to be housed with another boy ... who you would also be able to keep? If this isn't possible, you might look into getting one or two rescue rattie boys for him to live with. (Where are you located?) Rats are very social and need to live with at least one same sex friend.

Unless Jack lives in a sterile environment, he will be exposed to diseases. Many rat diseases are airborne. If you visit a pet store, etc. you may bring the home diseases on your clothes, and in your nose. Myco etc. can live in your nose. Many people wait 2 hours, shower and changed clothes, and clean out their noses after being around other rats before going near their rats.

btw, I am surprised that your course is still using rats. This practice has has been discontinued at other universities as it is inhumane and unnecessary. Many universities have changed this practice due to economics and student pressure. Computer programs such as "Sniffy the rat" are used in other psych. programs that insist on students preforming this type of assignment.

 

[jorats]

Finding another lab rat would be ideal, I would think.
You are right to be worried about diseases and such but once Jack and friend leave their environment they will be exposed and hopefully will then build up a stronger immune system.

Jack is a lucky boy to have a girl like you!!!

 

[lilspaz68]

Unless Jack was of the very expensive strain of rats that were bred to be myco-free then he already has myco in his body. I would imagine since your boy was just in behavioural testing that he is just your normal lab rat.

IF you cannot find him another male lab rat companion, you could get a baby male rat and quarantine him away from Jack for 3 weeks. In that time any viruses or illnesses will have raised their ugly head. If the baby is still fine then you can start introductions. QT should be in a different airspace/building. If you would like to know more about it just ask.

Welcome to being owned by your rats :thumbup:

 

[Jack's_Girl]

Thanks so much!
It's all been very helpful.
Wrote an e-mail today to our facility's animal care supervisor to see if I could possibly adopt another rattie...(they're all males at my school).
Hoping for the best.
If not, I'll be looking to adopt around the waterloo or mississauga area.
I will definitely need to know more about... everything.
I know this really ought to be under another thread, but since I am typing away as it is, I was wondering what you guys think about Martin Cages. I've been looking around for an ideal home for my new rat (and a friend or two!) and I think I definitely want a wire cage (so there will be lots of climbing levels and surfaces) but want to hear what people think first.
So do you guys suggest?

 

[papercrow]

Hey Jack's Girl--Welcome!!!
I love my Martin's 695. The only problem is that if you get it for two you WILL be tempted to get more! There's alot of info under the housing section. You might want to look there.

 

[jorats]

Martin's cage are the BEST cages out there for rats!!!
The r695 will be a great palace for two rats.

 

[mamarat2]

Can't say enough GOOD things about Martins cages, love them!!

 

[Jack's_Girl]

An update:
E-mailed our facility animal care specialist. They're on holiday until the 15th. Sounds like some of the specialists think by this point (4 months) they are two old to be grouped together.
I am hoping this is not the case as I am sure that Jack will be happier with a buddy.

 

[Melissa's ZOO]

They are not to old to be paired together I have introduced a 2 year old (neutered)male to my young girls and he was so in love with them and happy since he had lived his whole life alone.

But it sounds to me you know that he will need a friend so stick with how you feel and do it. Jorats is right once they leave the sterile environment they will be exposed to illness, so a buddy will not necessarily pose any more health risks to him than if you were able to get another lab rat. Just do a quarantine period and intros and you will have happy little ratties.

 

[jorats]

My mom took in 4 lab rats used to vet techs in training, they lived in shoe boxes, alone. They were pricked, jabbed and manipulated, not very social but when we picked them up, we put them together at 4 months old and today the doctors are doing great. One did need to be neutered but only because he had started to bite his mom. This is not typical of rats, it does happen when you take in lots of rescues. Rats can get antsy and their behaviour may change when you bring in new rats in an already established colony. But you shouldn't have that problem since they will be entering a home with no rats.

 

[Moon]

I'm inclined to think that someone else in your program wont want to keep their teaching rat. I would ask around if I were you.

 

[Jack's_Girl]

Unfortunately I think they all will be adopted... a small class and everyone seems to be falling in love with their respective furballs.
Jack is one of the bigger of the bunch... he always tries to visit the other rats when I have him out for weighing/feeding etc.
But I will continue to ask around.

 

[Fidget]

Hey Jack's_Girl! Welcome! I'm a little disappointed you didn't call your self Jill :lol: kidding.

Never mind the ages. More important is company and you may even avoid the alpha sort-out with an older & younger... Main thing is that you do find a buddy for Jack.

Sounds like Jack has got himself a true forever love, and a very incipiently greatly good-for-him one. You are so savvy & caring to understand the health concerns. Good to know that schools are teaching that consideration even with the using them as teaching tools. Kudos to your school that apparently has taught understanding & respect for them when everyone wants to take them home! :banana:
We'll need pictures of Jack of course!

I sure hope someone will surrender a buddy for him. I guess you will face the non-sterile rat situation when one goes and you are naturally addicted and need to get him a buddy, but til then.....

I think both Jack and a buddy would have a great home with you. And students are trying to get by... so if you could tempt someone to sell you theirs... I'd send you $5 (just send me a pm where to send it), maybe others would chip in?

Of course then we'd demand pictures.

 

[Jack's_Girl]

Of course! I will take pictures soon as I get my camera back.
Jack is adorable!
He seems to know the second I walk into the lab that I am there... I usually come to his cage to find he has his face pressed up against the plastic, looking out to see if he can see me. I got one of my classmates to see if he did this everytime someone came into the lab... but he doesn't. So we figure he must recongnise me by scent... maybe the soap I use or something.
But pictures will be forthcoming!

 

[jorats]

Not just the soap, it's you, your natural body scent.
I remember once I was at Shelagh's place, (lilspaz) I was holding little Dilly, he had been rescued by Shelagh at a very young age, 3 weeks? I had him almost asleep in my hand when Shelagh walks by, he immediately wakes up and stretches his head to look for his mommy. :heart:

 

[Melissa]

Not just the soap, it's you, your natural body scent.
I remember once I was at Shelagh's place, (lilspaz) I was holding little Dilly, he had been rescued by Shelagh at a very young age, 3 weeks? I had him almost asleep in my hand when Shelagh walks by, he immediately wakes up and stretches his head to look for his mommy. :heart:

Awwwwwwwwwww

 

[lilspaz68]

Not just the soap, it's you, your natural body scent.
I remember once I was at Shelagh's place, (lilspaz) I was holding little Dilly, he had been rescued by Shelagh at a very young age, 3 weeks? I had him almost asleep in my hand when Shelagh walks by, he immediately wakes up and stretches his head to look for his mommy. :heart:

He was 6 weeks old when you met him Jo. Yes, I did take him in at 3 weeks old. :heart:

 

[jennifervb]

:welcome: Jack's Girl!!!! Awesome to read that another little fuzz face has enraptured a kind hearted soul! :heart:

I have the rat skyscraper from Martin's cages and I SWEAR by the thing!!! It was a bit of a pain to put together but it was well worth the effort. My little guys, Ben and Basil, have a ton of space to chase and powergroom each other in and I have made myself very popular by having hung a hammock and a cloth tube from the walls.

In regard to introducing Jack to another rat; don't sweat it! I introduced my guys to each other when they were both well over 8 months old. Ben's brother, Jerry, died in June at the tender age of 6 months so I adopted Basil to keep Ben company.

Intros can be hair raising but hang loose. I followed Debbie Ducummon's tips on rat intros and they were right on the ball! Ben showed every sign of aggression listed in Debbie's info. I thought I was going to have a heart attack on more than one occasion when Ben puffed himself out with his fur standing on end. He approached Basil sideways and swung his hips out at him! That little man was a sight for sore eyes, I can tell you, and Basil did everything he could to hide in the bathtub wall. (my poor little rat man !!!)

Fortunately, Ben chilled out after a few days and now they are as thick as thieves.

Here is the link to Debbie's webpage in which she lays out the best way to introduce rats. I can only say that it worked wonders for me.

http://ratfanclub.org/newrat.html

I think you will have a great time with your little guy(s). My eating habits have improved tremendously because of the fresh fruit and vegetables I am now buying for my boys.

Basil follows me all over the place so I am careful never to wear shoes in the house. I swear... they will run under your feet if they get the chance and I don't want to squash my baby, by accident, by wearing shoes which prevent my feeling him down there.

I'm almost willing to bet that Jack will continue to wrap your heart around his little paw. :love6:

You've found a great place in the Rat Shack. I hope you find all the info and support you need to keep yourself and your little critter happy. :bananas: