NotKate
Member
I just adopted/rescued two four-week old baby boys last week from a feeder breeder. So they're about 5 1/2 weeks old now. Pickle is brown, Radar is white with pink eyes, and both are dumbos. Frickin cute. I've kept rats before and I don't remember feeling this overwhelmed. I have lots of questions, worries and frustrations.
Two days after they came home with me they got the sneezes, I took them to a vet, they're on antibiotics for a respiratory infection and looking a lot better. I took out the paper bedding which looked pretty dusty (I felt terrible for not noticing earlier), and have brown paper down for now until some fleece arrives and I can make some liners.
While Pickle has grown a TON in the week and a half I've had them, Radar has only grown a little. He got the worst of the respiratory infection, and I can feel his ribs easily and his fur looks scruffy. Should I be able to see his skin through his fur? Pickle is very plush by comparison, and also the more dominant rat. He doesn't seem like a total bully, but I'm worried about tiny Radar. I boiled them an egg and have been giving them that and some baby food on top of their normal rat blocks. Their poops were getting soft so I backed off a little, but I'm worried about Radar's weight.
Speaking of poops, I am attempting to litter train them, which would be especially helpful while I'm in between proper bedding. Pickle's favorite spot is the very top corner of the cage, showering waste on the world below. I put a box in that spot and he shoved it out if the way. I know they are young and it will take time, but I am so frustrated with cleaning up after them multiple times a day.
On top of that, they seemed very tame when I first got them, sniffing my hand and even cuddling a bit. Now they seem more frightened. They'll still sniff and take treats but really don't seem to want to be held. Pickle backs into his potty-tower-corner and will not move for anything. I have been guilty of losing my patience and pushing him out of the way to put in the litter box. I don't want to traumatize them but I also need to clean their cage, take them to the vet, etc. I'm also a little hurt, but trying not to take it personally. Sadly I can't watch tv with them or have them around the house with me, because my housemates have cats.
In short, I love my tiny babies but could really use some guidance from more experienced rat people! It's starting to feel like they take up ALL my time (I know they take a lot but I need to have a life) What should I be doing? Am I doing anything right at all?
Two days after they came home with me they got the sneezes, I took them to a vet, they're on antibiotics for a respiratory infection and looking a lot better. I took out the paper bedding which looked pretty dusty (I felt terrible for not noticing earlier), and have brown paper down for now until some fleece arrives and I can make some liners.
While Pickle has grown a TON in the week and a half I've had them, Radar has only grown a little. He got the worst of the respiratory infection, and I can feel his ribs easily and his fur looks scruffy. Should I be able to see his skin through his fur? Pickle is very plush by comparison, and also the more dominant rat. He doesn't seem like a total bully, but I'm worried about tiny Radar. I boiled them an egg and have been giving them that and some baby food on top of their normal rat blocks. Their poops were getting soft so I backed off a little, but I'm worried about Radar's weight.
Speaking of poops, I am attempting to litter train them, which would be especially helpful while I'm in between proper bedding. Pickle's favorite spot is the very top corner of the cage, showering waste on the world below. I put a box in that spot and he shoved it out if the way. I know they are young and it will take time, but I am so frustrated with cleaning up after them multiple times a day.
On top of that, they seemed very tame when I first got them, sniffing my hand and even cuddling a bit. Now they seem more frightened. They'll still sniff and take treats but really don't seem to want to be held. Pickle backs into his potty-tower-corner and will not move for anything. I have been guilty of losing my patience and pushing him out of the way to put in the litter box. I don't want to traumatize them but I also need to clean their cage, take them to the vet, etc. I'm also a little hurt, but trying not to take it personally. Sadly I can't watch tv with them or have them around the house with me, because my housemates have cats.
In short, I love my tiny babies but could really use some guidance from more experienced rat people! It's starting to feel like they take up ALL my time (I know they take a lot but I need to have a life) What should I be doing? Am I doing anything right at all?