rhapsody
Senior Member
Eek, its been a while since I last posted - been super busy with my new baby! On the critter front, I lost two of my rats in January, and only just adopted two more last week. The story is a bit TLDR, so skip down to the end for pics if you're in a rush ...
Anyhoo, back in January, my then crew of four had a mini vacation with TheRatQueen for a couple weeks while I dealt with the pre/post arrival of my little one. But the day after they returned, I lost my super-senior Scootaloo - I guess she wanted to say goodbye before she passed on. Then the week after, I found Basil unexpectedly gone. I guess he might have been older than we had previously estimated.
So I was left with just Oliver and Stick - the first time I've been down to two rats since I started adopting them back in 2010. Since I've had both Oliver and Stick for over a year, I naturally started worrying that I might lose yet another one and end up with a very lonely rattie. I was so busy with the baby though that I didn't have the time or energy for intros.
Fast forward to last week. I've finally settled into a semi-rhythm with Helen, and my maternity leave is nearly up. I figured that if I didn't adopt more ratties now, I definitely wouldn't have the time/energy when I return to work in April. I ran the idea by the hubby, and he surprisingly said yes! So last Thursday I swung over to one of North Star's adoption outposts with Oliver and Stick in tow for a meet 'n greet with two neutered brothers. There was some huffing and puffing, but nothing that time and patience could smooth over, I hoped. That night and Friday were spent cage swapping and tabletop playing, and on Saturday I popped them all in a neutral cage. A little rushed, I know, but all four rolled with it, and the intro was a success!
Please meet the newest members of my yet-again monochrome crew! They were born in a Southern California rescue before being transferred up north for adoption.
Anyhoo, back in January, my then crew of four had a mini vacation with TheRatQueen for a couple weeks while I dealt with the pre/post arrival of my little one. But the day after they returned, I lost my super-senior Scootaloo - I guess she wanted to say goodbye before she passed on. Then the week after, I found Basil unexpectedly gone. I guess he might have been older than we had previously estimated.
So I was left with just Oliver and Stick - the first time I've been down to two rats since I started adopting them back in 2010. Since I've had both Oliver and Stick for over a year, I naturally started worrying that I might lose yet another one and end up with a very lonely rattie. I was so busy with the baby though that I didn't have the time or energy for intros.
Fast forward to last week. I've finally settled into a semi-rhythm with Helen, and my maternity leave is nearly up. I figured that if I didn't adopt more ratties now, I definitely wouldn't have the time/energy when I return to work in April. I ran the idea by the hubby, and he surprisingly said yes! So last Thursday I swung over to one of North Star's adoption outposts with Oliver and Stick in tow for a meet 'n greet with two neutered brothers. There was some huffing and puffing, but nothing that time and patience could smooth over, I hoped. That night and Friday were spent cage swapping and tabletop playing, and on Saturday I popped them all in a neutral cage. A little rushed, I know, but all four rolled with it, and the intro was a success!
Please meet the newest members of my yet-again monochrome crew! They were born in a Southern California rescue before being transferred up north for adoption.
Romulus
Remus
All four together
Remus
All four together