Rat Appreciation & Information

[hibi-tea]

So my rat stinks and I think she needs herself a bath :T

She's never had a proper bath before, so how would you recommend going about bathing her?

I was considering just plopping her into some warm water and seeing how she takes to being in water first before actually administering the bath.

[hiysinphlay]

So everyone can indulge in the cuteness of my two chunky little rat babies ^^

[hiysinphlay]

Fabulous Necrosis

Hello all, popping in again for rat advice.

I've split up two rats on the grounds that one was attacking the other badly and making him bleed. Since breaking them up, the attacker has gotten rather poorly and is being treated for an upper respiratory infection.

The victim is living alone in a large cage whilst we get him used to the babies he'll hopefully live with.

The problem is this. The victim rat seems....depressed? He sits in his box all day, doesn't really eat much (I hand feed him treats sometimes, and he even seems reluctant to take that) and his fur is all greasy/dirty like he hasn't cleaned himself. What can I do to lift his spirits? Also, his injuries aren't healing well...and there are more than I thought. Having gotten a proper chance to check under all his fur (he usually resists examinations with vigour) he has at least 13 different bites on him...they definitely cannot live together again...any advice on treating his injuries? His mood is so deflated that he's not resisting attempts to examine the wounds, really...

The best thing you can do is provide as much attention as possible, most likely hes getting lonely, which is very common with single rats. If you have a safe area I'd considering letting him have some roaming time with the little boys that he'll be living with in the future, you'll be right there to break up any fights if anything were to occur.

It is safe to use an ointment antibiotic like neosporn on open wounds. I use a small amount on the tip of a q-tip to apply it, this is also the same way I clean wounds; damp q-tip. I also like to feed foods high in antioxidants to help speed the healing, like berries.

Good luck with your ratties smile

[hiysinphlay]

hibi-tea

So my rat stinks and I think she needs herself a bath :T

She's never had a proper bath before, so how would you recommend going about bathing her?

I was considering just plopping her into some warm water and seeing how she takes to being in water first before actually administering the bath.

What I've done with most of my rats is just fill the tub up to a point where they can stand on all fours touching the floor, but still be getting wet, and take it from there. I personally recommend using baby shampoo for the actual bath part smile

How often do you clean the cage? Does she have a cagemate? How large is the cage? What kind of bedding do you use? These all could be contributing factors to ratty stink. Another great little tip for cutting down on smell is putting a few drops of vanilla in the water bottle, it dilutes their urine and thus the smell.

[Decaying Harlot]

hiysinphlay

putting a few drops of vanilla in the water bottle.

Assuming you'd add more drops for more water, how much would you add for a bottle that's about 800ml? c:
I'm just curious, might as well add it assuming it doesn't do any long-term damage. d:

[hiysinphlay]

Irska

hiysinphlay

putting a few drops of vanilla in the water bottle.

Assuming you'd add more drops for more water, how much would you add for a bottle that's about 800ml? c:
I'm just curious, might as well add it assuming it doesn't do any long-term damage. d:

Runs to online converter for ml >.>;
I would do about 10 drops of vanilla. Water bottles here are a 8-16 oz (236-473ml according to the converter <.<; ) And I do 3 drops every 8 oz.

[Decaying Harlot]

hiysinphlay

Runs to online converter for ml >.>;
I would do about 10 drops of vanilla. Water bottles here are a 8-16 oz (236-473ml according to the converter <.<; ) And I do 3 drops every 8 oz.

Damn Canadians with their millimeters. ;]
Anyway thank you, I'll be sure to pick some up when I go shopping. ♥

[hiysinphlay]

Irska

hiysinphlay

Runs to online converter for ml >.>;
I would do about 10 drops of vanilla. Water bottles here are a 8-16 oz (236-473ml according to the converter <.<; ) And I do 3 drops every 8 oz.

Damn Canadians with their millimeters. ;]
Anyway thank you, I'll be sure to pick some up when I go shopping. ♥

Make sure it's pure and not the imitation stuff smile works wonders ;D

[Fabulous Necrosis]

hiysinphlay

The best thing you can do is provide as much attention as possible, most likely hes getting lonely, which is very common with single rats. If you have a safe area I'd considering letting him have some roaming time with the little boys that he'll be living with in the future, you'll be right there to break up any fights if anything were to occur.

It is safe to use an ointment antibiotic like neosporn on open wounds. I use a small amount on the tip of a q-tip to apply it, this is also the same way I clean wounds; damp q-tip. I also like to feed foods high in antioxidants to help speed the healing, like berries.

Good luck with your ratties smile

biggrin Thank you so much for your advice. I'm sure he'll enjoy all the berries and play time with his new little friends.

[Lupe Garu]

So I've been looking for another pair of girls for some time, but I didn't want to get them from just anywhere. Well today at work 4 beautiful little girls were given up. I'm still in debate if 6 girls in my Critter nation would be too much, but I don't know if I could only choose 2.

On another note, anyone know good places to look into getting nice hammocks? I usually look on ebay but there isnt too much on there right now.

[Decaying Harlot]

Lupe Garu

So I've been looking for another pair of girls for some time, but I didn't want to get them from just anywhere. Well today at work 4 beautiful little girls were given up. I'm still in debate if 6 girls in my Critter nation would be too much, but I don't know if I could only choose 2.

On another note, anyone know good places to look into getting nice hammocks? I usually look on ebay but there isnt too much on there right now.

I have 12 females in a double unit critter nation, so 6 would be alright. o:

Also etsy has nice hammocks. (:

[Lupe Garu]

So I decided to adopt all 4 girls smile The first picture is Nezumi, she is def the most friendly and outgoing of the 4. The light brown hooded (top right) in the second picture is Tohru and is probably the most skittish. The other 2 don't have names yet but I'm thinking Chi for one but I'm not sure which.

[Mircheese]

so, I was thinking about instead of making the girls a hammock for a late xmas gift I would make them a hanging tunnel/pouch/box thingy but do you think it would be a bad idea to reinforce the sides with cardboard? if it would get too icky what else would be good to use? I don't have any plastic or anything... or maybe should I try to just make the wall reinforcements removable so I can throw away the cardboard and wash the fabric?

also, any other ideas for last minute cheap homemade treats? smile

[Lupe Garu]

I have a pirate ship hammock thingy I bought that uses cardboard to reinforce the bottom and I haven't had any problems with it. Maybe some wire would work if the cardboard doesn't?

Paper mache makes for a cheap and fun treat for ratties, you can make little pinatas and fill them with treats (I use nuts in the shell, yogies, and other little treats inside) and all you need is newspaper, flour, and water smile

[Lupe Garu]

One of my girls passed away over night. I came home from work last night and her and her sister were having bad respiratory issues. It just happened so fast...