The BRODENTS! Rodent Enthusiast Thread!

[.Middy.]

Voodoo- do we have a problem you want to hash out? I don't know how many times I have had to explain it, yes I did not QT my girls. Because my QT house fell through literally as we drove home from picking them up. You seem to think that this makes me the worst owner in the history of the world. Multiple times now you have brought it up in a off hand way on this thread. Last time I asked you in PM, but since you continue to bring it up, I'd be glad to hash it out right here in public with you?

Again, the two rats I've chosen to use for training my dog are the two that have no fear of dogs at all. They go after the dogs if given the chance actually. Princess is also not a dog that will be barking at the tube nor will I let her mess with it too much to move them around. She's not one to tackle the animal anyways. The possum we had in the yard, she found it and kept it cornered (not attacking it) until we got there to toss it over the fence (didn't have a way to kill it)

So yes I have a good idea how she will react and she will be on leash the first couple times in case she doesn't react the way I expect. That way I can easily get her out and then put the rats away safely. She can also tell the difference between 'work' animals and 'pet' animals. Outside once I tell her she can clear the yard, she does just that. Chases the cats out, and pins any critters until I can get them. Inside, she happily lives beside 2 cats (who are mean to her) and is only curious about the rats through the cage bars.

[Jazi]

Definitely more dangerous than letting a dog or cat actually get their mouths/mouthparts on the rats, amirite? Anyway...



Link's cute meese! The loner is her male, who's been with her for a while and is much more confident and curious than the three females she just got /that day/. They're all super cute and I told Link that the two solid females were going to disappear when Creed and I went home. Unfortunately (for me) they stayed where they were.

[IAmLink]

Eeeepp! My babbies!! ;P

I can't get over their adorable stinkin faces. The females are settling in and my male is getting quite confident! A few more weeks and he'll be big enough to move up to the penthouse cage B)

[FuzzyThePunkCat]

LOL, not only did you not QT them but you didn't QT the next rat either xD

But anyway, I still agree with Voodoo 100%. I wouldn't do that to my ratties.

[.Middy.]

Whatever Fuzzy, I'm not getting into it with you again. You just twist everything to make whoever your mad at seem like a terrible owner. It's not worth it, and I'm not going down to your level because you want to argue again.

Anyways everyone else-
I got Jones moved into a actual cage instead of the travel carrier he was in during QT. Ive decided to introduce Baze to him because Baze's tumor is making it a bit difficult for him to get around the big cage. (It's set up to make the rats work for what they want) plus I want to give him some special foods to help him keep weight on.

So far him and Jones are doing great together! Hoping it works out. Then once we get moved I will either try to intro them both back in with the others, or separate them a section while the other 5 (after girls are spayed!) have the other 3 sections.

[FuzzyThePunkCat]

I'm not twisting anything lol xD

[Hekomi]

Before this turns into an argument, let it drop.

Where it stands, I don't personally see anything fun in a sport where one wrong move could mean death for the rodent. You can do what you like, but I think the majority of those here with push back against it. Feel free to talk amongst yourselves about it in PM, but I don't see why you would risk your animal's well being. End of story.

As for quarantining, this is SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SO SOOOOO important! Even if you simply quarantine on another level, in your own house, it's better than not doing so at all... mites, URIs, not to mention SDA for rats and mice... quarantine your animals. Doesn't matter if you trust the other breeder. I'm quarantining a fellow in the spare bathroom right now. He went right to the vet, and he's on anti-mite treatment because I know the other breeder had some mites and she had the decency to tell me. He had already been given one dose, but I'm not fool hardy enough to just think he is fine. I trust this other breeder, and by her open admission to it, I know the relationship is standing. Are the people you get your animals from trust worthy enough to do that? I know many breeders treat with ivermectin no matter what, and QT in other houses... you owe it to your current animals to make sure whatever new critters you bring in are healthy.

[IAmLink]

Thing is, there is little to no risk in terms of the rats getting hurt. The tubes they are in are THICK pvc pipe material. Even if a dog somehow got their mouth around the tube (highly unlikely) there's no way that the dog would be able to crush the tube, even if we're talking about a very large dog. The only way one of the rats could even remotely be hurt is if a person took the tube and literally chucked it across the room. And with all the strict rules in play, that's not gonna happen xD

The female mice are settling in quite well now. I've even caught them exploring and climbing..that is before I got too close and they scurried away x3 The little black girl is definitely the most outgoing so far.

[olivionary]

I didn't quarantine Yogi and Bear as such, they lived in a makeshift cage next to Satan and Lucifer. The breeder said that she had nothin going around and that if I was unable to quarantine them on another air space, that it should be fine, so I trusted her.

Yogi, Satan and Lucifer live together happily now. Bear died of unknown causes a week after the four were put together. (We think from stroke or tumour in his lung)

I thought I share this, I have no idea if it was something the others could have caught but it's been a month or so now and they are healthy, happy lil Ratties.

[Hekomi]

I'm still big on quarantining from breeders. I had a hamster who had not one but THREE parasites that we only found out about because of CHF. Everyone else in my place was fine, so the 'breeder' (aka BYBer) was the only one to blame. She never took responsibility, and as far as I know continues to sell hamsters with these parasites (two of which humans can get).

All breeders that I are in contact with QT any new animal - breeder or not. To be honest, I would be intensely worried if a breeder told me not to QT - they above all should know to QT, if not different house, but different room/level. My hamsters all seem super healthy and fine, but I'd want anyone who has other animals to QT them for 2wks JUST in case. It's only fair to your other animals.