So, I can't sleep. I should be in bed, and I AM, but I can't sleep because I can't stop thinking about things.
I have five rats, their names are Elroy, Jackie, Flea, Seeso and Curly. Elroy, Flea and Seeso are males, so they have a separate cage from the females.
They're locked up in a cage with each other most of the day, and I hardly ever pick them up! I really should... I always keep their food bowls and water bottles full, and occasionally, albeit less frequently than before, I give them some leftovers from dinner (They're omnivores, they can eat pretty much anything we can)
Their regular food is just prepackaged stuff I have no idea what it is! I know it's healthy and stuff, but do you think I should be feeding them something else than the mix of seeds and wierd hard colored lumps of nutrition that they like to eat?
They get to run around in my room freely when I clean their cages, which I do about every 3 days. I give them baths sometimes, because their tails get really filthy from dragging it in their feces.
I really love my rats, but I feel like I don't cuddle with them enough or pick them up as much as I should!
Am I giving my pet rats a worthy life?
I once had a pet rat. He died when he fell over on the ground and start spazzing out and twitching. :saddowns:
Shit tails sound disgusting. Fix that.
[QUOTE=Communist Cake;23604546]I once had a pet rat. He died when he fell over on the ground and start spazzing out and twitching. :saddowns:[/QUOTE]
Aww... Did he have a disease?
No idea. He just kinda fell over one day.
The thing about animals is that they are content with just having enough space/water/shelter/food.
It's not like they want to aspire to become the world's best baseball team.
[QUOTE=Levithan;23604585]The thing about animals is that they are content with just having enough space/water/shelter/food.
It's not like they want to aspire to become the world's best baseball team.[/QUOTE]
but rats playing baseball would be awesome, you have to admit
[QUOTE=Levithan;23604585]It's not like they want to aspire to become the world's best baseball team.[/QUOTE]
Though that [i]would[/i] make an outstanding movie.
That's a lot of rats, buddy. As long as you keep them clean, well-fed, and entertained, there should be no issues with their contentment. Rats are pretty social creatures, so try and take ten or fifteen minutes a day to play with 'em a bit, and you should be aces. How did you choose their names? I name all my rodents after philosophers.
yeah, you're overthinking it like Levithan said. animals don't have this mentality of accomplishment like humans do. most people want to get shit done now for their life later; and animals want to just think about right now. very few animals do more than just take care of their body's necessities.
And a cat could be the umpire! Anyone who disagrees gets eaten. :downs:
[QUOTE=AngryChairR;23604556]Shit tails sound disgusting. Fix that.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, I have a home-built cage for them and I use newspapers for the bottoms, but it's compleltely useless because they just grab the newspapers and pull them into their houses to make it extra nice. Which means the bottom under the newspaper is plastic and when they shit and piss directly on the plastic it doesn't really absorb it or anything, they just slide their tails around so it gets all over the,
All my life we had guinea pigs.
They basically get most stuff we eat(no meat and unhealthy stuff :P). They get the green stuff that comes with Cauliflower. We almost have no leftover veggies.
As you said you have more than one so there no lonely you shouldn't feel bad as you are probably are doing a darn good job.
[QUOTE=Eric95;23604681]Yeah, I have a home-built cage for them and I use newspapers for the bottoms, but it's compleltely useless because they just grab the newspapers and pull them into their houses to make it extra nice. Which means the bottom under the newspaper is plastic and when they shit and piss directly on the plastic it doesn't really absorb it or anything, they just slide their tails around so it gets all over the,[/QUOTE]
Your rats could use some bedding, my man. Head to a local pet store and pick up some mulch bedding.
It's more hygienic and comfortable for rodents. Soaks up their bio-waste to keep things clean and relatively fresh smelling, and rodents love to burrow into the stuff and look adorable.
And what about chew-fodder? You got anything in there for the rats to gnaw on, like wood blocks or anything? If you're strapped for cash, even throwing in a paper towel roll or toilet paper roll can keep them entertained. How about an exercise wheel?
[QUOTE=Eric95;23604681]Yeah, I have a home-built cage for them and I use newspapers for the bottoms, but it's compleltely useless because they just grab the newspapers and pull them into their houses to make it extra nice. Which means the bottom under the newspaper is plastic and when they shit and piss directly on the plastic it doesn't really absorb it or anything, they just slide their tails around so it gets all over the,[/QUOTE]
Put some woodchips on it(or something like that).
I feel the same way about my crayfish but they're not nearly as easy to cuddle with.
[editline]09:32PM[/editline]
[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;23604757]Your rats could use some bedding, my man. Head to a local pet store and pick up some of mulch bedding.
It's more hygienic and comfortable for rodents. Soaks up their bio-waste to keep things clean and relatively fresh smelling, and rodents love to burrow into the stuff and look adorable.[/QUOTE]
Yeah do this. They need some nice soft bedding.
[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;23604757]Your rats could use some bedding, my man. Head to a local pet store and pick up some of mulch bedding.
It's more hygienic and comfortable for rodents. Soaks up their bio-waste to keep things clean and relatively fresh smelling, and rodents love to burrow into the stuff and look adorable.[/QUOTE]
Well, I tried that and bedding in the home-built cage just falls out and gets all over the floor..
Also some woodchips can give them respiratory infections.
[QUOTE=Eric95;23604882]Well, I tried that and bedding in the home-built cage just falls out and gets all over the floor..
Also some woodchips can give them respiratory infections.[/QUOTE]
What's the cage like?
[QUOTE=Big Dumb American;23604757]And what about chew-fodder? You got anything in there for the rats to gnaw on, like wood blocks or anything? If you're strapped for cash, even throwing in a paper towel roll or toilet paper roll can keep them entertained. How about an exercise wheel?[/QUOTE]
Well, I SHOULD give them more toys, and I'm leaving for barcelona tomorrow so I'll give them a few toilet rolls and such. About the wheel thing, those aren't good for rats because they hurt their backs. They're only good for other rhodents such as hamsters.
[editline]04:37AM[/editline]
[QUOTE=OvB;23604901]What's the cage like?[/QUOTE]
Big two-level cage, split in the middle fir the different gender rats, and one extra level in each half of the cage. The part holding the newspapers is a lid for a big plastic box turned upside-down, and the edges are kinda slanted so that's why the stuff falls out.
[QUOTE=Eric95;23604516]
Am I giving my pet rats a worthy life?[/QUOTE]
One life to live, is it worth while to live if you were in their position? You tell us
[QUOTE=Eric95;23604882]Well, I tried that and bedding in the home-built cage just falls out and gets all over the floor..
Also some woodchips can give them respiratory infections.[/QUOTE]
If it's home built, perhaps you could simply add a little retaining wall around the edge? Possibly put glass or plastic around the (outside) edges of the cage to keep the mulch in, or just resign yourself to sweeping up whatever falls out. The bedding isn't too expensive, and it really is worth it for your rats' health and comfort. Go to a nearby pet sore and ask an employee to help you pick out some bedding- he'll get you set up nicely.
[QUOTE=Unicorn Kid;23604969]One life to live, is it worth while to live if you were in their position? You tell us[/QUOTE]
But that's what I'm asking you
How big is the cage? Rats are really active, you want to give them a lot of space to run around and a lot of things to climb on/in. Those ferret tube things are perfect for rats, they have a blast climbing around those things.
I guess if you want to keep them entertained, what you want to keep in mind is exercise (ferret tubes and such are perfect) and chew-fodder (woodblocks, paper towel rolls, and such).
You can also buy nutrient blocks. They're condensed little blocks of nutrients and tasty shit that the rats can gnaw on for a few days, and they keep 'em happy and satisfied.
I'm not sure axactly, I'll answer tomorrow as I really have to go to sleep.
I have 2 ferrets they aren't like rats....
I have a pet weasel. believe it or not, and he hates everyone besides me more or less.
Where else do you think I got the user name?
I had 2 hamsters. Bastards bit me so I had to get them in a little shit covered ball and clean the cage. I did it like, once every 3 months, I felt so bad about it. I tried to keep their water and food full, and they both lived for over 2 years, but I didn't give them a good life. It haunts me :saddowns:
Fuck, i used to really want a pet rat...
But i considered the smell, and my slight lack of spare time and chose some fish.
They're inexpensive and make my room look a little brighter :]
I had some nice pet hamsters once.
Then I got a new cat who decided that the best way to impress me was to find a way to get them out of their cages, kill them, and bring them to me. :saddowns:
I have two rats and I used to pick them up and take them places around the house but I got rat bite fever from them and was hospitalized for a few nights (nothing too bad) but after that, they stay in their cage night and day for weeks at a time and the last time I let them out was before I got bit, which was about 6 months ago.
I really feel bad for just leaving them in their cage all day and if I was in their position, I'd go fucking insane. Should I try and let them out but wear gloves or something? And if they do get picked up sometimes they squeal, even though I'm not squeezing them or anything.
I haven't even given them names ;.; it's one white rat and one black rat, they're both males.
You guys should give me name ideas! I'd be pretty grateful, as I'm bad with coming up with names.
Don't worry, OP. They're living a comfortable life better than any common street rat, and their happiness is all thanks to you!
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