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#1640225
Thepixie
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My rat is very docile (if thats how it’s spelt :S) 
My female rat has become very docile, sleeping all of the time, and generally is very quiet. When I open the cage, she and my younger female rat usually run to the top of the cage for a sniff. But recently, like over the past 2 weeks, the older rat has simply lifted her head up and waits for me to take her out. She also seems to now be affecting the younger rat as she does the same now like she is copying her. I don’t think there is anything wrong with the younger one as i do simply think that she is copying the older rat, but I am worried about my older rat. She is about 2 years old. Is this old for a female rat? Any help would be great.
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02/27/08 04:24pm
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#1640370
BekahBear
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Message To: Thepixie In reference to Message Id: 1640225
My rat is very docile (if thats how it’s spelt :S)
2 years old is getting up there for any rat. it sounds like she may just be slowing down with age. as long as she seems otherwise healthy and happy i wouldn’t worry about it too much. the younger one "copying" her worries me a bit though. its possible the older one is sick and it just took the younger one a little longer to catch whatever she has. my other thought, is that since rats are very social animals and bond with their cage buddies, the younger one may realise that the other one is getting older and maybe can’t always do all the things she used to so the younger one is just acting calmer around her so as not to upset/bother her. just like how small children are taught to be calmer around and to respect their elders. like i said before, as long as they both seem happy and healthy i wouldn’t worry about it too much. if these 2 are the only rats you have though, you might want to think about getting one more in the not too distant future. that way when your older rat finally passes on the other one will still have a buddy. 2 years is getting up there for a rat. but who knows..you may still have another 6 months+ with her. i’m just trying to think about the well being of your younger rat if slowing down is you older ones way of saying her time left is limited.
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02/27/08 05:58pm
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#1641739
Thepixie
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Message To: BekahBear In reference to Message Id: 1640370
My rat is very docile (if thats how it’s spelt :S)
Thanks for replying. I’ve just gone to feed them and the younger rats has run to the top of the cage after hearing the tub rattle, and my older one has simply lifted her head and not even bothered which is absolutly not like her. My younger one seems like herself now, and think that she was before just copying her becuase she was just kind of keeping her company if you get me. Should I take her to the vet? But theres nothing other than her docileness that is the problem. Thanks
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02/28/08 06:05pm
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