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 #1855554


Dirge337
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 My rats

I have 3 rats and i have a few questions. I have two fancy rats and one dumbo rat. I’m trying to get my dumbo rat a friend but here’s the first question. There’s a rat at my work who is in the sick room because she has an eye infection. Ive noticed that her eye flares up every time you hold her. I’m thinking its stress but the vet checking her out isn’t saying that and i cant take her home until shes all better. Basically its a reddish white smiley that’s oozing from her eye. Shes on medication right now as far as i know. I read up on something called Poryphrin and maybe that could have something to do with it? I just want some opinions on it and if you think i would be able to take her home soon or if i should just get the other dumbo rat for the one i have now?

My second question is what is the best rat food to feed them? I know i cant use seed based foods or anything with too much fat because it could cause tumors. I heard Burgess Supa Rat was really good, but before i order it from overseas i want to know what other people think about it.

My third question is about my fancy rats. They keep sneezing and when i hold them i can hear them sniffing and breathing. I’m thinking it could be a respiratory infection but i read somewhere else that it could be stress. One of my co workers says she had a few pet rats and one had a respiratory infection which she took to the doctor, put on antibiotics and it developed head tilt. But the rat did live for 4 years. Should i take my girls to a vet? They’re in a large wire cage so i don’t have them in an aquarium.

My final question is about my Dumbo Rat again. She hides a lot and is more active during the night time while the other two are always out, causing trouble. Is that normal for dumbo rats? Shes gray but i’ve noticed her belly is white and it seems like shes turning all white. They’re all only about 6 weeks old so is it possible she will turn all white when she gets older?

That’s all my questions so far. Thanks for reading this long post. And here’s some pictures of them :)


One of my fancy rats, Rayna


The other fancy rat, Hansel


And my dumbo rat, Gretyl




09/09/08  05:50pm

 #1855557


Dirge337
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   Message To: Dirge337   In reference to Message Id: 1855554


 My rats

haha smiley should be changed to goo
09/09/08  05:54pm

 #1855605


Manderzratz
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   Message To: Dirge337   In reference to Message Id: 1855554


 My rats

okay uhm around 6-8 weeks rats coats go through a moult so her colors may change and then should stay mostly the same after that. uhm. yes take your girls to the vet. respiratory infections are common. especially in pet store rats. i feed mine a lot of stuff but the staple is harlan teklad. i mix 2014 and 2018. food the eye could be stress, sickness, or a reaction to the bedding. even though aspen gives me allergies, i use it because carefresh gives my rats breathing issues and my bunny allergies. i have personally never used supa rat. and all rats are going to be active at night. they are nocturnal. are they the same gender? you could introduce them if they are. also if only her belly is white, she could be a berkshire. remember to quarantine any rat before introductions.
09/09/08  06:58pm

 #1855661


Dirge337
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   Message To: Manderzratz   In reference to Message Id: 1855605


 My rats

Oh they’re all in the same cage. And i do make sure they’re healthy before i put them in there :). And they’re all girls. About the same age. Maybe a few days difference. I’m thinking her coat will change because it seems lighter each week. The sick one at work is a blue rat who’s at least 2 months older than the other ones. I don’t know if its better to just let her go to a home that has no other rats so she doesn’t get her infected eye scratched.
09/09/08  08:08pm

 #1855849


Manderzratz
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   Message To: Dirge337   In reference to Message Id: 1855661


 My rats

ahh i see. well if you wanted like if you loved her which is easy to do with ratties, see what fate allows. hopefully she gets a good home regardless.
09/10/08  12:02am

 #1855962


Dirge337
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   Message To: Manderzratz   In reference to Message Id: 1855849


 My rats

I hope so. Shes so sweet :)
09/10/08  08:35am


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