I am such a fool!

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Keith Schiffner - 29 Nov 2004 13:36 GMT

<pardon my language>

DAMNDAMN triple DAMN!

Something was bugging my this am(5am) so I got up (lots of
squeaking) Now in the last week ASTRO has developed quiet
nicely his solid colouring is going away and instead he is
developing a rather nice saddle that is a darker colour that
his original.
Anyway...I chase down Elroy. Why? Well something had
been bothering me...it hit me when I picked "him" up.
Goolies! They should be fairly large by now eh? Nooo, not as
such. No real development at all, on to 'is back I flopped
him. Hmmmm, not good. "Oh barb" I says to the wife "You did
enough lab work, am I crazy or is he a she......"

Barb looks me in the eye "Yes, yes Elroy is a girl. You and
the guy at the shop really messed that up." So now I
choose...another cage and when I go to get the new Dumb/Rex
male see if he has a girl and get a nice two rat cage...to
keep Elroy happy.

OR do I make the boys miserable and have all three neutered?
Granted I'll wait on Astro until his finished puberty. I
wouldn't want him to have an early male menopause.(yes
ladies and gentlemen males also have it)

Signature

Keith Schiffner
Dum vivimus, vivamus
<:(3 )3~~ <:(3 )3~~ <:(3 )3~ <:( ) ~

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elegy - 29 Nov 2004 14:29 GMT

you have two boys and a girl? why not just get the girl spayed? lots
of health benefits to that anyway.

><pardon my language>
>
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
>wouldn't want him to have an early male menopause.(yes
>ladies and gentlemen males also have it)

---
petey was a pit bull.
http://shattering.org

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Keith Schiffner - 29 Nov 2004 15:14 GMT

> you have two boys and a girl? why not just get the girl
> spayed? lots
> of health benefits to that anyway.

It's THREE boys (2 are a 1 y/o and the baby is 8 wks)
yes it "might" be simple to have her spayed if I go that way
I'll wait until she has reached full sexual maturity to
avoid Menopause issues. Problem is I am in a VERY rural
area...google "Browning, Mt" my vet is 17mi away and "rat
shy" but willing to work on them. I am fairly sure she isn't
familiar with spaying rats...my money says the last time she
did one was vet school.
I may get another girl and a Martin R-640 OR the R-670.
Then I just have to NOT set the cages where they can have
fun through the bars. ;^)

FYI, I didn't see a plug so I suspect noone has
"plugged" her yet. Currently she is in the carrier in
another room so I shouldn't have the boys getting into
breeding fights(I hope) She's in the living room with me.
Poor thing, misses her buddies...I'm so cruel.

The irony is that she is turning into a rather nice
Capped with a single spot in the middle of her back and a
'V' shape between the white and the cap...very interesting
colouring and marking. She's a keeper I think, but I've got
to make some sort of decision. Keep, trade, spay or neuter?
Very distressing I must admit.

Signature

Keith Schiffner
Dum vivimus, vivamus
<:(3 )3~~ <:(3 )3~~ <:(3 )3~ <:(3 ) ~

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J&S Bouchard - 29 Nov 2004 15:35 GMT

>> you have two boys and a girl? why not just get the girl spayed? lots
>> of health benefits to that anyway.
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> think, but I've got to make some sort of decision. Keep, trade, spay or
> neuter? Very distressing I must admit.

The plug falls within a couple of hours of mating. She may still be
pregnant. How old is she? Female rats can be impregnated at 5 weeks of age.
Now you know why all the squeaks, poor tormented little girl... Boys just
never give up do they? lol

Signature

Joanne
Mom to 10 rats
http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70

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Keith Schiffner - 29 Nov 2004 16:04 GMT

> The plug falls within a couple of hours of mating. She may
> still be pregnant. How old is she?

Hmm, about 6-8 weeks iirc. It's possible she got a few buns
in the oven...

>Female rats can be impregnated at 5 weeks of age.

Crikey!(really must stop watching Croc hunter)

> Now you know why all the squeaks, poor tormented little
> girl... Boys just never give up do they? lol

Well it's odd then that the boys didn't get into a fight
isn't it? That's what I've read...that they can/do fight for
breeding rights.<sigh> I feel like I let her down, all
because I missed the fact he was a she... ~8^( Oh well,
guess I'll just have to figure something out then, Buddha I
hope she isn't preggers.

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Keith Schiffner
Dum vivimus, vivamus
<:(3 )3~~ <:(3 )3~~ <:(3 )3~ <:(3 ) ~

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Mark Tomlinson - 30 Nov 2004 03:51 GMT

Yikes! So does Elroy get renamed to Judy? (One of our favorite little
mommies was named Dave).

Signature

Mark Tomlinson
"I'm not a trouble maker; I am a catalyst for change."

> <pardon my language>
>
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> wait on Astro until his finished puberty. I wouldn't want him to have an
> early male menopause.(yes ladies and gentlemen males also have it)

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Keith Schiffner - 30 Nov 2004 04:15 GMT

> Yikes! So does Elroy get renamed to Judy? (One of our
> favorite little mommies was named Dave).

No, it's going to be Ellie. That way it still sort of fits
what she has been hearing all week.

Signature

Nefarious Necrologist 42nd Degree
Some people ride, some just like to show off their butt
jewelry once in a while.
Dum vivimus, vivamus
<:(3 )3~~ <:(3 )3~~ <:(3 )3~ <:(3 )3~

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Tracey - 30 Nov 2004 12:22 GMT

> <pardon my language>
>
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
> Dum vivimus, vivamus
> <:(3 )3~~ <:(3 )3~~ <:(3 )3~ <:( ) ~

Ooooo.... Made the same mistake with gerbils a few years ago and ended up
with lots of extra bonus squeekers! Had to do a quick name change too as
Bruno didn't seem very fitting for a girl! Hee, hee maybe your Elroy could
become Eloise!

It's probably go with getting Elroy neutered rather than putting three boys
through castration, but if you've got the room for another cage then I'd
definitely go with getting some females. Of course if she's preggers you
won't need to buy any more rats, so don't rush into anything yet!

BTW, I had the best time watching the wee gerbils turn from little pink
blobs into small furry cuties. Trouble is when it came to re-homing them I
was torn. Ended up keeping most of them. I know if it were rats I'd be
even worse - probably have to keep the lot!

Tracey

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Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / November 2004

I am such a fool!