Litter Mates Question

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Dan - 24 Oct 2005 04:20 GMT

I have had all sorts of pets growing up and since i was in Honk Kong
on business back in 1986 and was introduced to a white rat one of the
engineers had.. I have kinda wanted rat.. His white rat came when
called sat up.. never had a guniea pig and or mouse do that <g>

Anyway, here is the question. I bought a blue marble rat a cage and
the starup stuff plus a book to learn about the rats as pets. Well did
not take me long 94 days) to realize I should of bout the rat's cage
mate at the store which I am told was his littler mate 9Persmart).
both young males and obvioulsy had been together a while. long story
shrt.. with the wife ok I went back to Petsmart and as luck would have
it they still had the other male his old cage mate by himself. I
bought him and brought him back to the house. Since I know that they
have been together a while ifgured a short introduction would be the
case and that seems like what happened. they sleep in a ball together
and get along fine.. I think . my question is one of my stupidity and
also I want to make sure. Even though they sleep together and all
seems p every once in a while I wil hear them wrestlig or kinda boxing
and jumping around the cage appearing to be playing so type of game.
Does not seem violent bt makes me want to check to make sure that they
are not fighting. Does this sound like normal playing? or somethin
gmore serious? As i say when the appear oto be boxong and in the
wrestling no one seems ot get hurt.. then when it is over and it goes
in spurts.. they climb up to the second level and roll up together for
a nap.. think we are ok..

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drz@casualhacker.net - 24 Oct 2005 04:49 GMT

> and get along fine.. I think . my question is one of my stupidity and
> also I want to make sure. Even though they sleep together and all
> seems p every once in a while I wil hear them wrestlig or kinda boxing
> and jumping around the cage appearing to be playing so type of game.

That sounds perfectly normal. They're just seeing who gets to be the dominant
one. As long as nobody's getting hurt (which is uncommon) it's good for them
to do it. They'll do this most often during their "teen" age, but I don't
recall when that is. I'm sure somebody else will reply. Enjoy watching them,
and good for you for going back and getting your rat a buddy.

Tim

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Tim Newsome nuisance.at.casualhacker.net http://www.casualhacker.net/

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Dan - 24 Oct 2005 05:35 GMT

>> and get along fine.. I think . my question is one of my stupidity and
>> also I want to make sure. Even though they sleep together and all
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
>
>Tim

Thanks for the info.... Well I knida thought that since they were
sleeping all rolled up in a ball on the ledge. I did not think it
coudl be too serious

Yep.. I started reading the book and other info on the internet and
the one thing that was in all the info was to get a pair. Even my wife
agreed as i read her the info . We decided to see if his old cage mate
was still there and it was easy to confirm his markings when we were
decding on the first one. and in same cage by himself and Petsmart
people said they had not got anymroe in since before i bought the
first one. <.. anyway they seem to enjoy having each other..

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Joanne - 24 Oct 2005 14:44 GMT

> Thanks for the info.... Well I knida thought that since they were
> sleeping all rolled up in a ball on the ledge. I did not think it
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> people said they had not got anymroe in since before i bought the
> first one. <.. anyway they seem to enjoy having each other..

Yes, normal rattie behavior.
It's really great of you to go back and get the little guy his buddy.
What are their names?
Got any pics? We love pics!!! ;)

Joanne
Owned by 14 rats

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Dan - 24 Oct 2005 15:26 GMT

>> Thanks for the info.... Well I knida thought that since they were
>> sleeping all rolled up in a ball on the ledge. I did not think it
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>Joanne
>Owned by 14 rats

No pics yet but due to their blue marble like coats the wife named
them "slate" the first one and then 'Silver" for the 2nd one. O names
I guess ,g> but i decided since she let her 56 yr old husband go get
two rats i woud use the names she thought of ...
As Imentioned i have had all sorts of aniamals, reptiles etc.. a
moneky, snakes hamsters mice 9both domesticated and wild) but always
was impressed with myfirend inHong Kong when eh called hs rat by
name..

Also, very impressed that when I wlkd into my office area in our home
these two rats wil lwake up and come to the door. If I open the door
both will stick their heads out and expect to get at least a pteeting
and most of the time a carrot or grape in the morning. to each .. ALL
three of my married kids just look at me and smile like Dad has
losthis mind.. BUT all four of my grand kids think it is pretty neat
<g>>> While i am carfeful especially with the yongest at 2 yr old girl
I wil geton the floor and the 2 yr old comes over sits by me takes her
hand and taps her lap and says Papa puton mylap.. I hold the rat while
she gently pets it..

interestin glittle creatures and seemto be god theraphy..
thanks for the replies I just did not want to see them hurt each other
but after close inspection there are no marks and the fact that they
are all cuddled up together to sleep they mustget along

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Tracey - 24 Oct 2005 16:24 GMT

> No pics yet but due to their blue marble like coats the wife named
> them "slate" the first one and then 'Silver" for the 2nd one. O names
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
> but after close inspection there are no marks and the fact that they
> are all cuddled up together to sleep they mustget along

Welcome to the wonderful world of ratties! They are fabulous little pets,
and incidently are *the* best 'pocket pets' for children, so your
grandchildren should get on with them just fine! Since you are a newbie to
rat ownership you may find these sites intersting http://www.rmca.org/
(excellent website, which also includes a very useful medication usage chart
that a lot of us here have printed out and let our vets have!);
http://www.ratfanclub.org/firstaid.html ;
http://www.ratbehavior.org/rats.html ; and for fun:
http://www.dapper.com.au/fun.htm and
http://www.ratsauce.com/toys_games/index.php .

Tracey

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Meghan - 24 Oct 2005 21:00 GMT

> I have had all sorts of pets growing up and since i was in Honk Kong
> on business back in 1986 and was introduced to a white rat one of the
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
> in spurts.. they climb up to the second level and roll up together for
> a nap.. think we are ok..

Dan, HOORAY that you went back for the other rat and he was there. What a
nice reunion that must have been for them. I also have two brothers from
the same litter (mine came from a breeder when they were only 5 weeks old)
and one of them has always been more dominant than the other. I noticed
when they were about 8 months old was the peak of when they would get into
these "fights". Sometimes it really sounded terrible with the squealing and
banging around, but that was just them being teenage boys. I always made
sure there was never any blood drawn - that is your biggest sign. If there
is blood then it is a real fight and they should be separated, but like I
said, I never had any blood or injuries and they always worked it out. Now
they are 13 months old and have calmed down quite a bit. Rats are just
GREAT.

Meghan

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Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / October 2005

Litter Mates Question