 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / June 2004Bluebell
Well, what a turn up for the books! Went down town earlier with my husband. I needed to get some rat food and as he was with me I asked him to go in the pet shop for it ( what the eyes don't see the heart doesn't grieve over). I had made a promise to him after we got the last 3 little girl ratties and 2 mice I'd felt sorry for, that that would be it for now. Well, he went in the shop and I stayed outside. The next thing I knew he was shouting me. " Look at this little one all on her own. Do you think the youngsters would take to her?" And there she was our gorgeous little Bluebell. She's all one colour, like a grey/blue. So pretty. I can never understand how one comes to be left on it's own. If I'd been buying a rat I'd have took the last one too. Still in shock that my husband had made the suggestion to buy her we brought her home. We put her in the cage with the threesome. Portia had a little sniff at her. Lily stayed in her little house ( she rarely comes out of it because she doesn't want to lose her place) and Jasmin started grooming her and pinned her down. All in all it has gone very well so far. I wouldn't normally take that approach but because the threesome are still babies I couldn't see much of a problem. Lily was the one I thought might be a problem, how wrong I was. When I looked in on them a few minutes ago Bluebell had prised herself into the little house and they were happily snuggled up together. Regards, Rosalind. P S The little polythene house Lily loves so much she is fastly out growing. I've looked in the local pet stores and can't see any thing much better. Does anyone have any ideas of an alternative that could be used for the same purpose? After spending 20.00 on a Ferret bed that my ratties tore apart in about 6 weeks, we went to the dollar store last night and bought a bunch of rectangular plastic baskets. When I got home I took one and cut a 'door' in the small end, added some shredded up napkins and they are happy as can be. Washable, cheap, & harder to chew apart...I think they will work well. We just got two new babies here at our house too. One is mine/hubbies the other is my daughters. No names or pics yet though. We hope to do intros next week (quarantine time-pet store babies) Jaimie Mom to Margaret, Radar, Sophie & new baby Grandma to Mary, Baby, Dorie, Sniffles, Alicia, and new baby > Well, what a turn up for the books! Went down town earlier with my husband. > I needed to get some rat food and as he was with me I asked him to go in the [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > better. Does anyone have any ideas of an alternative that could be used for > the same purpose? Great idea Jaime, never thought of those. I've tried cutting holes in small cardboard boxes but they're destroyed in no time. Regards, > Well, what a turn up for the books! Went down town earlier with my husband. > I needed to get some rat food and as he was with me I asked him to go in the [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > better. Does anyone have any ideas of an alternative that could be used for > the same purpose? ahhhhh, She sounds beautiful!! Our Husbands can surprise us sometimes can't they? LOL Good luck with Bluebell! Sue > Well, what a turn up for the books! Went down town earlier with my husband. > I needed to get some rat food and as he was with me I asked him to go in the [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > better. Does anyone have any ideas of an alternative that could be used for > the same purpose? Hi Rosalind I have found the best beds are plastic ones that you can clean out, so I have fashioned a bed out of a big biscuit box, a plastic tunnel my husband got from work and then I just rotate when I clean them out. I have found that most things made of plastic are easier to clean with boiling water and it keeps them amused when you put something new in there you should see my 3 big brave boys peeping into the beds, I am sure they think something is going to jump out at them, then it is half an hour in rotational shift in the best bed making material like kitchen roll and shredded paper I could watch them all night faffing about. Regards Jackie > ahhhhh, She sounds beautiful!! Our Husbands can surprise us sometimes can't > they? LOL [quoted text clipped - 39 lines] > for > > the same purpose? Just to say that I'm really pleased how my girls have accepted Bluebell into their little family. It's like she's never not been there. They all pile up together now. Regards, Rpsalind. > Hi Rosalind > I have found the best beds are plastic ones that you can clean out, so I [quoted text clipped - 58 lines] > > for > > > the same purpose? > Just to say that I'm really pleased how my girls have accepted Bluebell into > their little family. It's like she's never not been there. They all pile up > together now. > Regards, Girls are so easy like that... well, I should say "most girls" ;)  SignatureJoanne Mom to 12 rats http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70 j-s.b@nospamsympatico.ca remove "no spam" > > Just to say that I'm really pleased how my girls have accepted Bluebell > into [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > j-s.b@nospamsympatico.ca > remove "no spam" I've had the same success with boys - it's always been so easy doing introductions. Guess I've been very lucky! Tracey :: Well, what a turn up for the books! Went down town earlier with my :: husband. I needed to get some rat food and as he was with me I asked [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] :: one too. Still in shock that my husband had made the suggestion to :: buy her we brought her home. An old pet shop trick - 'the last puppy in the shop' syndrome - it obviously works too! :: We put her in the cage with the threesome. Portia had a little sniff :: at her. Lily stayed in her little house ( she rarely comes out of it [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] :: much better. Does anyone have any ideas of an alternative that could :: be used for the same purpose? Large plantpots with a 'V' or dome cut out of them for access - they also have the advantage of having ventilation holes already in them....I've used them for years for mice without any trouble and they enjoy having a few lying around to sit in when they've got their favouite nibble (I think they enjoy the privacy of being enclosed except from the front) They are easily washed and dried.(or replaced when the rodents have gnawed the vent holes into exta doors!) Can I suggest a lunch box with a lid?... just cut a hole in the front for a door way..:) When its time to wash it just pull the lid off and "voila"...:)) Your latest baby sounds adorable. Good on Hubby too ... Regards Kate Signaturehttp://community.webshots.com/user/ollieogg > Well, what a turn up for the books! Went down town earlier with my husband. > I needed to get some rat food and as he was with me I asked him to go in the [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > better. Does anyone have any ideas of an alternative that could be used for > the same purpose? Thanks everybody for your useful ideas. I think I'm going to give them all a go. Regards, > Well, what a turn up for the books! Went down town earlier with my husband. > I needed to get some rat food and as he was with me I asked him to go in the [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > better. Does anyone have any ideas of an alternative that could be used for > the same purpose? > Well, what a turn up for the books! Went down town earlier with my husband. > I needed to get some rat food and as he was with me I asked him to go in the [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > better. Does anyone have any ideas of an alternative that could be used for > the same purpose? Rosalind, you married my kind of man... lol My hubby is not into pets at all... ok, so he's a dog man. It does seem tragic when one rat is left behind... I buy Igloos made especially for critters. Mine love it. But then they also love my pocket hammocks I hang for them. SignatureJoanne Mom to 12 rats http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70 j-s.b@nospamsympatico.ca remove "no spam" I saw on some site somewhere an old bleach bottle with a hole cut in it being used. I'm going to make one of those next time we have an empty bleach bottle (after a *thorough* rinsing, including with a little vinegar, of course). SignatureMariette <:3 )3~~ <:3 )3~~ <:3 )3~~ http://community.webshots.com/user/wabewawa (wabewawa61-at-earthlink-dot-net) >Well, what a turn up for the books! Went down town earlier with my husband. >I needed to get some rat food and as he was with me I asked him to go in the [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] >better. Does anyone have any ideas of an alternative that could be used for >the same purpose? > Rosalind. > P S The little polythene house Lily loves so much she is fastly out > growing. I've looked in the local pet stores and can't see any thing much > better. Does anyone have any ideas of an alternative that could be used for > the same purpose? Ok, this is going to sound weird but mine loved it: Get a piece PVC pipe, run a piece of string through it and tie the free ends off to the top of the cage. It was meant to be a hanging crawl-way for mine, but they ended up sleeping in it quite often. It was funny seeing two heads at either end and knowing one was in the middle. The nice thing about this was that I could use connecters and add to the size of it and cleaning it was easy. SignatureSuper Mike "Mi asno querría un enano y un yate, por favor." [My donkey would like a midget and a yacht, please.] >> Rosalind. >> P S The little polythene house Lily loves so much she is fastly out [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] >nice thing about this was that I could use connecters and add to the >size of it and cleaning it was easy. Not weird at all. I keep meaning to go to the hardware store and get some pieces of PVC (still on a to-do list on my refrigerator). I've heard others before say how much fun it is for their rattikins. I think Joanne even has some pics of hers running through big connected sections of it during their play time. SignatureMariette <:3 )3~~ <:3 )3~~ <:3 )3~~ http://community.webshots.com/user/wabewawa (wabewawa61-at-earthlink-dot-net) ><snip> > >Super Mike >"Mi asno querría un enano y un yate, por favor." >[My donkey would like a midget and a yacht, please.] Well, that presented some little challenge to quote, since you use a delimiter like I do, Mike. :) Anyway, I don't know when it first happened, but I *just* noticed that your donkey's desires have become a little more numerous than before. Just one of those things that takes you aback when you notice there's been a little change to it ... kinda 'reality-provoking' in a way, you know? ;) SignatureMariette <:3 )3~~ <:3 )3~~ <:3 )3~~ http://community.webshots.com/user/wabewawa (wabewawa61-at-earthlink-dot-net) > Well, that presented some little challenge to quote, since you use a > delimiter like I do, Mike. :) [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > been a little change to it ... kinda 'reality-provoking' in a way, you > know? ;) Yes. The donkey is out of control, but at least it says please. :) There is actually a reason for the donkey quote, but its pretty long and silly. SignatureSuper Mike "Mi asno querría un enano y un yate, por favor." [My donkey would like a midget and a yacht, please.] > > Well, that presented some little challenge to quote, since you use a > > delimiter like I do, Mike. :) [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > There is actually a reason for the donkey quote, but its pretty long and > silly. Mike.... we like long and silly!!!! SignatureJoanne Mom to 12 rats http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70 j-s.b@nospamsympatico.ca remove "no spam" > Mike.... we like long and silly!!!! While traveling around the world and meeting people from different cultures, my friends and I would often sit around nursing a hangover in the morning and creating lists of unusual foreign words to try to slip into a conversation (Imagine an American struggling to ask for directions to a bus stop in Arabic, then slipping in a word that had no relevance to the conversation but was pronounced perfectly). I took it a step further and created a list of "useful" phrases using English to [insert foreign language here] dictionaries. It sort of became a contest to see who could slip the most (often poorly or awkwardly constructed) phrases into a conversation. We were chatty Americans ;) Mainly to see their reaction (like when I thanked an Italian for directions by calling them "a pretty little potato dumpling- un poco bella gnocci" than saying sorry and blaming the little white dog of his dreams- boy did that catch *him* off guard.) We would try to do it with the straightest, most serious, face we could muster. Meanwhile my friends would secretly try to get a photo of their reaction and we would laugh all over again when we had the pics developed. Somewhere a friend of mine still has a collection of photos of confused people with short strange phrases written on the back, which will undoubtedly baffle his grandchildren long after he is dead. In all honesty, the translations we did were so bad, most couldn't follow what we were *trying* to say, but it was still funny to us. Side note: We would often stand outside the photo shop and try to approach a person from the same country as the person in the pic, hold up the photo, and repeat the phrase in the form of a question to see what reaction we got. "...il piccolo cane bianco dei suoi sogni?- little white dog of your dreams? " Most of the phrases were put together by looking up words and stringing them together using examples of correct syntax I found in the foreign language guides. Needless to say they were often waaay off but we still found the whole thing funny. Plus, we were usually drinking. Other phrases I remember using but have lost the horrible translations for: I am lost and I can no longer afford air for my mistress. Can you tell me where to find a hospital for short people. I remember you from the interrogation. You took my teeth. We would like some beers, a menu, and many liters of whale blood. (the waiter didn't know what I meant by whale, so I drew a picture) The food was good/great, please accept my friend as a gift. Soo...that leads me to my .sig I really have no explanation for it, but I plan on using it one day when I visit Mexico. HTH :) SignatureSuper Mike "Mi asno querría un enano y un yate, por favor." [My donkey would like a midget and a yacht, please.] >Soo...that leads me to my .sig I really have no explanation for it, but >I plan on using it one day when I visit Mexico. Aww. And here I was thinking that that must have been the one that had produced the most notable reaction from somebody already. :) I once did this quite accidentally after stupidly volunteering to help translate with what little paltry bit of Spanish I know. During a rotation during nursing school, I told one patient that his "dinero" would be coming soon. Was trying to say that his 'dinner' would be coming soon ("comida," of course), but was majorly tired and just forgot the correct word. The patient's parents looked at me rather quizzically, but I never realized until later that I'd told them that "His money would be coming soon." Aaargh! :) SignatureMariette <:3 )3~~ <:3 )3~~ <:3 )3~~ http://community.webshots.com/user/wabewawa (wabewawa61-at-earthlink-dot-net) > Aww. And here I was thinking that that must have been the one that > had produced the most notable reaction from somebody already. :) [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > http://community.webshots.com/user/wabewawa > (wabewawa61-at-earthlink-dot-net) ROFL!!! > > Mike.... we like long and silly!!!! > [quoted text clipped - 49 lines] > "Mi asno querría un enano y un yate, por favor." > [My donkey would like a midget and a yacht, please.] Ahhh, it all makes sense now! That's so funny!!! Tracey > > Mike.... we like long and silly!!!! > [quoted text clipped - 45 lines] > > HTH :) OMG... that was sooooo funny!!! Thanks for telling us, I loved it!!!! SignatureJoanne Mom to 12 rats http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70 j-s.b@nospamsympatico.ca remove "no spam" Great idea Mike, I'll have to try that. Seems like Portia has found her soul mate in Bluebell. Lily is in the little house most of the time and Jasmin isn't too playful so Portia is often running around the cage on her own wanting to play. It's weird but Portia and Bluebell are totally different in colour but are exactly the same size and have the same face. They're side by side all the time. By the way Joanne, my husband had a huge phobia of rats when me and my daughter got our first 2 almost 5 years ago. He never so much looked at them for 2 weeks, didn't even know what colours they were and said they were repulsive ( before he ever saw them ). I had to get tough with him telling him they were here to stay so he'd have to get used to them. Very slowly he came round to them. It was a good month before he would touch one and look at him now. It's a case of judging something without knowing. Regards, > Well, what a turn up for the books! Went down town earlier with my husband. > I needed to get some rat food and as he was with me I asked him to go in the [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > better. Does anyone have any ideas of an alternative that could be used for > the same purpose? > Great idea Mike, I'll have to try that. > Seems like Portia has found her soul mate in Bluebell. Lily is in the little [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > Regards, > Rosalind. I love stories about converts. Does he cuddle them now too? My hubby will pet their heads but that's about it. His phobia: rat pee on self. lol SignatureJoanne Mom to 12 rats http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70 j-s.b@nospamsympatico.ca remove "no spam" Yes Joanne, he does cuddle them now. Infact he can be a bit embarrasing at times. Like dragging visitors in to see them ( usually when they need cleaning out ) when it's obvious they're not interested and expecting them to admire them like he does. He usually has this silly grin on his face and talks like he's a rat expert ( usually all the stuff I've told him) Since we got Bluebell yesterday ( he's very proud of his find ) I've been called away from what I've been doing every half hour just to go and see what she's doing which hasn't been a lot. I wouldn't swap him though, bless him. Regards, Rosalind > > Great idea Mike, I'll have to try that. > > Seems like Portia has found her soul mate in Bluebell. Lily is in the [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > j-s.b@nospamsympatico.ca > remove "no spam" > Yes Joanne, he does cuddle them now. Infact he can be a bit embarrasing at > times. Like dragging visitors in to see them ( usually when they need [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Regards, > Rosalind He sounds like a prize alright!!! Hey, at least mine does the laundry and cleans the bathtub. LOL SignatureJoanne Mom to 12 rats http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70 j-s.b@nospamsympatico.ca remove "no spam" > Well, what a turn up for the books! Went down town earlier with my husband. > I needed to get some rat food and as he was with me I asked him to go in the [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > better. Does anyone have any ideas of an alternative that could be used for > the same purpose? How wonderful! What a star your hubby is :o) Tracey Yes, Joanne he does cuddle them. He can be very embarrassing at times. Like dragging visitors in to see them ( usually when they need cleaning out ) who aren't really interested and expecting them to admire them in the same way he does. Then he starts talking as if he's a rat expert ( all the stuff I've told him) with this grin on his face. Since we got Bluebell ( he's very proud of his find ) he's shouted me into the rats room about 50 times to see " what Bluebells doing now" which hasn't been a lot so far. I wouldn't swap him though bless him. Regards, > Well, what a turn up for the books! Went down town earlier with my husband. > I needed to get some rat food and as he was with me I asked him to go in the [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > better. Does anyone have any ideas of an alternative that could be used for > the same purpose? > Yes, Joanne he does cuddle them. He can be very embarrassing at times. Like > dragging visitors in to see them ( usually when they need cleaning out ) [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > I wouldn't swap him though bless him. > Regards, Your household sounds wonderful!!! SignatureJoanne Mom to 12 rats http://community.webshots.com/user/joanneb70 j-s.b@nospamsympatico.ca remove "no spam" > Yes, Joanne he does cuddle them. He can be very embarrassing at times. Like > dragging visitors in to see them ( usually when they need cleaning out ) [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Regards, > Rosalind Oh, he sounds marvellous! I would love for my fella to take such an interest.... any interest actually! Tracey Yes Tracey, I'm very lucky. Once he got over the tail thing there's been no holding him back. When you meet the odd person who turn their noses up and start going on about the tails ( which seem to be a problem with a lot of people, don't know why ) I love to hear him jump to their defence and talking about how you forget the tails are even there like he'd never had a problem. He forgets I've got a good memory but I don't spoil his fun. Regards, Rosalind. > > Yes, Joanne he does cuddle them. He can be very embarrassing at times. > Like [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Tracey What is this thing about their tails, all the girls at work say " oh dirty things and they have got horrible tails" but I have converted one and she thinks that Stuart is the Bees Knees now. And now that we have been to a Rat Show my husband wants to do a bit of rat rescue with two girls kittens that were found in a box with their brothers and sisters! He is so soft! Jackie > Yes Tracey, I'm very lucky. Once he got over the tail thing there's been no > holding him back. When you meet the odd person who turn their noses up and [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > > > > Tracey Yes Jacquie, I can never understand why rats are frowned upon for their tails and yet people don't seem to mind gerbils tails. Makes no sense to me, Regards, Rosalind. PS I love it when husbands turn into big softies! > What is this thing about their tails, all the girls at work say " oh dirty > things and they have got horrible tails" but I have converted one and she [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > > > > > > Tracey > Yes Jacquie, > I can never understand why rats are frowned upon for their tails and yet [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > were found in a box with their brothers and sisters! He is so soft! > > Jackie I've always found the same thing too - people who dislike rats always comment on their tails. I think they can cope with gerbil tails because they are covered in thick, soft fur. I've heard people say they don't like rats' tails because they look like worms and they hate worms! It always bugs me too, how people think they have the right to be downright rude about our pets. Some people are really hateful in what they say. Do they not stop and think that these creatures are obviously greatly loved by us and nasty words about them will offend and upset - would they be so rude to a cat or dog owner? Tracey LOL I find that I can't go to the shopping centre with my old girl, Claudia on my shoulder without getting stares and rude remarks, one lady in particular started shouting at me to take 'that filthy little beast' out of the centre, (i was walking up the center of a main walkway) I was bad. She happened to have a little boy with her, I looked at her, looked at the kid, then I asked her how long since her son had had a shower, before she could reply I told her that Claudia had a clean every ten to fifteen minutes and asked her if that was what she meant by filthy, then turned and walked away without looking back. When people say eww rats, my reply is usually eww kids.... :) > > Yes Jacquie, > > I can never understand why rats are frowned upon for their tails and yet [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > > Tracey > LOL > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > When people say eww rats, my reply is usually eww kids.... :) Oooh... couldn't you just slap some people?! Good for you - bet that shut her up! Tracey LOL. People nopwadays are that rude and ignorant she'd probably've kept yelling at me as if i hadn't said anything... oh well, what can you do? -D > > LOL > > [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > > Tracey > Yes Jacquie, > I can never understand why rats are frowned upon for their tails and yet > people don't seem to mind gerbils tails. Makes no sense to me Me too! I think their tails are wonderful. They are like a strong and useful intrument. I love to look at them when they are climbing and playing and see how they use those tails to keep their balance. I love it when my two girls are sitting on top of the cage and have their tails curled together so as not to fall over. klary What is this thing about their tails, all the girls at work say " oh dirty things and they have got horrible tails" but I have converted one and she thinks that Stuart is the Bees Knees now. And now that we have been to a Rat Show my husband wants to do a bit of rat rescue with two girls kittens that were found in a box with their brothers and sisters! He is so soft! Jackie > Yes Tracey, I'm very lucky. Once he got over the tail thing there's been no > holding him back. When you meet the odd person who turn their noses up and [quoted text clipped - 26 lines] > > > > Tracey |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2009 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.