Post by Administrator on Aug 10, 2013 15:04:34 GMT -5
Hey everyone, over the next little while I will be writing 'entries' for things I have observed while keeping rats for pets. They are going to be a breeding colony shortly once my 2 females mature. However while having them, they have been such a blast to watch and care for. I thought it would be fun and interesting to start documenting what I observe. I'll post an entry as often as I feel fit. Probably every 2-3 days or when something interesting happens haha. I will start this off with my first entry.
Entry 1:
August 9th, 2013
I purchased these rats with 3 others yesterday around evening time. I really wanted to select 1 female to start off a breeding colony to provide feeders for my Ball Pythons. However, there were 2 that I just couldn't separate. They are sisters, from my guess, as they have very similar markings, and always stick together. I kept them together most of yesterday evening. I split them up after an hour or so for the purpose of making them more independent in the future and able to be by themselves if needed. I will most likely split them up once they mature and get into breeding. Just from 1 night apart, I noticed a huge decline in interest to eat often, or even step out of their little 'hide-outs' that I provide as a shelter. They almost seemed depressed in a sense from being away from each other. I left them overnight and a bit into the evening of the following day (August 9th). This is how I discovered the low interest in feeding and other activities. The moment I put the one female back the other, almost instantly they both seemed to "lighten up" and just greeted each other with excited squeaks and proceeded to groom each other and play. They hop around their enclosure and wrestle in their little shelter, often pinning each other on their backs and grooming the belly and neck area. I have yet to witness them as they rest, but if they are still as close as I've seen, they probably snuggle with each other. I will update on how they are doing, and I will also write about the older male rat I also have. He's just over 2 months old and has a very unique personality.
Thanks for reading!
Entry 1:
August 9th, 2013
I purchased these rats with 3 others yesterday around evening time. I really wanted to select 1 female to start off a breeding colony to provide feeders for my Ball Pythons. However, there were 2 that I just couldn't separate. They are sisters, from my guess, as they have very similar markings, and always stick together. I kept them together most of yesterday evening. I split them up after an hour or so for the purpose of making them more independent in the future and able to be by themselves if needed. I will most likely split them up once they mature and get into breeding. Just from 1 night apart, I noticed a huge decline in interest to eat often, or even step out of their little 'hide-outs' that I provide as a shelter. They almost seemed depressed in a sense from being away from each other. I left them overnight and a bit into the evening of the following day (August 9th). This is how I discovered the low interest in feeding and other activities. The moment I put the one female back the other, almost instantly they both seemed to "lighten up" and just greeted each other with excited squeaks and proceeded to groom each other and play. They hop around their enclosure and wrestle in their little shelter, often pinning each other on their backs and grooming the belly and neck area. I have yet to witness them as they rest, but if they are still as close as I've seen, they probably snuggle with each other. I will update on how they are doing, and I will also write about the older male rat I also have. He's just over 2 months old and has a very unique personality.
Thanks for reading!
