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rat update...
Jul. 25th, 2006 09:55 amDustin seems to feel a bit better. The wheezing is definitely much less, though he still makes some kind of soft, clicking-like noise when breathes. But he has been lively once it got a bit cooler late in the evenings, and played outside. His appetite still could be better, but he is eating. BTW it sucks to have one rat you want to eat more, and a second one that while certainly not fat or anything (at least not yet) has a small prosperous belly, a very healthy appetite, and is a fast eater, and really shouldn't be eating more than his regular daily share. I mean, it's not like rats have a feeding time when they'd eat their whole portion during which I could separate them, so Ben is eating whatever Dustin who's currently a slow and picky eater doesn't in addition to his share.
Also Ben is starting to get cross with me because he's seen me slip his brother treats (tasty, fatty things like pumpkin seeds and such) without giving him any. He obviously thinks this is unfair, and is very watchful of my movements so as soon as he notices that there's merely a possibility I could slip Dustin something, he'll be next to me quickly (even when I thought Ben was occupied with something at the other end of the room) and stare at me with (what I imagine to be) accusing eyes. Obviously he'll then also try to grab the treat from his brother if the latter wasn't quick enough to eat it all.
Another recent annoyance is that the last couple of days Ben has been very focused on getting out of the room during playtime. See, my bedroom doesn't have a door, but I put in a temporary, removable cardboard barrier in the doorframe for their playtime. It's not something that will hold up to a determined rat, but one of the few rules I actually managed to impress upon them was that they shouldn't go outside the rat-safe room. This has worked well for nearly a year.
Only now Ben has suddenly decided he wants to be a great explorer or to heroically expand their territory or something. Apparently the entertainment I provide in the room I'm willingly sharing with them isn't enough for him anymore. I mean, they have a sandbox for digging, where I also sometimes hide treats to keep them interested, a couple of large branches for climbing on something besides my furniture, various chewing things, a couple of tubes for hiding, and while the heat lasts I also offer them a tub filled shallowly with water should they like to splash around a bit, so it's not like I don't offer them anything in their play area. Sure I've seen suggestions in rat books that I should consider installing more elaborate entertainment, like spanning ropes and things, but I have to live in the room as well, you know? As it is I have to maneuver an obstacle course.
Anyway, Ben stops his escape artist routine when I scold him, but now I have to keep an eye on the door constantly. Also the couple of times he was already on top of the barrier or half-through after he managed to drag it away a bit at one edge, he decided to rather make a break for it than to come back, and I had to scramble after him, in order to not loose him in some cranny in the not-rat safe areas. Argh.
Also Ben is starting to get cross with me because he's seen me slip his brother treats (tasty, fatty things like pumpkin seeds and such) without giving him any. He obviously thinks this is unfair, and is very watchful of my movements so as soon as he notices that there's merely a possibility I could slip Dustin something, he'll be next to me quickly (even when I thought Ben was occupied with something at the other end of the room) and stare at me with (what I imagine to be) accusing eyes. Obviously he'll then also try to grab the treat from his brother if the latter wasn't quick enough to eat it all.
Another recent annoyance is that the last couple of days Ben has been very focused on getting out of the room during playtime. See, my bedroom doesn't have a door, but I put in a temporary, removable cardboard barrier in the doorframe for their playtime. It's not something that will hold up to a determined rat, but one of the few rules I actually managed to impress upon them was that they shouldn't go outside the rat-safe room. This has worked well for nearly a year.
Only now Ben has suddenly decided he wants to be a great explorer or to heroically expand their territory or something. Apparently the entertainment I provide in the room I'm willingly sharing with them isn't enough for him anymore. I mean, they have a sandbox for digging, where I also sometimes hide treats to keep them interested, a couple of large branches for climbing on something besides my furniture, various chewing things, a couple of tubes for hiding, and while the heat lasts I also offer them a tub filled shallowly with water should they like to splash around a bit, so it's not like I don't offer them anything in their play area. Sure I've seen suggestions in rat books that I should consider installing more elaborate entertainment, like spanning ropes and things, but I have to live in the room as well, you know? As it is I have to maneuver an obstacle course.
Anyway, Ben stops his escape artist routine when I scold him, but now I have to keep an eye on the door constantly. Also the couple of times he was already on top of the barrier or half-through after he managed to drag it away a bit at one edge, he decided to rather make a break for it than to come back, and I had to scramble after him, in order to not loose him in some cranny in the not-rat safe areas. Argh.