They are a distant relative within the superclass....
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euarchontoglires

bump

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*squeak

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>>5128093

One of my pet rats started limping today. He doesn't put weight on his hind leg and seems to be in some pain. Poor guy can't even scratch his itch ;_;

>>5131366
Vet ASAP, signs of discomfort is a warning here
Any signs of inflammation or are veins more prominent? Note size, colour and track between now and vet visit to establish if it's getting better or worse. Veins being more prominent can help show if there's deep inflammation
Any signs of cuts or splinter? If so check https://neratsociety.co.uk/articles/firstaid.shtml for info on cleaning but a vet appointment is still my recommendation
Have they been eating alfalfa or apple seeds? These cause kidney issues and the back legs getting inflamed etc can indicate that but injury is more likely than kidney problems
Posting pics would help identify care until you get them to a vet

im a new rat owner and losing my mind over how much DOGSHIT info there is on what foods are and arent safe for rats. even the 'good' info will just say vague shit like "fine occasionally in small amounts" with zero actual hard information on what amounts are in the healthy threshold
and pet people online love being insane hypochondriacs saying shit with zero factual basis

yet rats are the most studied animal there is. ive been combing through literally dozens of scientific papers and trying to apply the results in practical terms but even thats hard when so many studies are "we gave them like 3000 mg of this compound every day and they got sick lol" like NO SHIT

if anyone has specific questions or stuff theyre worried about let me know. i might have to make the ultimate scientifically backed hard data guide on 'rat eating yummy treat' to try and shut some of these people up

>>5131938
>yet rats are the most studied animal there is
Yes but it's from the perspective of human health so it leads to
>we gave them like 3000 mg of this compound every day and they got sick lol
I was trying to figure out if small amounts of rooibos tea was safe for a rat with long term respitory issues but no information in medical papers about long term effects on the rats. Just confirmation on the positive effects it has on humans
>make the ultimate scientifically backed hard data guide on 'rat eating yummy treat'
That would be appreciated
Can you post links to anything you've got for good treats? I CTRL+F http when starting fresh bread and try include anything relevant in the OP

>>5132003
>Can you post links to anything you've got for good treats?
Not really honestly, most of my research so far has been on toxicity. But i'd say anything high in protein that isnt too fatty is going to be a favorite for them, like chicken and eggs

There's some inaccuracies i've already found with the link in the OP. It lists yogurt as a good food, but the lactose in it is one of the few things humans can eat that rats can't. rats past weening age almost entirely lose the ability to break down the lactose sugars or absorb it as nutrients, and it can cause a lot of irritation and inflammation even with small amounts. lactose free cheeses like parm/cheddar are surprisingly fine.

A few of the foods listed as 'never' are also safe and fine.
>Chocolate
Dark is fine, even reccomended by vets in some cases. The sugar in regular milk chocolate is bad sure, but not uniquely compared to other foods with it too
>peanuts
listed for reasons that only apply to raw peanuts, which you really have to go out of your way to get
>onions
Fine. I'm actually surprised they list onions here but not garlic. Since garlic is pretty similar but about 3x more concentrated. Again, you'd have to really try. there's anti-feedants in garlic/onion but they really just deter with scent and break down over time fast, and cooking in any form also breaks them down. you'd have to really try and feed in excessive amounts that cause toxicity
>Citrus
same story, the amount given to the male rats in that story was a concentrated amount directly of that specific compound that isn't even that abundant in oranges. If you gave them a whole orange every day? Sure it'd be a problem but literally nobody is going to do that

I'm sure there's inaccuracies with the other ones listed there i havent looked into yet

So I'm going to touch on the rodent part of the thread. The only pets I've ever had were cats and dogs, but I thought about a rodent.

By process of elimination I arrived at a hamster, from what I've read it seems you generally either adapt a terrarium or build your own cage for the dudes because store bought cages are nor really good for them, any other general advice?

>>5128093
why do some rats have human ears? it freaks me out

>>5132701
The better to hear you with

>>5132603
You can get store bought enclosures but similar to building out a vivarium or cage you get what you pay for
Personally I recommend doing your own but only if you're already a little handy
I'm a ratanon so wait about for a hanonster for better advice
>>5132701
That's side angle pics, front in they're like
>>5131042
I'd guess the shape evolves easy to catch sound

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Big if true.
Humancels aren't even getting hugs and kisses but squirrels are.

>>5132918
the fact that every animal bows to pets is proof enough to anyone that we yearn for a physical touch most of us never get

>>5133097
loved it when i gave my guinea pigs neck rubs and they'd tilt their heads right up. i still miss them...

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>>5131380
>>5131366
Late reply, have only been on ip-banned cellular network lately. The doctor ordained rest and pain medication which the little guy is happily taking. His paw is healing nicely and his energy levels are up as well!

That aside, I have an old smaller cage with a detachable top and was thinking if that wouldn't be the best for some safe outdoor play? I think they might enjoy some fresh air and new smells. Think something like pic related with the "cage" part against the ground.

>>5133417
fuark, approaching comf' levels never thought possible

>>5133624
>have only been on ip-banned cellular network lately
try turning airplane mode on then off, i find that resets the IP. Sometimes have to do it more than once but it works.

>>5133707
traversing the vast dunes

>>5133707
>Stock Subaru shames everyone at test hill

>>5133624
I'm glad he's doing good!
Desu, seeing pet rats outdoors makes me anxious. Your idea seems good but they're good diggers. I might just be getting paranoid but it wouldn't take much distraction for one to dig under the frame and get out. If they're still young they might be wanting to explore still and that's been an issue indoors a couple of times for me
The other thing to be concerned about is parasites or pathogens they might get from eating snails or slugs etc.
It's been done but research youtube etc to see what works and what doesn't if you're really going to do it

>>5135263
>I tried the sunflower seed diet for three weeks and this is what happened...

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mischief of rats

>>5135939
The look of utter contempt

>>5133707
You cottonball got loose

>>5133707
muad'dib!
>>5135939
cute unit

>>5136769
I like when they're chill with being held
>filename :(

>>5137131
oh no it's eating them whole!

>>5133624
This probably late, but don't let your rats outside. The rats we have are breed for indoors, not the outside. All you will do is stress them out or worse have them get mites and ticks. Rats are very shy and hate being in the open. Can also get a nasty lunginfection.

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>>5132918
Finnish master race

>>5137461
>>5134629
No, not at all. I carefully considered it again and realized that it just doesn't make any sense. There's too much risk involved and I would never forgive myself if one of the boys get hurt/lost because for any reason. If they wanna paw grass I'll have to bring some inside.

>>5138049
maybe you could set up a dig box with a plastic tub and coconut fiber dirt. they go ape over digging tunnels, very enriching for them.

>>5137609
rat heads are sleek like a sports car

I think I sensed a rat in one of my drawers. How do I get it out of my house?
Dun wanna have to worry about another soul I already am incapable of managing myself

>>5137605
He scream!

>>5137342
Is this popcorning?

>>5138281
Go to >>>/diy/ and search for the stupid question thread
We're here for the care of rats not "taking care of" rats
With that out the way, general advice is look for where they are getting in. It's not enough to deal with the one you know is there, you need to stop more getting in. While you sort that follow the trap advice from diy. However, glue traps are dooming it to starve to death. I assume if you're posting here, that's a thing you want to avoid
Best of luck in diy, they'll be nicer to you if you use the stupid question thread

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I've never owned a ret
Why do rets do this?

>>5138928
They grind their teeth from joy so hard that their eyes pop out of their skulls

>>5138928
pure bliss

>>5138928
it's the rat equivalent of purring

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Jumpscare warning

>>5139236
i'm squooked

>>5139456
I'd get dragged into an ah-ha video any day with this guy

>>5140028
Make way for Rattus Sapiens

>>5138249
kino back

>>5140889
Masaka! Th-This roundness...

>>5140889
i would poke those two crumbs off his snoot

>>5140889
Is he expecting cuddles, food, both?

>visit vet for mild uri
>get antibiotics in flavored suspension
>great, now i wont have to spend an hour 2x daily trying to trick them into taking it
>it's bubblegum flavor and they all hate it and make faces and shake their hands in disgust
Any foods to hide it in I may not have thought of yet? So far coconut oil is the only thing that works, but they have a habit of rejecting medicine mixers a few days after I introduce them. With raw medicine that tastes like diesel mayonnaise would always work, but it must mix with the flavor of this stuff in a bad way because they hate it. Applesauce works ok tier, but they tend to give up on it halfway through. Olive oil is about the same, probably mixes with the bubblegum flavor poorly

>>5142123
maybe try a small portion of buttered toast? i think a foreign yummy food, edible to rats, might trick them into loving their medicine

>>5142123
I just pin them on there back in my lap but with my knees up on a stool, syringe of medicine ready to stick in the mouth and squirt it in
Be ready to rapidly right the rat to the correct orientation without jerking them and give tasty treat immediately e.g. banana chip or anything that smells sweet and tasty to your human nose
It's anywhere from 30 seconds to 5 minutes of struggle followed by glares while they eat their treat and get cuddles
If they get a treat afterwards they'll usually settle down after a few doses, take the medicine and look for the treat

>>5142190
>he angered
>vengeance, plotted

>>5142123
Don't know if the translation is correct but I used to mix them with liver sausage. They never rejected it.

>>5128093
haha that rat is driving that car haha. I wonder where it's driving to!?

>>5142669
he's going to the licker store

>>5142653
>liver sausage
German? I'm assuming something without salt added, it'd be mostly protein then

>>5143465
he's a cute little munchkin, but i suspect he's up to no good

>>5143465
pleasantly round specimen

>>5128093
I drive Uber and as many people who think it's fucking fine to lie about their fucking cat being an ADA service animal causing my allergies to flair up & making it difficult to even breathe because they don't wanna spend 2 extra dollars on uberpet I'm half tempted to start taking my rats with me when I drive and claim they are service animals if anyone calls me on it.

>>5131042
>It's dangerous to go alone. Here; take this.

>>5133624
>The doctor ordained rest
What the hell is that supposed to mean? Does your rat usually go to work when its leg isnt hurting? Did you have to get it a note from the project manager?

>>5144333
Full House of Top Kek

>>5142550
dis boy got hobbit feet

>>5144333
He needs to be excused from the rat race?

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What Ret is this?

>>5146842
those critters are me wtf

>>5146869
How'd you get a picture of OP?

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>>5146842
hyrax

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>>5146869
he's just a little man

Day ~5000 of hoping that someone makes a longer lived breed of pet rat

>>5148319
What do rats usually die from anyway? I remember reading cats usually die from kidney diseases and that they're working on treatments that would extend their lives by a lot

>>5148321
In captivity, mainly cancer, but I think they just simply age that fast. They have a really high metabolic rate and can have offspring at like 2 months of age.

>>5148319
Yeah but how long? The end is still going to be as painful if not more so.

>>5148334
5 years on average would be a good start.

>>5148328
Respiratory issues / infection is the other big one
It's hard to catch the symptoms

Nowadays, it is essential for modern humans to think about rodents in their daily lives.
how many minutes a day do you think about rodents?
for me, I guess I think about rodents for around half an hour a day on average.

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I loved my boys so much but I couldnt keep them anymore. Everytime one died it broke my heart. The first time I had to had one put down by the vet I cried like a schoolgirl, couldnt even speak. Think I traumatized the vet so much that they send me a card about how sorry they felt for my loss.

Dont even wanna know how much I spend on vet bills during my six years of rat keeping. How much time it took do four group integrations, how much time I spend teaching tricks or how much money I spend on fancy hides only for them to prefer the cardbox.

And to be honest all that was worth it with how much joy they gave me. Coming home from work, yelling I'm home and having them all outside near the cage door was a great feeling. I owned 10 rats in total and each rat had a different personality. I even loved my boy, that bit my finger bloody two times, like my own child. Pic is my first group.

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Ehh... Cheesed to meet you

>>5149509
thats the biggest caterpillar i ever seen

>>5151403
Tsuchinoko if he real

>>5152629
noo stop torturing that innocent ratto! let them go!

>>5151403
pointy ratto
>>5152629
squishy ratto

I wanted a rat
but the lifespan : (

>>5153928
same
I just lurk these threads and vicariously enjoy everyone else's instead

I miss when /an/ was more active. Used to be way more rat pics/threads would go by faster pre-soijak incident

where do mice go when it rains?

>>5152629
chpnko

>>5154058
the whole site's been on a downwards trend for years. the hack was just getting kicked while already down. 4chan's main problem is their dearth of moderation. bad actors get to run roughshod which drive away the good posters.

>>5154446
Looks so happy.
I wish I could experience this level of joy in my life.

>>5154298
they go in the mice drawer

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>>5154449
Between the lack of moderation on some boards, I think most aging users are deciding anonymity isn't worth being cooped up with a bunch of schizophrenics who come to this website to air out the darkness of their mind rather than engage in anything on-topic. It's sad.

>>5155040
I would love for you to be wrong and we're just in a lull of rat ownership

Thoughts on bioactive substrates in rodent enclosures?

>>5148737
That was a very nice read, anon. I have yet to lose one of my boys but the first time one of them injured his paw and started limping, it hit me right in the heart. Such bonds we create with these adorable animals, huh?

Can anyone recommend some rat Youtube channels that are JUST footage of fancy rats, no music, no commentary, just raw rattage.
Bonus points for baby rats.

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the path 2 zen

>>5156774
Can a rat be patient enough?

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>>5154449
shut up and post some rats

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>>5156308
there are some about rats or hamsters in labyrinths

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>>5157676
>post some rats
...No

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>>5157676
>post some rats
what's in it for bee?

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>>5157676
How about a striped mouse?
Saw him at a zoo the other day

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>>5128093
Ratita.

>>5158107
his shape is cute. cute!

>>5157845 OMG his little rat fist! So cute.

>>5140659
skidmark

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Caught some wild mice and keeping them as pets for a while. Should I bother trying to bond with them? I'm satisfied just watching them run around the enclosure and cuddling.

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>>5128093
I love my baby girls
only picrel really likes cuddles though

>>5158694
She looks sweet. Would pet.

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>>5158695
they're both sweet babies

>>5158678
Do not enslave mice

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>>5158714
Enslave? They are merely imprisoned temporarily. If I could extract labor from them I would temporarily be enslaving them though. They deserve worse for invading my home, I am merciful.

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>>5157845
hey, follow the rules, no bees, just rats

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this game is a.. a.. a squeakload of fuck!

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>>5158107
Here's another
Side shot showing his stripes

there is a mouse shitting all over my counter top and ignoring the traps that i've baited with cheese and peanut butter

smart little guy

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Technically on topic here.

>>5160741
he looks like he would be cast as a badass guinea pig in an action movie

why there are no men with hamsters on youtube?
The only kinda man is a transexual FtM (channel called somethinganimal), very manly all things considered, but still.

>>5161058
are hamsters still popular pets once the pet shop critter craze ended?

>>5161058
Hamsties just aren't as cool as other rodents.

>>5159872
a gamer in its natural habitat

>>5162012
why are they naked?

>>5162013
For the cruel whims and amusement of humans.

>>5162013
that's just what he picked in the character creation screen

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>>5159872
Lets gooooooooooooo!!!

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>>5160741

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>>5162012

>>5162763
me when fresh hay is on the menu tonight

>>5162013
It's a bred-for trait that comes from
>retard anon understanding inbound
2 curly short hair genes rat (double rex, AFAIK) will usually give hairless offspring. The curly short hair gene also causes their whiskers to be shorter than their body so they lose a lot of their perception for their surroundings compared to other rats
That along with the obvious issues staying warm and it's worth questioning if a reasonable breeder would encourage those traits

1/2 How do you deal with losing your best friends? I am all heart broken, because it all happens so fast and sudden.
I started a mouse house on spring 2025. Got three little angels, girls. They all had different personalities. It was such a joy seeing them grow up, learning new things, developing and caring for each other. Interacting with them, making them comfortable with touching, feeding them and teaching them tricks. One of the girls felt sick on January 2026 with her eye. But thanks to vet and antibiotics she was healed. It was such a joy.
The things started to go down in middle of August. The same mouse as with the eye started to be less active, she was tired and little shaky. It all happened like in one week. At one evening she was so exhausted she got stuck in one of the tubes and couldn't continue. I helped her out, took her in my hand and placed her in her favourite sleeping spot. Next day morning she had a funeral.
Two remaining girls were visibly stressed out of the situation, I was very affraid of them. One was scratching and washing herself all the time like for some time, I was affraid she got sick too. It was all so dynamic, I bought vitamins and fed them to my girls. But the smaller one never wanted to eat them. But suddenly after a week or two the things got better. The girls kept together and they got through their stress and mourning. I even interacted with them even more closely, teached them new tricks. I was again happy and stopped worrying about them again. We got used to the new situation. But the things got quckly even darker. The smallest girl, the one who was my tiniest angel, got also suddenly weak and sick, like a month after the first funeral. One day I was feeding her and all seemed normal.

>>5163636
2/2
The other day she is out of balance, falling, tripping over obstacles. Eating very slowly. Sleeping outside her nest. And late in the evening she suddenly got somehow spooked. Like if she get some neurological illnes and all her instincts from last of her powers told her that she needs to hide. She started running very clumsily around the cage, it was very distresing. I turned the lights out and tried to sleep to make her calm. I cried all night and in the morning I found her passed away hiding in the darkest corner of the cage.
This was last weekend. Now this week, the last remaining mouse is alone in the cage. She was all normal and active the night before her friend died. But after that, she became behaving totally different. All spooked, all the day and night awake, just staying in her nest. Not eating, not drinking for like three days. I made her drink a bit and eat crushed pumpkin seeds, because she could not bite normal ones. She is so tired. When she moves you can see how clumsy and tired she is. I hope she is getting a little better but still she doesnt want to sleep and I am affraid she couldnt make it much longer even though she has always been the strongest and bravest one. I try to make her as comfortable as possible, but it seems she just mourns and wants to be with her friend. I couldnt have imagined that a mouse that remains the last one will be so visibly sad that she stops doing even the most basic needs. Of course I am wondering that she might cought some sickness from her passed friend. But its strange to me that she got so 180 degrees bad just straight after losing her friend.

So now here I am. A month and a week ago I had 3 happy playful little mouses. Now I have last girl that is so sad from losing her two friends that she might not survive her mourning. And my heart is so broken. How can I help her?

>>5163636
>>5163637
I'm so sorry anon.

How do you deal with the loss? I'm still looking for the answer myself. I miss my boy every day.
It sounds like you really bonded with and were loved by your girls. As long as you have been keeping them as safe and happy as they reasonably can be that's the most you can do for them.

I know when they go downhill it suddenly seems so fast, especially as these guys are so intelligent they can hide their symptoms for a while before we catch on. It's like they don't want you to worry about it and put on a brave face.
Spring 2025 to August 2026 is a long time for a little Mouse, as much as we wish they can go on for as long as possible. Remember, for their whole lives you are their world.

Wish I could offer more comfort or support, I really do.

>>5163656
Thank you, anon.

My last girl died this night, in my hands.
The last three days she visibly dropped much of the stress from losing her sisters, but also kept on having health issues. She put on the most fight from all the girls before. I rearanged the cage to make it as comfortbale as possible for her. She started having troubles operating her hind legs and moving her bottom. Also troubles eating and chewing harder stuff. She was trying to find a warm place so I placed some warmer socks I had for her to hide in. But she was moving around the cage finally again, although slowly as an old lady.
Two days before I probably didnt close the cage door properly and she got out. They never tried to get out their whole lifes. I think it was an accident that she fell off the door.
It was so unexpected when I found her chewing on carpet. I felt a little sorry for her accident but also some joy that she had this adventure and didnt seem to mind it at all. She was easy to catch in her favourite tube where I placed some dried warms as a treat.
Last day she hopped in my hands she was trying to find a warm place. I knew this is a good bye from her. I put her back in a cage for a while but late at night I noticed she is really having big issues walking and that she cant move. I picked her up again and held her in my hands to make her warm. She was calm, looking at me until her last breath.

I still hoped she could stay a little longer. I am glad she is not feeling any pain anymore. I hope she is at better place with her two sisters.

I cannot believe the house is so empty and silent this morning.

>>5164147
>She was calm, looking at me until her last breath.
Best ending achieved

>>5164152
I know right, I am glad she didn't pass away alone.

Sorry for my blogpost. It helpes me a lot to write my feelings of my chest.


For anyone considering getting a rodent pet. Do not fool yourself you won't get attached to them. And they do live very briefly.

>>5164153
I don't want you to apologize for getting this off your chest anon. Loss is unfortunately something too common in the rat owner world. Such short and bright lives they live.

>>5158714
Not a mouse, but I guess I should speak up. I was tasked with taking care of a wild Hispid cotton rat as part of a job at one time. Little guys (rodents in general) can become quite affectionate in a short amount of time. After only a few days the little guy would start holding and licking my finger, occasionally nibbling at my fingernails. The little guy would not survive in the wild since part of his tail was missing. I wish he got a mate, though I know how troublesome it would be to raise a bunch of little rats.

On the other hand, there was also a black rat which was particularly nasty to me, but that was because 1) he was perfect healthy and could survive in the wild 2) his cage was too small and they would not listen to me about getting a bigger cage and 3) he was fed an awful diet of scraps and lots of alcohol (though rats can digest it, it is a case of can and should). On 3) the rat was only ever happy when it passed out in a puddle of its own piss. It didn't sit with me well quite frankly since it was an addiction. I fed the cotton rat seeds, grass, clover, some corn, some cane sugar (in small amounts) and pine bark, which is essentially its natural diet, a couple of times I would get a tiny amount of brown sugar, mix it in water, dunk my hand into it and then put my hand in the little guy's cage, so he could lick it for 30 minutes and give me an excuse not to chop wood and get rid of wasps. The black rat would attack my hand so I started having to wear a leather glove, but it liked vegetables, so I fed it mostly that. The owner fed them everything under the sun, including stuff like styrofoam, which upset me. Why not give them a piece of a rice cake as a treat instead?

So many things concerning disagreement about animal care, even beyond the rats, led me to leaving after eleven months.

>>5164153
This >>5164435 this is the tough part. From their perspective they lived long happy lives but for us it's too short, it doesn't makes the experience any less and is no less fleeting than the potential of any relationship. Ultimately, like any death you take it one day at time and focus on the good life they had
I think it's fair for people thinking about rats to know this is one of the hardest parts of rat ownership but really any pet ownership will end with that pet passing
>inb4 some parrots and tortoises - to you even have someone to inhereit it

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you all look a lil.. hm.. suspish..

>>5165414
>>5164435
Thank you anons ;_;
Today I packed the cage and donated the rest of food to local wildlife rescue.
Now I have only memories and photos. It's over. And it doesn't hurt any less.

I was thinking about continuing my mice house with new young pack of mice but I will be moving soon from my apartment and changing job so the situation is now better with no pets I guess.

>>5165505
poor baby, are they ok?

>>5166335
he's fine, just blind

>>5166335
Mostly blind they're using the parallax effect to judge distance
When moving side to side objects closer move subjectively more than objects further away, like when you're in a car and the bushes next to the road whizz by while the ones on the other side of a field seem to move slower
Wiki prolly has some gifs demonstrating it

>>5132003
>rooibos tea
>long term respiratory issues
Sounds they might benefit from real tea, the kind with caffeine in it. Is it a congestive issue? Do your homework first of course

>>5166632
Not sure about the tanines

File: Holding rat.jpg (550 KB, 1080x1424)

550 KB JPG

I came across this pic. Uhh what's wrong with this rat does he have a tumor or something?

>>5167544
Big balls (like me)