RatPalace.com - Pet Rat Care and Discussion

Fri Jan 16, 2004 6:58 am

No babies yet (Holly is going to explode if she doesn't hurry), but there is a new addition to the mouse family. Why I went into PetCo, I have no idea since I didn't need anything. It was next to the office supply place when I was running errands, so I was pulled in. Anyway, they had just received their weekly animal shipment and the fifty or so common (i.e. feeder) white mice were popcorning all over the cage. I was just watching when I noticed this little one that had a funny gait. I then realized that it was because it had a malformed front leg. Her left foot appeared to be nothing more than a little hand mounted upside down on her chest. A closer look suggested that there is a bit of a leg, but it is sort of curled under the skin. As I told myself that I already have babies on the way, a clerk walk by and before I knew it I was asking what gender the mouse was. Surely it would be a male and I'd be off the hook. Nope, female. In a box she went. The clerk thought she was interesting. I paid my $1.36 and wondered if it was fate that I had exactly two dollars in my wallet, when I normally never carry cash.
Since today was cage cleaning day anyway, I smeared the newcomer into the dirty wheel and put the three ladies into a storage tub while I cleaned their cage. For once I was glad they pee on their wheel since that seemed to do the trick. M & H barely seemed to notice there was a newcomer. Back in the cage they all seemed fine and very cute as huge Holly sat flanked on each side by the two little mice (the new one is as small as Mistletoe.)
Our only concerns are with the wheel and the tunnel. The new one got on the wheel once with speedster Mistletoe and had to hang on for dear life since she can't run, though she did try when she was on it by herself. Since my tunnel is the standard hamster size, I ran a mesh ladder down the inside until I see how she does. She did climb all the way up the treat stick hanging from the ceiling with her three good legs. I may have to get one of those mouse size tunnels like Kate has to make it easier for her.
Now to come up with a name and hope she was too young to get pregnant in with those boys.

Last edited by wade on Fri Jan 16, 2004 10:23 pm; edited 1 time in total

Fri Jan 16, 2004 9:30 am

Boy, you are something else! lurve

I don't know what else to say. I wanna be one of your mouses in my next life.

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Kate & the M.O.U.S.
If you saw a man drowning and you could either save him or photograph the event ... what kind of film would you use?
~ Anonymous

Fri Jan 16, 2004 6:54 pm

I would have taken her, too. Cheers

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Victor, Bandit, and Sparrow's Sweeties: Neiko & Roo. Sparrow's Boys: Oliver, Arthur, and Rabskuttle. The fRAT Boys: Jim, Jack, and George.
Good night, Witter, Kono, Rat, Olie, Metro, Calle, Mr. Ratburn, Arwen, Leather, Ohana, Zoe, Misto, and Kanga.

Fri Jan 16, 2004 7:00 pm

Well, what I assume was simply bad timing, the good intros went sour by this morning (when babies had arrived, see other post) and the newbie was huddle by herself, visibly roughed up. She seemed a bit weak, but when I separated her she immediatley dove into the malto-meal I cooked up for her. That was easier for her since she has a hard time holding onto things like the lab blocks since she has only one functioning hand. I figure Holly got nervous and chased her around a bit and kept her from eating. Since she is so little and seemed drained, I set part of her cage over a heating pad 'til she's feeling better.
Maybe when the babies are three or four weeks old and running all over the place I can try to reintroduce her, allowing her to get lost in the crowd for a few days before the babies are removed.

Fri Jan 16, 2004 10:57 pm

Good idea.

This cracked me up: "I smeared the newcomer into the dirty wheel" LOL

_________________
Kate & the M.O.U.S.
If you saw a man drowning and you could either save him or photograph the event ... what kind of film would you use?
~ Anonymous

Sat Jan 17, 2004 4:16 am

Well, I couldn't think of a better way to put it, and that is pretty much what I gently did.

Sat Jan 17, 2004 7:04 am

I'm so glad you took her! Sorry the intros didn't work as planned, but, as you say, maybe it will be better when Holly's babies are getting a bit bigger.

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Linda and the RMDs

Many have forgotten this truth but you must not forget it. We remain responsible forever, for what we have tamed.
Antoine de Saint-Exupery.