RatPalace.com - Pet Rat Care and Discussion

Sun Jan 11, 2004 9:00 am

Waiting to hear what names you've chosen and how they're all getting on, what the vet said about the boy's nads, etc.

Also, see my post Observations on Mice for a link to Shepherd's cage wire supplies if you're thinking about remodeling. I'll let you know what they tell me as far as ordering small peices and pricing and all if you're interested.

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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

Sun Jan 11, 2004 8:42 pm

They are doing well, thanks. And I just read the other post but missed the link, so I'll have to go back and look. I did share some other wire possibilities for you, though they may be more labor intensive.

After reading your comment a few days ago, I decided to keep the original names that were suggested to me. The wild child is Mistletoe, the black girl is Holly, and the boy is Nick.
Holly is definately pregnant, she is getting very round, almost like a golf ball. As much as we don't need more mice, I have to admit it will be sort of exciting to see babies. She still runs on the wheel like crazy, so will be a fit mother.
Mistletoe is still very skittish, but is starting to play with things other than the wheel when I'm in the room as long as I don't move. Any sudden movement will send her into hiding or onto the wheel, as if that will allow her to make her escape.
I hope to schedule Nick's neutering sometime this week. It will be nice to get him back with the girls, though I'm not sure how the babies will affect that. I'm not sure if it is better to get him back before they are born (if Holly waits that long), or just wait until they are weaned. I'm sure it wouldn't be a good idea to try it when the young babies are still there.
If I get out of work on time, I hope to go pick up the pics I took the day I got the mice, so maybe I can share those tomorrow.

Sun Jan 11, 2004 11:08 pm

But since Holly couldn't possibly give birth to all girls, you will soon have at least one boy to house with Nick, so why neuter? But then there's the large cage issue with males, I suppose, and you'd be getting into having your house overrun with cage setups at some point. Mr. Green

Is your sister going to take the babies, then? Or have you decided yet if you'll keep some of the girls?

Your Mistletoe sounds a lot like my Crazy. Wonder if they'll ever relax a bit. Confused

Thanks for the wire info, it's good to know for a friend of mine who has some old galvanized cages she doesn't want to ditch, but doesn't want to use, either. I still haven't looked into pricing powder coating for such cages at a local shop, but would hope it wouldn't be much more than $50 or so. Since the cages were free, that would end up being a deal. But if the price is prohibitive the process you described is still better than throwing them out!

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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

Mon Jan 12, 2004 3:25 am

I think I'm best neutering Nick and finding good homes for the babies. As you noted, I don't want to get overrun with cages. I've never really mentioned all the other creatures in my household, but be assured that I have more than enough to keep me busy. Plus there's that whole male odor issue. I've always had females before and this one male stinks more than any of them combined. Neutering is said to help with that. Let's hope so.

I'm not sending the babies to my sister. She's already has more than she can deal with. My other sister oversees deaf education student teachers and as such travels to many different schools, so maybe she can see if some responsible kids want pets. Wish me luck. Or I could just mail the whole lot to you, Kate. One stamp per mouse!

Mon Jan 12, 2004 3:51 am

Oh, the stink, right. :/ Luckily male deer mice don't stink, but that makes it even harder to tell if Thimble's a boy or a girl. Well, I bet Nick will enjoy having a harem.

I'll tell ya, if we could mail mice you and I would be in business, I'd take all the girls!

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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

Mon Jan 12, 2004 5:11 am

Mice by mail order! Mr. Green

I'm sure Charlie would order a couple of girls if he could.

It's funny about the male stink thing - Charlie doesn't smell, but house mice do, apparently. Neutering a mouse though Shocked

I hope your vet has very delicate fingers!

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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.

Thu Jan 15, 2004 4:44 am

Kate, could you ship the mice to where you are? Labs fly mice around the country, its no different then flying any other animal. Just a thought.

Monique

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The world would be a happier place if there were no mirrors.

Thu Jan 15, 2004 4:49 am

Hm... I dunno. Only if it would somehow be guaranteed they would be 100% safe and happy and healthy during the trip.

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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

Thu Jan 15, 2004 5:32 am

And I have a feeling that labs probably get some sort of special repeat business shipping rate. I remember seeing somewhere how incredibly expensive it was to ship a rat.

Thu Jan 15, 2004 10:08 am

Plus, I wouldn't even consider it (and I'm sure you wouldn't either) unless it was not just shipping, but travelling in royal style, you know?

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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

Sat Jan 17, 2004 12:46 pm

Actually, I shipped rats from Texas this past fall, it was neither terribly expensive, nor traumatizing to the kids. They arrived in a snuggly warm carrier, having traveled in a climate controlled portion of the airplane. They were perfectly fine, and remain so

We shipped using Continental Airlines.

rq

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Sat Jan 17, 2004 9:58 pm

Good to know, thanks!

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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