Scythe
Well-Known Member
First off, I'll say I'm gonna be really bad at explaining what's going on because I've honestly got no idea how to! So I've also taken a video and some pictures to maybe help...
I noticed a while ago when I first got Pip(Just over a month ago, I think?) that during Intros, after a certain amount of time, Al would stop interacting with anyone and just go snooze spread out in a corner of the tub. I always thought, "Hmm, thats unusual." But he's old(over two years-- I think he's just over 26months, if I'm not mistaken?), and he's less active of he and Ed, so I didn't think much because hey, Intros must be exhausting for them.
Then one day two weeks ago, I put a chinchiller slab in the cage with them because we were getting an awful heat wave and I figured they wouldnt use it, but it'd be there in case. To my shock, Al wouldn't get off it. I think it was a coincidence because even on days I don't put it in the cage, he sleeps in the same corner. Spreads out, legs sprawled, so still that when I wake up I think he's dead. Never touches the hammocks anymore, VERY rarely goes into the houses, and it's become even more rare to see him on the top level of the CN. It's almost uncommon now to see him awake. Things that once made him jump up and hurry to the door? They don't, now.
During intros in the little familiar-ground-intro-space in my room, he'll go hide 15 minutes in, now. He'll find somewhere the other rats arent going, and spread out and snooze. If I over a treat, he'll take it in his mouth and go spread out and lay down again -- with it still in his mouth, or he'll push it out with one hand and then go still again, so I can't even try the cheerio test on him. He'll pretty much dive into a bowl of ensure, though, still.
When he walks, it's ALMOST like he's dragging himself. It's so low to the ground and he does drag his tail, now.
I don't know his weight because my scales batteries died, but he's about 26-28 months old, ish. Give or take, I don't know when he was born.
edit to add: He also sort of wobbles when he walks, and falls easily from low heights like the top of the house, from my ****s into my hands(like rolls face first into them), off the litter box, etc.
This was the other day. He has a lot of trouble getting up there, and usually falls off when he tries to climb down.
Went straight to here when I put him back in the cage after tonights intros.
Then after I took that picture, he (I was shocked) climbed slowly up to the top shelf and curled into the sputnick.
[youtube:1i371kl1]4jAD_As165o[/youtube:1i371kl1]
I noticed a while ago when I first got Pip(Just over a month ago, I think?) that during Intros, after a certain amount of time, Al would stop interacting with anyone and just go snooze spread out in a corner of the tub. I always thought, "Hmm, thats unusual." But he's old(over two years-- I think he's just over 26months, if I'm not mistaken?), and he's less active of he and Ed, so I didn't think much because hey, Intros must be exhausting for them.
Then one day two weeks ago, I put a chinchiller slab in the cage with them because we were getting an awful heat wave and I figured they wouldnt use it, but it'd be there in case. To my shock, Al wouldn't get off it. I think it was a coincidence because even on days I don't put it in the cage, he sleeps in the same corner. Spreads out, legs sprawled, so still that when I wake up I think he's dead. Never touches the hammocks anymore, VERY rarely goes into the houses, and it's become even more rare to see him on the top level of the CN. It's almost uncommon now to see him awake. Things that once made him jump up and hurry to the door? They don't, now.
During intros in the little familiar-ground-intro-space in my room, he'll go hide 15 minutes in, now. He'll find somewhere the other rats arent going, and spread out and snooze. If I over a treat, he'll take it in his mouth and go spread out and lay down again -- with it still in his mouth, or he'll push it out with one hand and then go still again, so I can't even try the cheerio test on him. He'll pretty much dive into a bowl of ensure, though, still.
When he walks, it's ALMOST like he's dragging himself. It's so low to the ground and he does drag his tail, now.
I don't know his weight because my scales batteries died, but he's about 26-28 months old, ish. Give or take, I don't know when he was born.
edit to add: He also sort of wobbles when he walks, and falls easily from low heights like the top of the house, from my ****s into my hands(like rolls face first into them), off the litter box, etc.
This was the other day. He has a lot of trouble getting up there, and usually falls off when he tries to climb down.
Went straight to here when I put him back in the cage after tonights intros.
Then after I took that picture, he (I was shocked) climbed slowly up to the top shelf and curled into the sputnick.
[youtube:1i371kl1]4jAD_As165o[/youtube:1i371kl1]
