I almost lost Ozzy - twice now!

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Jack Sparrow

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 30, 2007
Messages
2,352
Location
On the Black Pearl in Ottawa Canada
I am in the process of introducing Sweeney, Ozzy and Sirius to Savvy and Davy Jones.

I put the 5 rats together in the cage they will soon be sharing and let them together for a few hours every day.

Yesteday I took Sweeney out of that cage and played with him on the kitchen floor. I don't remember if I close the door of the FN or not. I put Sweeney back in the cage and closed the door.

When it was time to move the rats back to their old cage, I noticed I was missing one of the black babies. I quickly look around the house but I didn't see him.

After about 25 minutes of total panick, I saw Ozzy hiding in a small space between the fridge and the kitchen wall. I looked terrified. I tried to call him but he was too afraid to come out of there.

Finally I put some cherios on the floor. Ozzy quickly came out to take some cereals so I could catch him and put him back in his cage with his 2 brothers. Poor little boy really looked upset about the whole situation.
 
That's happened to me before. Talk about tearing the whole house apart. lol
Glad you found him! He's keeping you on your toes. :lol:
 
He didn't have time to go too far. Maybe he went through the FN bars as he is still small.

This is why I would never have my girls in a FN as long as I have boys and girls. I would not want to take that risk.

The girls are in a cage made especially for rats that I bought in Montreal and the bars are really close so no risk for them to escape or a small boy to enter the cage. That cage is also perfect for babies. I have 2 of those cages.

Poor little Ozzy was so terrified when I found him between the fridge and the wall. But as soon as I put him back in his cage (also a real rat cage), he looked very happy to see his 2 brothers.
 
This morning, I put the 5 boys in the bottom FN nation again as I want them to spend more time together. Things are going well and I think Savvy and Davy enjoy Sweeney, Sirius and Ozzy.

Just as I was cooking my lunch, something was tickling me on the toes. I looked and it was Ozzy smelling me. He looked terrified again.

The doors were closed so I know now that Ozzy can go through the bars and escape. Sirius is about the same size so he can do it too even if he didn't try.

The little boys are not ready to go in such a big cage and I will have to wait at least another month before moving them.

Poor little Ozzy is back in his cage with his 2 brothers. I spent some time with him too to reassure him.
 
I've lost rats so many times it's kind of old hat around here and I don't worry about it too much anymore.

I did have one incident early in my rat life where I was playing with a bunch of babies on the couch and when it was time to go home the head count said I was missing one. We searched high and low and couldn't find him. Even the next morning - nothing! Seeings as how I have 3 cats I figured he had become a snack and felt terrible! Like a murderer! Later that night I'm sitting on the couch and who pops up from between the cushions but my missing baby! He was so small he had managed to cram himself into some crevice that we didn't stick our hand into and didn't come out until he was good and ready. :roll:

I guess I should mention that we always find the missing punk sooner or later!! :lol:
 
SQ said:
Felt I should mention that rats can get pregnant through the cage bars.

Oops!!! I will find out in 3 weeks. But I don't think Ozzy was attracted by the ladies as he looked so terrified in both occasions. The bars of that cage are also very close so I don't think Ozzy and one lady would try anything.

If I have 35 new rats in 3 weeks, I will certainly post about it and we might want to start placing them too. I would keep a few but I don't think I could keep them all. LOL!!!!!!!!!
 
:threadjacked:

SQ said:
Felt I should mention that rats can get pregnant through the cage bars.

I have to voice my opinion on this... I don't believe this statement is true. I know many people have used this excuse but I don't buy it. A female rat can only be "entered" with her arching her back downwards and lifting her back end up. Lordosis is triggered when the male mounts her. The penis, although quite long cannot enter the female without the male doing a full mount.
 
Jack Sparrow said:
If I have 35 new rats in 3 weeks, I will certainly post about it and we might want to start placing them too. I would keep a few but I don't think I could keep them all. LOL!!!!!!!!!
Don't Lol about that! There's too many unwanted being killed cause they're homeless as it is. You've been around too long to blame it on not knowing any better. Come on Jack, you're kidding, right?
 
Of course I was being sarcastic about the whole situation.

I strongly believe that my females are 100% safe as they are in a rat cage with bars that are less than 1 cm apart. This is the main reason why I will NEVER have females in a cage that is not meant to be a rat cage.

Unfortunately, rat cages are impossible to find in Ottawa. I travelled to Montreal to buy them. They cost me a fortune as they have bars like a mouse cage but the size of the cage is large enough for rats.

My females and my 3 babies are all in these cages. The only time the 3 babies spent in the FN with Savvy and Davy was when I was at home and for about one hour a day. If Ozzy went near the females, it was impossible for him to enter that cage and even to do anything through the bars as they are too close for the rats to try anything.

I truly don't believe that a female rat can get pregnant through the bars, this is impossible.
 


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