The Quick Question Thread

[itsybitsyskitzy]

Pic example they had on the site

 

[dspch911]

She does look quite silky but it looks like a normal coat. I thought the silky rats had longer fur?

They looked normal to me too. Our Axe is still as soft as he was as a baby!! :cloud9:

 

[jorats]

I suppose it's possible.

 

[SterlingRats0408]

I have someone requesting if I can board her rats while she Is seeking medical care...what would be a fair price to charge for boarding? She insists on paying but I haven't ever charged for anything. Anyone done this? What would be fair for 2 girls?

 

[Velo]

I have someone requesting if I can board her rats while she Is seeking medical care...what would be a fair price to charge for boarding? She insists on paying but I haven't ever charged for anything. Anyone done this? What would be fair for 2 girls?

I'd probably do a daily rate based on an hourly wage. How many hour(s) a day are you spending directly working on/with them (getting them food, cleaning, etc) and then assign an hourly wage. If you're being favorable just do whatever minimum wage is. If not, whatever you think an hour of your time is worth.
I did a quick search, it looks like the standard small animal boarding price is 20-25 USD per pet per day. Don't forget to account for any consumables you may have to use: fresh fruit/veggies, cleaning supplies, fleece/bedding, etc. ^_^

 

[SterlingRats0408]

Thank you so much. She says she'll fund any necessities I just have to execute the care taking. Probably a few hours a day as my guys are on a routine of hand fed. Morning snack and a food fill....then play and/or cleaning in the afternoon/evening...fresh veggies and water are handed out after and good night kisses! So maybe $15/day

 

[Zephye]

So, I'm rat sitting for a friend right now and her rats nails are pretty long in the sense that they're curling into his foot. I noticed on his back inner toe that there's a double nail? Like one nail growing on top of another? S: Is this normal? (I've never seen it on my ratties before but I've never had their nails this long) It's on both back feet not the front, and the top one has grown to a length where it's curled but the bottom one just juts out. I was forgot to take a picture before trimming his nails though >_<

 

[Joanne]

I find my old rats that have mobility problems will have overgrown nails. Trimming once in a while is usually necessary. Dunno about the double nail though - go figure.

 

[Zephye]

Not sure if he has mobility problems, his cage is very tiny :c so I'm sure he doesn't get much space to walk around. Right now while he's staying with me he's in a cage twice as big. He's only about a year and 7 months I would think. It's only the two side nails on his back feet that were super over grown the 3 middle ones were growing normally and didn't curl.

 

[Zephye]

Also, the rat I'm caring for barely gets out time in his regular house. He feels like a water balloon, he only eats parrot seed mix with a ton of sunflower seeds in his house. (He's currently on oxbow right now while he's staying with me). Does he feel like this because he basically has no muscle mass? When touch him I can barely feel anything as opposed to my rats who are pretty solid and don't have butter rolls. If so, what's the best way to maybe make him a bit better in the 5 days I get to care for him? He also seems to have difficulty jumping easy ledges but that may be because he's never really done it before.

 

[Sheldon]

Oh that is making me so sad. Does he live alone too?

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[Zephye]

:c Yes, he's a lone rat. My friend has expressed want of another rat but fears that the rat is too 'old' to be intro'd with a ratty pal. That and the cage is not suitable for even one rat let alone two. I've tried to reason with my friend but it's basically like beating a dead horse, I can only hope to give this ratty the best 5 days of his life.

 

[dspch911]

Also, the rat I'm caring for barely gets out time in his regular house. He feels like a water balloon, he only eats parrot seed mix with a ton of sunflower seeds in his house. (He's currently on oxbow right now while he's staying with me). Does he feel like this because he basically has no muscle mass? When touch him I can barely feel anything as opposed to my rats who are pretty solid and don't have butter rolls. If so, what's the best way to maybe make him a bit better in the 5 days I get to care for him? He also seems to have difficulty jumping easy ledges but that may be because he's never really done it before.

Oh, I'm sorry he got out and I cannot find him.... :happydance: as you over look the new addition to your cage!

 

[Zephye]

Oh, I'm sorry he got out and I cannot find him.... :happydance: as you over look the new addition to your cage!

Oh what I would give to keep him! I've offered many times that I'm willing to take him in if my friend feels as though they can't care for him any more but they insist they love him too much so not much in the sense of arguing there. My other rats seem to be okay with his presence too :c *sighs*

 

[Sheldon]

Maybe you can point out how happy he is now?

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[Zephye]

My friend is pretty stubborn :c I'm trying to post lots of pictures of how happy the rat is right now. Maybe they'll change their minds but they are adamant they know what's best for their rat and it's their 'baby' that they love.

 

[SterlingRats0408]

And maybe that if she is so in love, treating his health this way is not a way to show it...parrot mix is just as expensive if not more then even a similar seed mix for rats! And to go find another old cage she can make a second story for him and give him more exercise!
"Would you keep a dog in a kennel 24/7 feeding it cheap cat food letting it get fat and sick?"
"No that would obviously be wrong"
Most people see that...its the same for that rat!

 

[Zephye]

I've seem to convince my friend on oxbow as my local rescue sells it for cheaper than the parrot seed mix they buy. Also the rat loves oxbow! He won't even look at a sunflower seed now. xD I'm also picking up a cage for my friend that's 28' Long x 18' Wide x 16' High after convincing her that a larger cage would be much better (that and the price is only 20$ and I'm the one going to go pick it up). I'm a little happier that if I can't give the rat myself a better life that I can somehow at least better his life a little bit from a far.

The cage that was he kept in was 14" long x 8" wide and 9" high.

 

[Sheldon]

At least you are able to do something.

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[SterlingRats0408]

That's awesome of you to do what you cab Zephye!
Now just to convince her to get him a buddy!
Great job! Good luck