Oh, the ratses...

[oyceter]

The ratses—I feel odd calling them "ratlings" now that they are extremely full-sized—have generally been doing well, and they are as large as my other full-grown rats have been, despite only being four or so months old. They have such fat squishy tummies! So good for kissing!

Haru I think has been a bit depressed since Ed died; he was much less active than Momo for a month and would just sit in corners and mope during play time. I was especially worried when it seemed like he was gaining weight slower than Momo or possibly losing weight. He seems okay now; I gave him a little bed that still smelled a bit of Ed, which confused him, but also made him much more amenable to grooming by me. Maybe the combination of the smell + grooming was what he needed? Anyway, he is much more affectionate now.

Unfortunately, I came home last night from craft circle to find litter scattered everywhere and two rats being uncharacteristically quiet. When I took them out to play, they both crouched in corners and didn't interact, and eventually, I found a ton of bloody scrapes on both of them. GIANT RAT FIGHT ARGH. Momo's belly had a particularly large cut, so much so that I could see the layer right underneath the skin, and I freaked and dragged him to the vet. So now he has bits of fur shaved off and looks rather pathetic. Thankfully, it was fixed with surgical adhesive. But then... I came home to find that Haru had a similarly large cut on HIS belly and ARGH. It was midnight, and I was tired, and it seemed like the injuries weren't too bad. So the poor guy had his treated with hydrogen peroxide.

He seems to be doing ok, and it looks like it's scabbing over without infection, thank goodness. But when I took him and Momo out to play this afternoon, they both scuttled about and avoided each other for hours, hunching down and acting nervous and generally afraid. Amusingly, they would alternately run to me for comfort or protection or something while the other one cowered in a corner somewhere. They have since progressed to wary sniffing at each other, and are now sleeping on top of each other in the usual rat pile.

Oh ratses...

(Also, now thinking more seriously of getting them neutered. I've had other boy rats who did fine not neutered, but this is the worst aftermath of a rat fight I've seen. Please to not be clawing your brother's belly open, the ratses!)

(Also also, the vet yesterday kept going "He's HUGE!" re: Momo. Eh. He is? But he seems happy and well-fed! And they keep acting like I am starving them, what! Also x 3 I was very pleased when the vet commented on how well-behaved Momo was, as he spent the entire stay either on my shoulder, in my arms, or unhappy but at least quiet while I held him down and the vet applied the surgical adhesive. I am all, "Oh good! I hope I am doing something right in raising them!")

Comments

[littlebutfierce]

Yikes re: rat fight!! I'm glad they seem all right. But scary!

[oyceter]

I KNOW! I was all "OMG WTF THEY ARE DYING HAAALLLPPP!!!" before I calmed down a bit to assess the actual damage. And now they are cuddled together like they were not sniffing around at each other like they were their worst enemies half an hour ago, gah.

[marina]

This entire entry is adorable.

[kore]

RAT FIGHT OH NO....aww, ratty pile, tho.

[(Anonymous)]

Gah! This was never something I seriously thought about when, after previously having had only girl rats, I got myself a couple boys. I'm so, so glad that they never got into bad fights. Although I did once see one of my boys pull the other one off my lap by the balls with his teeth - amazingly, he didn't break the skin, so I just ended up with a funny story to tell friends.

I hope your boys have gotten it all out of their systems and behave from now on.

-LG

[lovepeaceohana]

Oh wow, that must've been scary! I am glad to hear they are okay, though. Ratses, stop with the fighting!

[troisroyaumes]

I'm glad that Haru and Momo are okay! (Aww, it still makes me sniffle to think of Haru missing his big rat friend. ㅠㅠ)

[vass]

Unsolicited advice warning: could you try them on Tardak on them as a test to see if castration would help?

[jinian]

Poor little bad rats! The flying capybara is watching you now, so behave!

You could probably glue Haru's cut with super glue. It's basically the same as surgical adhesive, and I glue cuts in annoying places on my hands with it quite often.

[torachan]

N'awwwwww!

[badgerbag]

You are a good rat mama!!!

[oyceter]

^___^

[oyceter]

I was like "NO FIGHT! NO FIGHT!"

... and now they are play wrestling again...

[oyceter]

Yikes to the dragging the rat off by the balls! I am hoping my boys have been adequately traumatized by this to only go so far as to mock fight, but we will see...

[oyceter]

It was scary! I also just had a nightmare about Haru's wound getting infected, yuck =(.

[oyceter]

I know, poor the Haru!

Also wahaha Momo looks so pathetic with his little shaved areas of fur. >:D

[oyceter]

Oooo, I will definitely ask my vet about that! I am not really enthusiastic about castration, so any alternatives would be good.

[oyceter]

BEHAVE!

Oh, that is good to know! I was wondering if it were possible, since I heard it was developed as surgical adhesive, but didn't quite want to try it out.

[oyceter]

They are so cute except when they are being terrifyingly naughty!

[oyceter]

I really hope so!

[lady_ganesh]

Awww, babies. Socute.