Zeb Leaves Us

Sadly Zeb had to be helped to the bridge. He was 2 years 7 months old.

Zeb and his pal Nemo came to us from a private party that due to health problems had to rehome them. They were really well loved and even got to go back for a visit. Due to my busy schedule, we never did get to get together again with the boys.

For the last few days of his life, I had him living downstairs in a tote I set up just with him in mind. He didn't have the use of his back legs so everything, including the water bottle were put low. He also got cold easier so while the top had the window in it I hung a piece of fleece over it so it would diffuse air coming into the tub. There was also a small window on the side for air flow and to hang the water bottle.

Having 2 little guys go the same day is very hard. I'm so upset right now.

Rest in Peace little one.

Nemo Laid to Rest

Nemo, a gregarious little boy, was put to sleep this evening. He came to vermin village with his buddy Zeb. They are both about 2 and a half years old! Nemo loved treats and always greeted visitors at the cage door. He had slowed down quite a bit this past month and he was to the point this week he was unable to really get around at all. :( After monitoring him, it was decided he would be better playing at the bridge and able to eat as many treats as he wanted without losing his boyish figure.

Rest in peace little one.

Zeb and Nemo Life In Reverse

Zeb (left) and Nemo (right) on 04/06/2008. We went visiting their first rattie parent. She took this picture of them viewing life in reverse. After peeing on me and the couch and dropping rattie raisins everywhere, they conked out on the way home.

Neutering, Pictures, Zeb, Tweek, and Cage Arrangements

It has been very busy here. The room will be completely done and photos taken by mid February. I'm so excited. I'm taking 3 rats to get neutered on 2/6/2008 so they can live with some of my ladies. Sherman who is already here and 2 boys I will be picking up on Friday. 1 already had a pass here because he is from the same family as Sherman and Nona. The other two get a pass because they are up on the list for pet/breeder or food and it is a 5 week old pair, 1 boy and 1 girl. It is this third boy that will be neutered so he can continue to live with his current cage mate with the larger groups of rats.

Zeb had surgery to remove lumps from his body. Turns out the lumps were lumps of infection, e. coli, and something else. He has to take 3 weeks of two different kinds of antibiotics. Poor little guys.

Tweek, rejected snake food, has settled in with her two new roomies, Sprite and Ruthie. It is to this cage I will attempt to introduce Sherman, and the two new boys and the little girl to. The cage would then be expanded to a 4 level + a balcony cage. I will have 3 such cages set up. The freed up large deluxe cage will be used to house the 2 babies that have to live downstairs and the cage they are in will be sold to offset the cost of getting some of the babies fixed. (The cage is a different caging system I don't really care for.) The two baby ratties that are coming Friday also come in that same caging system, and that cage will be sold as it is unneeded and will be used to offset the cost of fixing the little boy.

Saturday I sold one of the "other" cages and used the proceeds to buy some supplies for the mice cages and the new gerbil cage. I made the mice real cages instead of that Critter Trail crap. They love it. I also made a more gerbil friendly one for the new gerbil we adopted at OHS. Poor little guy has had a hard life. So now he is having fun in his new home. Gerbils are VERY low maintenance pets and are fun to watch.

On Friday I hope to get a mini-fridge to keep medications in so that I don't have to keep going downstairs to get it and then bring it back down. I intend to bring one of my dressers in the room to use there as a place to weigh the little ones and sit the fridge on it.

Other than this, been busy at work and in class.

A brief update on the gang...

Well, I've been very bad about keeping up with this thing. Ruthie came through her surgery just fine. She is ready to be introduced to two other girls, Sprite and Tweek.

Right now, Sherman is on my shoulder, bruxing away. He is a single cage fellow. I've yet to find him a cage mate he will tolerate. I tried to introduce him and Tickle, but Tickle is too set in his ways. So they both live alone.

I found a lump on Zeb's abdomen. He has an appointment on Monday to get checked out. I'm hoping it is just a hernia and not a tumor. We shall find out.

Other than that, we might get a new gerbil tomorrow. Depends on if I can get around and make him a cage tonight. We do have room for a gerbil and he is NOT a socialized little guy so he would do okay here since I provide gerbils with sanctuary more than anything. I have a little girl named Cocoa. I provide lots of card board tubes, toys, a huge habitat, a sand bath, and fun stuff to dig through. Gerbils are low maintenance and very cool to watch.

I have to get back to cleaning, just wanted to pop a note on here.

Cheers!