All ready...

Today I went out and got a litter box, a "chube" and two little balls for the boys to play with. The balls have little bells in them. I'll see how they do with them. I may go back and get some balls that I can hang up in the cage, something else that's new and exciting for them to play with. The chube is this tube that is made from safe material that the rats can sleep in and chew on (hence the name chew + tube = chube). The litter box is just a cheap rectangular drawer organizer thing from Target. The sides are a little low, but I don't think I'll have to worry too much about them knocking stuff out of it. Plus, there won't be that much from them to knock out anyway. I now have everything I need.
All I need are the rats and the food. I won't worry about the food until I know when the ratties are born. That way, it won't go bad. I think I'll try to order it when they're about a week old, that way it gets here on time, and it will still be mostly fresh by the time they start eating it. I'm also planning on making a very (and I do mean very) modified version of Suebee's rat diet. It calls for alot of grains and other things. I'm just going to use two types of cold cereal (Cheerios and Total), oatmeal, and pasta (the tri-colored spiral kind). Plus tons of fresh fruits and veggies (probably grapes, broccoli, carrots, cucumber, tomatoes, all things I get for myself) and some dried fruits (prunes seem to be especially good for rats, so small amounts of those). I really can't wait!!

And the stress rises slightly...

Today was a little bit stressful. I went to my genetics seminar thinking that I understood the article I read. I left ffeling like I had no idea about the article or what information we would be using to build our argument. Plus, I have two tests at the end of next week, so I'm kind of frazzled. If only I had my little ratties now. I would play with them, and I would be so much happier. But I'll survive. Just relaxing tonight and not thinking about what work I have to do. I don't think I'll have much trouble with the tests, I just don't really like studying. I mean I do it and I do well at it, it just takes some time for me to get into studying. I have to be in the right mindset. At any rate, sometime in the next couple of weeks, my little boys should be conceived. From that time I have about 7 weeks before I can go and pick them up. I so can't wait!!

I feel like I was so much less stressed having Petey around. There was always some little critter just waiting for me to come home :) I know now that it wasn't good for Petey to be himself. However, I honestly didn't know any better because the place I got him didn't know any better. I've learned, hence my getting two ratties this time around instead of one. I've also learned that getting ratties from a breeder means that you know exactly how old they are when you bring them home. I honestly have no idea how old Petey was. I'm going to assume that he was over two years old since he was full grown when I bought him. At any rate, I'll know exactly how old my new babies are. My boyfriend and I are going to get the last of the stuff for the cage tomorrow, and then all I'll need to get is food.

I just get too excited about all this...

Almost Done...

So, I've finished the last of the covers. Now I have to get a couple more toys and a litterbox. I've decided that green and black are going to be the cage colors, and I'll try to keep everything coordinated to that ;) I've already done a pretty good job. The cage and wheel are both black and look like they were made for each other. The covers, food bowl, and water dispenser are all green. The hammock is black and white (with leopard print...) but still goes with the theme. Plus, the guys blocks are primary colors that blend with the green. I think I'll try to get a green litterbox, and then I'll be all set. It'll look so nice. It's also relatively easy to put together, so I should be able to assemble and disassemble it pretty easily. I think, for travel, I may break down the cage just because it'll be easier the carry the boys around in the smaller hamster cage. At any rate, all is well. I'll let you all know in the coming weeks when the babies are conceived, and then it's about three weeks until they are born!! I'm so excited!! The countdown has begun...

Holy Cow!

So I've been working on making the level covers for my cage. I decided to make a floor cover as well and just use the bedding in the litterbox in the hopes of being able to litter train the little guys. I've completed all the upper level covers, and I've completed one of the two floor covers. When I cut out the floor cover, I measured it to the size of the wire part thinking that it was the same size as the metal base. Unfortunately, the metal base is a little bit bigger, so I was worried that the floor cover would be too small. To determine if I had made a mistake, I decided to set up the entire cage. It was a little bit finicky, but I got it together. It's HUGE!! All the covers look really spiffy in the bright green. Plus, the floor cover does fit into the bottom perfectly. So all is well. I now only have the one floor cover to finish, get a litterbox and some more toys, and I'll be all set for the ratties. I've decided on their names (finally). They will be named Rex and Cody.
Had a nice relaxing weekend away from campus. Now it's back to classes and work, but at least break is coming up soon!!
Here are some pictures of the cage:

I'm so ready now...

The wheel arrived this afternoon. So here's the list of rat supplies I have thus far:
1. cage
2. 16 oz. water bottle
3. 8 oz. water bottle
4. hammock
5. igloo
6. small food bowl
7. large food bowl
8. wheel
9. wooden chewing blocks
10. wash clothes (to be snuggle blankets)
11. bedding
I've decided to line the whole cage with fleece for easier clean-up and to just put the bedding in the litter box because I'm really going to try to litter train these guys. It will make cage cleaning a lot easier, I think. Now, I need to get food (which I'll wait until April to get) and some more toys. I'll also get treats, but again, those can wait until April when it's closer to the boys arrival. My big project now is to work on the fleece covers for all the levels. This should be interesting since I don't have a sewing machine which would make things a lot easier. However, maybe having to hand sew it will take up enough of my time so that I'm not anxiously waiting by my computer. There really is no point in doing that right now seeing as my boys haven't even been conceived yet. I think I'm going to get them a couple of wooden balls to play with if I can find some. I think that would be a lot of fun. Not much else going on right now. All the presents have pretty much arrived, so now it's down to counting down the days...this should be interesting.

Everything's falling in place...

So the cage arrived yesterday, and today, the hammock arrived. It really is cute. It's leopard print which I think is a whole lot better than zebra print. Austin thinks my babies are going to be spoiled rotten, and he's probably right ;) The wheel left the warehouse tonight, so it should be here either tomorrow or Friday. I can't wait. I emailed Keith Worstell, who runs the Carolina Blue Rattery, and I am all set up to adopt two of the male rats from Sphinx's litter. Keith said he would email me as soon as the pups are born, and then it's only 4 weeks until I can go and pick them up. I've decided to wait on setting the cage up. I'm going to take the levels home for Spring Break and see if my mom can help me fashion some covers for them. I'd like to use something washable, and also to make two sets for each level. That way I can wash them between cleanings. That will also help when it comes to cage cleaning because then I won't actually have to wash the wire mesh protion of the cage which was a headache with Petey's cage. Also, being able to remove the wheel will be amazing as well. So much easier to clean and everything. I feel like I'm sitting on pins and needles right now, just waiting to hear. It's a relief to know that I will be able to get two rats from Sphinx's litter though. I was worried I hadn't submitted the adoption form early enough or that I didn't have enough information. Oh, and if my parents still have our old hamster cage, I'm going to use it as a travel cage as well as somewhere I can put the boys while I'm cleaning their cage. I think it will make it a lot less stressful when I'm cleaning because the boys won't be running free without supervision. I'm still concerned about Rambo, my parents Siamese cat. His hunting skills will be pretty sharp, and I don't want him to accidently hurt one of the boys. Oh well, I have other things to deal with now, that's further on down the road...

It's Here!!!!!

The Rat Manor arrived today!!!! It shipped yesterday from Georgia, and now it's in my room. Lugging it across campus was fun. Should be interesting to see how I do the first time I have to load it in my car...I definitely think I'm going to take the small hamster cage (if we still have it) and use it as a travel cage. I think that should make things a little bit easier. I got a couple of funny looks. The first from the guy at the package center. I'm glad he didn't ask any questions. Then the second look came from a girl who had to do a double take to see what I was holding. She looked a little bit scared. Ah well, as long as I don't get reported. At any rate, I think I should wait to set it up, that way I don't get myself too excited. I may take a peek at the instructions though...you know, get a feel for how difficult the assembly will be ;)

They Shipped!!

I woke up this morning to find an email saying that the hammock and the rat cage are shipping from Georgia so hopefully I'll have those by the end of the week. The wheel is on backorder, but that's fine because I have plenty of time before I get the new ratties anyway. I'm just excited about getting the cage in and set up. I've talked to someone who is willing to buy Petey's cage. I'm so excited because I know she'll get a lot of use out of it. She currently has 4 boys, but is now getting 3 girls and another boy. Plus, she may be getting a couple of girls from the same litter I'm hoping to get a couple of boys from. She's thinking about starting her own breeding line/rattery, but will have to wait until she can be trained by the guy that owns the Carolina Blue Rattery where I am getting my two boys. I'm so excited. I was bursting when I found out she wanted the cage because I really wanted it to go to someone who would use it a lot, and someone who knows how to take care of rats properly. Again...bursting at the seams
Except having a neuro test today is a bit of a downer. There is so much information to learn. I'm a little bit anxious because I don't really know what to expect. I'm trying really hard to study, but I keep getting sidetracked. Plus, I never really got senioritis in high school until after APs, but at that point it didn't matter because I didn't have any work to do as it was. At any rate, it's coming in waves right now. Sometimes I'll be really productive and other times I just won't care at all. Not really a great way to be. I'll get through it though.
I can't wait to get the cage here and set up. Will take pictures (though it will be empty for a little while)

I got it!!

I did it. I went ahead and bought the Rat Manor from Petco.com. I also got an 11" exercise wheel and a hammock. I milked the online sale and free shipping for all it was worth. I'm so excited. I've also been looking at names. I know, I know. I don't even know what they are going to look like, but it's so much fun. I have a list of 10 names but am sort of leaning toward a few of the names. Here's the list:
1. Cody
2. Diego
3. Trevor
4. Gregory
5. Charlie
6. Talon
7. Jett
8. Nico
9. Rudy
10. Rex
I'm kind of leaning toward Diego and Rex right now. I hope to get a rex coat rat, in which case, his name will be Rex. I thought that would be really cute. I'm posting a picture of what the cage will look like once I get it assembled and everything. Hopefully I have enough skills to get the thing put together ;)

photo courtesy of petco.com

Long time...Not Here

So, I don't know if I ever mentioned it, but for the past year and a half, I have been the proud mother to a darling rat named Petey. He was a brown hooded rat, and the sweetest boy ever. Unfortunately, he passed away last weekend. I was devastated, but I am getting through. I finally got to the point where I could clean out his cage and ready it for selling. So...if anyone needs a rat cage, it's posted on eBay (shameless advertising)...
Anyway, so the reason I'm trying to sell the cage is because I need to expand. I've become a rat crazy. I also learned (too late) that rats much prefer to be kept in at least same sex pairs. Petey's cage is just not big enough for two males to be comfortable in. So I need an up-grade. I'm looking at Petco's Rat Manor, though I have to make sure the cage can actually fit in the back of my car *fingers-crossed*. It would be perfect.
I'm planning on getting two males from the Carolina Blue Rattery. Hopefully they will be rex coat, and hopefully at least one of them will be Himalayan. They are absolutely adorable. The crossing for the litter I want will occur hopefully sometime in March. The pups should be born about the first week of April, and by mid-April, I should know which babies will be mine :D I'm so excited.
Now I have to get everything ready for them. I've picked out the cage, new exercise wheel, and hammock for the babies. I know what kind of food they'll be eating and where I'll be ordering it from. The only thing left is to get it all and pick out names. I have a list now, but haven't decided on any one name. Again, I'll keep you all posted.
So, yeah, I've gone off the deep-end perhaps, but they are so much fun to have around, and they are just so loving and friendly. Who wouldn't want a little furry animal that is easy to maintain and just as loving and loyal as any dog??
Here's a picture of Petey:

I know, I know. It's been almost a year since I last posted. Life got crazy. Medical school applications and interviews and teaching all got in the way. BUT...I'm going to try to be a more regular blogger.