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I found a baby...something [rat?]. Help! (Update: Despite best efforts, now passed away)
- Thread starter Buttzerker
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We still don't know what Powerhouse is, so getting a rat sibling for what might turn out to be a squirrel doesn't sound like the best of ideas. It's a bit sad, but the other outcome for him was death, so he'll have to make due.
Terrible idea. Once this hippo gets bigger, he would crush any rat friends.
Obsessed with getting under that blanket.
"I don't have to listen to you, syringe! You're not my real mom!"
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Yup, that's a rat...his tail grew a lot since he reemerged from the blanket....Also, this is really amazing! Good job OP, you're a good soul.
Actually, this is normal behavior for mammals (though generalized from apes and monkeys), where they will pick the feel of something nice and furry to a heater with milk attached.
Ideally that syringe would have a bit of cloth over it to give it access to the full feeling of warm and furry it's looking for, but I'm not sure how one would do that, nor if it's wise and safe to do so.
Then again, I would not go through this kind of effort just to save a rat, if that's what it is. I hope it turns out not to be one, but the nail growth does seem to correlate with earlier picture charts in this thread.
This. Rats (domesticated ones) are awesome... I'm not sure if you can truly domesticate a wild one however... This is a big reason why I wouldn't recommend 'getting him a buddy' even when he's bigger. Domesticated and wild may be different enough that they won't co-habitate nicely and rodents can be very brutal to cage mates (literally biting off limbs and making their companions bleed to death)
I did say "assuming a wild rat can be caged with a domesticated one without ripping it to pieces or something".
I wasn't trying to imply that you did. Just kind of adding to the chorus that I don't think it'd be a good idea.
Yeah come on OP, keep your hairiest finger in there to keep him company.
It makes me think of stories of neglected kids in orphanages who were left alone and grew up fucked up because of it. Wonder how it shapes this lil guy.
This is so cute. You are a sweetheart for doing this, OP
I am pretty sure it is a squirrel. I raised two eons ago and they pretty much looked like this little guy.
I am pretty sure it is a squirrel. I raised two eons ago and they pretty much looked like this little guy.
Nah a lot of rodents (especially wild ones and older rescue pets) actually suffer more if introduced to other strangers. I've had a degu that never got along with other degus but loved humans. My friend had the same experience with a wild rabbit. Both lived for ages and very spirited and would flip their shit into rage mode if introduced to anything their size. Many rodents & small mammals are very territorial and aggressive, if you tried to introduce it into a new family it'd probably get eaten. It'll be fine with enough human attention and toys. When it grows up you can make it a proper play area really cheaply by making climbables and hammocks out of wooden sticks and old clothes. Having physical and mental stimulus is more important than being with its kind.
They can be A Parking Lot Pair!
I know PH was a Gas Station but still.
Technically, we are its kind. Distant cousins and all. we're just really big rats as far as it's concerned :)
I'm following this thread to see what Powerhouse species is so that I can nickname the proper Pokémon in one of my play throughs Powerhouse.
Pull apart some cotton pads, and use them to create a more snug and secure bedding, to keep its temperature, and without chaffing its delicate skin. It might also be calming to it.
If you don't have cotton pads at home, you can use high quality soft-ply tissue/kitchen roll/fancy toilet-paper.
It's unlikely that it will survive, and it's an odd thing to care for (all things considered).
But generally, tiny creatures like these need warmth, a soft environment, dim light exposure, and modern mammal milk-substitute.
Good luck, I suppose.
If you don't have cotton pads at home, you can use high quality soft-ply tissue/kitchen roll/fancy toilet-paper.
It's unlikely that it will survive, and it's an odd thing to care for (all things considered).
But generally, tiny creatures like these need warmth, a soft environment, dim light exposure, and modern mammal milk-substitute.
Good luck, I suppose.
Step one: Acquire rat.
Step two: Create a new comic book series.
Step three: Save the world.
Good luck OP ;)
Now here's a reference.
My wife worked at a farm park and brought home a young wild rat that had been caught in a humane trap who's fate was to be killed, frozen and fed to a snake. It took a few months, but that little dude became just as tame as a domesticated rat to us... yeah, he would attack our friends and the vet if they put their hand near him, but he lived happily in the same cage as two domesticated rats.
Most of our rats always ended up with respiratory problems though that would eventually lead to them being euthanized. It's the only reason we don't keep them any more, they don't live for that long and it's heartbreaking.
You're 3 days late to pull the "unlikely to survive" card. The thing has nearly tripled in size already and is very active... It's also on a heated blanket, it's getting plenty of warmth.
Read the room dude, everyone is happy and excited for this little guy and what a great job OP is doing.
Congrats on being a good soul OP, i wish the lil' guy pulls through... i know he will. Following to find out what he turns out to be!
Posts like these and twitch chat are pretty sobering insight into the general social prowess of your average human male.
I grew up on a farm. I've cared for tiny things, but also had to kill tiny little things like these after house-cats had been through them after hours of torment to end their suffering. It might affect how I talk about these things, and the lens through which I see this particular example.
I feel like I gave appropriate feedback/tips given what I saw from the webcam (it wriggling around, and perhaps needing soft cushioning that mimics the proximity of a mother).
I don't want to argue with strangers online about this. It's ultimately not important.
Cheers, have a beautiful evening.
Man, I did not like you in The Da Vinci Code and i am not liking you now.
Powerhouse is growing stronger every day. The little guy will survive.
The OP had posted more than once that he is fully aware of what may happen and has asked people to refrain from telling him the odds of the baby's survival. Is it really so hard to simply respect his wishes while he sacrifices his time and resources to try and save its life?
Could Powerhouse be a beaver?
Pretty sure there are no beavers in Texas.
OP
OP
Out for fifteen minutes and riddled with anxiety cuz he crawled off camera
I THINK im a parent now
I THINK im a parent now
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