I wouldn't mind paying that!  At least I have a little time to call around and research out a new vet.  I definitely don't have a problem spending money on my little ones, but when I know the same procedure can be done for a lot less, I feel like I'm just wasting money - and that I can't stand.

Heh, and ratties, that's pretty much how we're looking at it.  There was a reason they came here and it was a small litter that we do technically have room for even though it wasn't planned. 

And boy am I loving watching these little ones grow!  I've always been jealous of the baby threads on here and someday wanted to try and foster a pregnant momma, but who knows how far into the future that would have ending up being.  Just watching the mom interacting with the little ones makes me smile. 

I put Marshmallow and her 11 babies in the Rat Manor once their eyes opened.  The babies pretty much stuck around in the bottom and Marshmallow hid out up top until they were able to chase her   No problems with the little feets and legs   It is soooo cute watching them climb around like the big guys!

They are sooo beautiful!!  Lucky Hooman!   

I am going to be moving my wee ones into a wire level cage too this weekend.  But I am going to use stickdown lino tile to cover the wires (top half of an ALT) and the opening to the lower levels for now.  They will have more room to explore in, although Momma Sweetie will be losing her loft which I am sure she'll not like LOL

I am also going to need to pick up a tiny hamster waterbottle, for the babies to learn on.

I was just thinking about that this morning when I walked by their cage!  At first I thought I should lower it so they could reach, but then I was thinking it might be too large for their little mouths.  Wouldn't want to drown the poor things!  Guess I'm off to pick up a small one too.

And just in case anyone was wondering, I did my calls to all the vets in the area that I could find for exotics.  The funniest part was that any that didn't treat rats or just didn't do surgeries automatically recommended me to Wrights - my current vet.    Like I said, they're the best in the area.  Oh, I also loved the ones that had to ask their vets if they even treated rats...and then did.  Nope, sorry, not enough experience in my mind if your own receptionist doesn't know if you treat them.

I did get 4 new estimates though out of calling about 10-12 places.

#1 was $330
#2 was $183 + $42 pre-exam (the same price of their cat spay, I was informed) between 3 and 6 months of age because they can reproduce quickly (?? - That came directly from the vet in the background while I was talking to the receptionist so I informed him that yes, they definitely can and I have to separate the brother at 5 WEEKS due to that fact...)
#3 was $170-$180 at 4 months of age
#4 was $70 at 3 months

#4 might be our winner, but I'm going to really need to check this place out first since that is a BIG jump down from the others in the area.  It's Harmony Animal Hospital in Phillipsburg, NJ.  If anyone knows anything about this place - good or bad - please PM me.  I'm going to take one of my girls in for a check-up just to get a feel for the place and the vets before I make any decisions.

Oh, and Jodie - I called your vet and they don't do neuters.  Just so you know in case you ever wanted to get one for one of your boys. 

Now I know it's been awhile, but I finally have a picture update!  The little ones are about 3 weeks old now and cute as can be!!  Curls everywhere!  They are so active and annoy the poop out of their mom.  I had them all out last night and she just kept trying to escape by jumping onto a kitchen chair and onto the floor.  She's had it with the little monkeys!    

We now have names and ways to tell them all apart!!!!!  We were going to go with a theme, but for some reason that went right out the window and random names were chosen.

Gir - the lone boy. He is definitely the wuss and mommas boy of the group!


Alexis - Named by my other half.  Not really sure why he picked that name.  She's the least curly of them all with mostly straight whiskers.  I think I'd consider her more of a velveteen or 'bad rex'    She's the most social of the four - already a boob diver and shoulder rider. 


Annabelle & Isabelle (Izzy) - the 'true' twins.  They are exactly alike EXCEPT for a small white spot on Annabelle's chest.  So, basically I have no clue who's who in any of their pictures unless I pick them up.  Izzy is the protector of the others.  I noticed that when I put mom back for just baby play time and I was annoying them with the flashy thing, she tried to pull her sister into a hut to protect her - even though she didn't want protecting. 



Random cuteness







Oh, yeah, sorry Mandcoot, but the corner cube I received for donating has been slaughtered by Evie already for the sake of her babies' comfort.  I figured they'd love it as a nest and filled it with tons of fleece scraps hoping she'd leave the actual cube alone.  Instead, the first night she 'politely' informed me what she thought of that idea and threw the fleece scraps into her baby food/pediasure dish and then proceed to alter the cube as she saw fit. 







Oh, and random genetics question for all your breeders.  Mom is standard ear, standard fur american blaze.  Any clue what dad would have had to be to have all of the offspring be rex with 3 russian blues, 1 american?  I understand genetics, I just don't know rat genetics and am curious.

With such a small litter it's hard to say for sure, but from what the babies are he may have been a russian blue double rex.  The little boy still looks russian blue to me - some may pop up that are a little bit lighter but not necessarily american blue.

How far is Fredon NJ from you?  A friend of mine had her boy neutered there and it was $80 (50 for neuter, I think 30 for pre-exam) at 8-10 weeks and everything went well.
http://fredonanimalhospital.com/