WOW that did sound rash...anyone who read my intros post, please read.

[Joe]

   One thing I love about writing stuff. Written words typically are very difficult to convey emotion through, and, therefore, sometimes what we write doesn't quite turn out like we want it to. I'm going to be very careful about how I word this post to make sure it doesn't sound like the last one. I sounded like an irresponsible 13 year old in the last one...almost couldn't believe I said some of that stuff, since it wasn't what I was trying to say.
  Anyway, here's what I think. How the rats were kept at the place my brother got them from, there was some serious inbreeding going on. They don't take new lines in, and so there would undoubtably be problems with some at some point. Tag died of some disease, that much I'm sure of. He was never healthy from the start. Tag, I'm beginning to believe, was having problems due to bad breeding. He had a few physical problems too (back feet too far out from his body, walked crooked, crooked tail, etc), which lead me to believe this even more.
  Cluney in no way has shown signs of being sick. He was sneezy the first day or so due to having been moved, but that was the only reason. His only noticeable problem now is pretty severe depression.
  Let's say for the sake of the argument that what my brother's two rats died of is, in fact, contagious. My rats had at one point been exposed to one of his long enough that it would have taken an act of God to keep them from catching it. They've also been in contact with clothing that the other three had been on.
  I am in a rush to get Cluney in with my rats, but am level-headed enough to control that urge. It comes from my still feeling like I could have done more for Tag and Nimbalo, and in so doing would have left Cluney with a friend. So I feel somewhat responsible for him being alone. I'm definately going to hold of putting him in with mine, because it would be too stressful for him. Not only has he just lost his only two friends he had left, but also he would be introduced to new rats, and a new environment, which has already shown to make him sneezy from stress (when my brother first brought him home).
  Hopefully I've done a better job of stating myself in this post than the last. I'm sure upon reading this after I post, I'll find something and have to come back and correct it, so check back frequently.  

[Yresim]

I had some mouse babies that were forced on me once (it was me or death, I think I chose correctly).  I carefully raised them the best I knew how.  One of them had problems from the moment I got them.  He was the runt of the litter, so I was not altogether shocked.  I still did my best to keep him alive along with the others.

When he died, I was really frustrated.  I'd done my best with him, and I'd never had an animal I was hand-raising die before.  

I decided to do an autopsy.  What I found was truly frightening.  This mouse was quite possibly the most deformed thing I've ever seen.  No wonder he died!  I'm actually suprised he lived that long.  If you'd like a list of his deformities, I will give them to you.

On another note, he probably would have died anyway.  The other three babies died several days later during a car crash (no one was hurt but them).  I have successfully hand-raised many animals, both before and since, and these were the only ones that died in my care.

[Louise]

Joe, try not to feel bad.  I understand that you are trying to do the right thing.  You must have a very big heart to have stayed with Tag the way you did.  I read your other post, but didn't reply, it seemed like everyone was saying the same thing.  

From everything you have said (and I'm no expert), I would say that the chances are your ratties have been exposed to whatever Tag and the other rattie that died had.  If they are not showing any symptoms obviously that's a good thing )

I'm still trying to understand the rat health thing, it seems like some have much stronger constitutions than others.

I think you are doing the right thing in keeping Cluney on his own for at least a couple of weeks.  I'm sure he's not going to lack for attention having you around!  It's better to be safe than sorry, especially because you don't really know what killed the other two. -And you'll know that you have done everything that you could!

I'm curious as to how old your brother is?  You sound like you feel a lot of responsibility toward his rats, is he not able to care for them very well himself?

I would just like to say that you sound like a responsible and very caring rat owner and I wish you lots of luck with Cluney and your ratties when you do introduce them.  Please keep us posted!

[Jodi]

Joe, you constantly, continually impress the hell out of me.   What an amazingly mature, caring, thoughtful young man you are! I only wish all young people could demonstrate even half the intelligence, fairness, compassion, and integrity that you have demonstrated in your posts on these boards time and time again. There are other people who visit these boards who could learn an awful lot from you.

I wish you, your ratties (including lucky little Cluney, who will most assuredly be better off with you than anywhere else he might have ended up), and your family the very best, now and always.  

[amymckee]

I think your brother's rats must have had other problems from the start. My first two rats came from the same feeder tank. One was very weak, and died after two months of constant medication. She never got much bigger. The other one is the healthiest rat I have. She is huge, and very athletic. Both rats were sick at the same time, but this one fought, and got through the sickness. My point is, even if all the rats were exposed, that doesnt mean that they will all be affected seriously. Your brother's rats must have had other health problems. Even with poor care, they should not have died so quickly. I think your rats will be ok. I would keep an eye on Cluney, though.

[Joe]

   My brother's fourteen, and I think rats are just too small for him to be able to figure out what to do with. Like I already said in another post. He does fine with the family rabbit, and probably would with guinea pigs.