Well, my brother has two new rats...

[Joe]

   Well, we took the hamsters back to the pet store after having them all of one day. They're gonna have problems soon...the guy who put them back in the tank was positive they were female. I'm pretty sure from what I've seen of hamsters that females don't have the distinction males do...so there's now two male hamsters in a tank with about twelve females  
  He got one PEW, and one blue-beige self. Both very cute rats. Can't remember what he named them.
  Well, he got them quarantined down stairs and in the kitchen (which is the farthest from our rooms they could be). I would have prefered a friend's house (she's willing to) for quarantine, but my parents said no. I'm beginning to think maybe me having rats wasn't the best idea, since their recklessness has put mine in danger many a time in two two and a half weeks I've had them...

[Idarat]

Joe, thats rough.  Could you put YOUR rats at the friends house?  A very suboptimal choice, but you know...
Good luck

How old is your brother, BTW?

[Kristen]

Why did your brother return the hamsters in the first place?

[Joe]

   He's 14.
  He returned them because they're too loud at night. I pointed out to him that two of the three rats he had were too sick to play much in their R-690, but healthy ones would drive him crazy.
  Once again, he didn't listen. Oh well. He'll regret it eventually, being the light sleeper he is, and all...

[Anna]

Wow, your parents really don't get it, do they?

[Joe]

Wow, your parents really don't get it, do they?

  It's not my parents not getting it, it's my brother not getting it, and my parents being willing to let him do what he wants with these animals.

[Anna]

Still, at 14 they should be the ones making the decision about him being able to care for animals.
Sorry if the last post sounded crabby, I didn't mean for it to, it just came out the wrong way.
What I really meant was that perhaps they should decided that your brother isn't ready to have his own pets. I know they were reticent about letting you get rats, but it seems giving him a free rein really undermines your struggle to get pets and be a good ratty parent.
Again, sorry if I sound/sounded like I was pointing fingers.
Anna

[Raven Paw]

Poor hamsters.    This upsets me.  I wish your brother and your parents would be more responsible.

[Aileen]

Joe, I'm afraid I agree with what Anna says.  I can't believe your parents are letting your brother get away with this.

I'm just really pleased that you seem so responsible and thank goodness you are there to make sure that your brother's pets are cared for - although you really shouldn't have to!!

I hope your ratties are well - they're so lucky to have such a super dad

Aileen
and Lilith and Phoebe Ratson

[Chic 2000]

Well, I hope these rats will fair better than the last ones.  Feel bad about the hamsters to.  Pet store people are so nieve it makes me sick.  The easiest solution I've found for noisy, squeeky excersise wheels is a bit of hot pepper vegetable oil on the parts that hold the wheel and it spins on.  Keeps the squeek away and won't harm the animals if they try to lick it.  Besides, it's Hot pepper and they learn that it tastes bad quickly.  Thats what I use on the wheel in the my rat cage.

But that's to late I quess.  Why won't your brother concentrate on the bunny?  The bunny needs love too.  Well, I hope these ones will be healthy and live.  I also hope that your parents see how responsible you are through all of this.  There are many partents of teenagers on this board who propably wish their teens where are level minded  and responsible as you are.  That's hard to cme by in those teen years.  The woman I work with is always complaining about her 15 and 19 year olds.  She says they have no sense of responsibility or intention of growing up.  You just amaze alot of people here.  

You could alway go live with your friend?  But he/she probably has parents to.  Hey, only 2 more years till 20.  Then you'll be finished with school and get a good job and move on out.  Then you can have your own apartment and all the rats you want.  Freedom!  But untill then, just look after the ratties and your brother and everything will be fine.  

[Joe]

   I totally agree with all ya'll have said. That my parents and brother could be more responsible. I'm beginning to believe my parents are looking at these rodents like inatiment onject, too, which frustrates me. Sure they think they're cute, sure they play with them a little, sure they clean their cages, etc. But still...
  I don't think I could go live with my friend. Her parents like me, but I don't think they like me that much.  
  Get out of college at 20? I wish. No, it'll be more like 23 when I graduate. Thanks to changing my major to vocal from instrumental, I'm now on the 5 1/2 year plan...oh well. Glad I enjoy it, because I'm gonna be there a while.

[Dearpie]

uhmmm your parents clean the cages??  

[Joe]

   They don't clean my cages. But I'm probably gonna have to refuse to clean my brothers. Then he'll either clean it because it stinks to no end, or wait until my parents are standing over him watching him clean. Either that, or my Mom will start doing the cleaning for him. I really hope he doesn't loose interest in rats. Maybe they'll be the thing to keep his attention.

[Shimmer]

  I don't think I could go live with my friend. Her parents like me, but I don't think they like me that much.  

Aw, now...You know my parents love you, Joe! Mom says you can move in whenever you want   And Dad...well, I have gone nearly eight months without him knowing that I have eight rats...Surely this won't be any different? lol