My aging crew

[BaraLahatiel]

Raising two litters has really brought home how old some of my crew is. The oldest, Masquerade (Masq) who is approximately 2 1/2. She's still as licky and hyper as ever, but she is starting to show her age physically. Her hair is thinner and less shiny and her eyes aren't as bright. Then Mab, who is just shy of the same age. You can tell in her eyes that she is aging and we've just found a mammary tumor.

Then there is Dobbie, who turned 2 last month and is the father of my two litters. He's slowing down, except when he's playing with his boys. He's very gentle with them and it's adorable to find them all curled up in a corner asleep, little tails sticking out from under him. Then poor sickly Athme, who will turn 2 this August. Her health has gone down hill since her sister, Niobe, died on April 1st. She too has a mammary tumor.

Then Drizzt and Streaker, who will be 2 this Christmas. We're having aggression issues with Streaker right now. For some reason he's started fighting a lot with his cagemate Warf. He's never been much of a people rat, even though I've had them since before they were weaned (I had to syringe feed them). Their health is good, but you can tell they aren't the hyper little babies they used to be.

Hopefully adding in some new babies will liven them up a little. And some new toys. After loosing Niobe, I worry most about my other three ladies. Masq and Mab for their age, but Athme for her ailing health and obvious missing of her sister. I didn't expect her to be this lost about it. At first she didn't seem to notice, but now you can see. I'll be introducing the girls from my first litter into their cage over the next week. I still have one that is unreserved and two that will be picked up soon. Perhaps it'll distract her and get her feeling better. Before long she'll get to meet little Erce, a Russian Beige that was born to my second litter on April 21st.

I guess I just realize their aging and I worry about loosing them. Funny how introducing new babies can make you think about when you first got the rest. In ways I miss those days, when loosing them was a far far thought. The way time seems to be moving right now, it feels like it's just around the corner. Anyone have a way of slowing time? I think we could all use a little of it.

[JR1030]

Wow, you sure have a lot of oldies.  I can see their ages can really make you think.  I feel sort of the same way when I look at Obi, who must be past two now, and is the last of his clan.  He lives with the little boys now, who are only about 6 months old, and I just dread the day he goes, and I'll have lost all my "old guys".  I do sometimes think of the days when all my rats were new, and I hadn't lost any.  It seems a long time ago now.  You're very lucky you have so many over two...give them all huggies and kissies from me.