We just adopted three new ratties from HVRR last night; I got a pic of each of them while we were getting everything set up (had to move some ratties around. It was like musical-cages or something, trying to figure out who to put where for the time-being ):

Akiya (previously Giovanni)


Shin (pronounced sheen; he was previously Sonny)


and Nao (previously Adriana)


They're about 5 months old and had been in a group of 22 that was surrendered to the rescue. Akiya is the most social of the three, but he's still a little skittish. Nao's a little nervous, too (moreso than Akiya) and Shin is downright terrified of handling. Shin is reminding us a lot of Ren, a (depressed) rat we got from a pet store a few years back - he'd been terrified of being picked up and would squeal and struggle, but with a lot of love and patience, he began to trust us and wanted to be held and loved.
We saw the three on HVRR's PetFinder page and couldn't say no, though originally we were only going to get the boys. Then we saw that Nao would be the only one of that group left if we took Akiya and Shin, so we decided we'd take her, too, since we have the room. (<_<) (>_>) We're suckers for the abuse/neglect/surrendered-because-the-owner-didn't-have-time-for-them stories.

We bought a couple of large cages from Kaia at HVRR (and if you're reading this Kaia, thanks again!!!!) and took apart our two level cage (YES! I don't have to clean the pain-in-neck cage anymore! ). Mia, Portia, and Nanao have been placed in the smaller of the two new cages; it's plenty big enough for the three of them and they seem pretty happy with the extra space (they'll be even happier when we get more hammocks to put in there ). Aki, Yuna, Kiyone, and Isane are in the largest cage and when quarantine is over, we'll be putting Akiya, Shin, and Nao in with them.
I'm not at all worried about having to go through a long introduction process with them - there wasn't any fighting, squealing, or angry rats when we put Kiyone and Isane with Aki and Yuna; they're sleeping in the same igloo as I type this. They're all such good girls, I'm sure everyone will get along great .

I'll post more pictures of the new ratties once they've settles in a bit more. I'll keep everyone posted on Shin's progress, too (hopefully all he needs is his forever home and lots of love).

They've already gotten quite a bit of attention this morning; I've left Shin in the cage and just pet him (give him a chance to get used me before I try to hold him) and the other two didn't put up too big of a fuss about being held once I let them on my shoulder (where they promptly dove under my hoodie X3) I'm sure they're just nervous because they smell the cats.
They're eating and drinking fine, too. Their food dish was completely empty this morning (after sitting in their cage full for three or four hours before we went to bed); five - larger - girls never empty their food dish completely in one night

Nanao was a little upset by the cage-change (she ran around all puffed up for a few minutes) but I think she's happier to have more space...that was probably why she was beating up on Kiyone and Isane.

Ohhhhhhhh.  Look at my former foster girl! , Nao (formerly Adrianna) came to me with 9 wonderful little babies.  I was priviledged to be able to have them for awhile.  Regretably, just as the adult girls were coming around, our dog became suddenly blind after surgery and I didn't feel as though I was able to socialize them as well as I wanted.  I'm glad to see she'd in a great home now!

Aw, you adopted the big sweet boys!  I'm glad they went to a nice home    I especially liked Akiya and Shin, so playful 

All but one of the rats we currently have came from HVRR (and we had three other boys form HVRR also, who unfortunately passed away; two of them were from the group of 10 left in a vet's parking lot in IL and the other was Jack, a PEW boy with an injured eye.) They're all wonderful little ratties

I bring an update on Akiya, Shin, and Nao…
They’ve been coming out a bit more (all three of them). Friday night, everyone got mashed potatoes for a little treat; the three didn’t take the potatoes from us, but they did eat what was left in front of them. They’re getting more active as they adjust to all the newness (especially the cats); they all seem a little more relaxed, too. Shin has been coming to the front of the cage more and letting us pet him when he’s in his corner or in the igloo. Sunday evening, I was able to pick Shin up without him putting up a huge fuss – he struggled, but then gave up and just sat there trembling (I felt so bad! The boy little boy )
Everyone got a little bit of egg Saturday morning – I wasn’t by the cage, but it sounds like Nao and Akiya at least took it. Nao and Akiya take carrots right out of my hand and Shin came close to me to get one after I put it down. They also got a little bite of chocolate cake Sunday evening, which no one hesitated to eat; I know cake isn't the healthiest for them, but if I haven't put on weight eating it (and I have to be really careful), then a couple little bites won't hurt the ratties
They’ll be happier, I think, once we get them in the biggest cage with the girls (and with our newest boy once his quarantine is over, too; Kaia told us that Akiya and our new boy, Ukitake, met once in her care and Akiya puffed up a bit, but I think if there are any problems, Yuna will put them both in their places. She’s not exactly dominant but she doesn’t take any crap from males X3) and they get a wheel and more room to run.
No pictures yet (they don’t like to hold still long enough…) but I will get some, one way or another.

I got a couple pictures of the girls in their new cages, though.

Nanao didn’t like me having the camera in her cage and puffed up a bit when I took her picture, then came after the camera; that rat’s got some attitude X3:


Why’s dat flashy ting in my cage?


Get out of my cage, flashy ting! Or I biterz yoo!

Isane in the corner of the huge cage:



We tried putting Nanao in the huge cage with the other girls and even though she puffed up she didn’t attack anyone. If she can keep that up and not attack the girls – or the new babies when they’re introduced to the group – then she, Mia, and Portia will get to live in the big cage. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that everything will go well with her and our new ratties.