A-Rat-A-Day

Thomas says...

2008-07-17T07:09:00.001-05:00

"Meeeep." ROFL! Okay maybe that's more like a "ROOOOOAAAAAAAAAR!!!!"

My, how he's grown!

2008-07-14T07:15:00.002-05:00

This is Thomas on March 15, and today! He has GROOOOWN!

Jumbo-Tron...

2008-07-13T08:40:00.001-05:00

...has found a new comfy bed! What a cutie! (And look at that reflection!)

Noses

2008-07-12T07:58:00.000-05:00

Thomas, Jack-Jack and Queequag sticking their smellers out!

a couple of girls

2008-07-08T07:20:00.004-05:00

This is Story (top) and Tatyana (bottom), two of my squirrely girls!

Queequag

2008-07-06T18:13:00.000-05:00

Here's handsome Queequag, hogging the blankie!

And here's momma!

2008-07-05T09:10:00.001-05:00

And here's Jasmine, while pregnant with the last two babies!

Baby Boy

2008-07-04T08:33:00.001-05:00

This little boy is the brother to the little girl posted yesterday!

Baby Girl

2008-07-03T07:01:00.000-05:00

I want to say this is an old picture of Jubilee, but it looks soooo much like Jezebel (who went to her new home a few weeks ago)... I just don't know which of the two it is now! That's what I get for waiting to post it!

Calla Bryn

2008-07-02T07:03:00.002-05:00

Little Miss Calla Bryn still bites, and is still very scared of me, after three weeks. I tried (T-R-I-E-D!) to get her to come to the door of the cage so I could hold her...

"Maybe I'll just peek at you..."

"Okay, I guess I can come a little closer!"

"Sorry, this is as close as I'm getting!"

Like father, like son!

2008-07-01T08:51:00.003-05:00

The top picture is Amos, the bottom is his son Jumbo-Tron. Of all of my rats, I think Amos has the absolute most handsome face - he has a strong broad head with that lovely coloring. I am pleased as punch to see Jumbo-Tron growing up to look just like his daddy! He's already getting the high nose-bridge that Amos has, and I'm sure as he continues to grow, he's going to get that broad forehead, as well!

So comfy!

2008-06-30T09:54:00.000-05:00

Vader found the most comfy spot in the house!

Mealtime

2008-06-29T09:35:00.001-05:00

This is an OOOOOOLD picture of some of the boys enjoying some Gerber carrots!

Lovey Dovey Boys

2008-06-27T08:25:00.001-05:00

Once again, I have to post my three Dumbo boys! They are just the cutest, and they LOVE my attention! If they had their way, I'd play with them ALL DAY LONG!

Calla

2008-06-26T06:57:00.001-05:00

Did I ever introduce Calla? She has the biggest eyes I've ever seen on a rat! But she's a biter, even when I'm holding her!!! I hope we get past that soon!

Arwen's "points"

2008-06-25T07:01:00.001-05:00

Compare this picture with the pics of Arwen from last Wednesday... her points are getting SOOOOOO dark so quickly!!!!

It's a beautiful day...

2008-06-24T07:15:00.000-05:00

when Jack-Jack can come out to play!

Meet Maynard

2008-06-23T06:47:00.000-05:00

Arwen

2008-06-18T18:23:00.000-05:00

This is my pretty girl, Arwen! She's a Siamese, and a Dumbo carrier!

She's a Super Pet!

2008-06-14T07:03:00.000-05:00

Zucca

2008-06-13T08:38:00.001-05:00

This is my new girl, Zucca! She is so very sweet and calm (and a bit timid, too!)

happy boys

2008-06-12T09:19:00.000-05:00

Beckham, Amos and Vader

My precious boys...

2008-06-10T06:42:00.001-05:00

I can't get enough of my boys, Queequag, Jack-Jack and Thomas! (That's Igby in the background, too!)

ROOAAAR!

2008-06-07T22:35:00.001-05:00

I am Alfie!

Here me ROAR!

Getting to know you...

2008-06-06T06:52:00.002-05:00

What could these girls possibly be up to??

BOYS, OF COURSE!!!

"Getting to know you, getting to know all about you..."

Just a few cutie patooties!

2008-06-05T07:17:00.003-05:00

Igby

Timo

Jack

Captain

Beggars...

2008-06-04T06:34:00.001-05:00

"Momma? Can we come out and play?"

"No, JACK! I'z askin' her!"

"What about us, Momma? Pweeeeeeze?"

JUST SAY NO TO GIRLS!

2008-06-03T07:16:00.001-05:00

Girls are sneaky! Girls are naughty! Girls always get wanderlust! GIRLS ARE BAAAAAD! See these two precious baby girls??? They snuck out of their cage last night through a hole no bigger than my thumb! Of COURSE I found them in the big boys cage! OF COURSE!!! (insert shrieks of rage here!) These two precious girls were set to go to their new momma soon! Now I can only hope neither of them got knocked up last night! It's sad and scary to think babies at only 5 1/2 weeks of age risk pregnancy!

Spaghetti

2008-06-02T06:19:00.001-05:00

Here are some OLD pics of the boys eating spaghetti! That's Houdini in the first pic, and Thomas in the second pic (my, has he grown since then!) What I love about that second picture is Teddy's expression in the background!

The Clones

2008-06-01T09:28:00.002-05:00

I can't believe I forgot to post yesterday! Sheesh, what kind of a blogger am I?!?! :P

Jedi and Jelly Bean just left for their new home with their proud new momma! Even though I'm sad to see them go, I AM happy for them! Jezebel & Jewel will be going home next week, and two more boys will be going in about two weeks! That leaves me with my keepers, little girl Jubilee and little boy Jimmy. And then four of the following: the four clones and Jingle & Jangle...

Pictured above are all four clones...

The GIRLS for adoption!

2008-05-30T06:48:00.003-05:00

Jezebel (left) and Jewel are sisters that need to be adopted together. Jewel used to be the littlest one of the whole litter, but now she's the BIGGEST! I think that's because she still loves to nurse!

These two girls have a sister, Jubilee, who may or may not be available for adoption with her sisters! Here are the three girls together!

UPDATE! Jewel and Jezebel have found a new mommy! They will be going "home" in a week or so!

Jingle and Jangle for adoption

2008-05-29T06:48:00.003-05:00

Here are two of the boys that are available for adoption! They'll be five weeks old on Saturday, and will need to be removed from momma at that time!
Jangle is the bigger and stronger of the two. He loves to climb, is a great jumper, and can work his momma's BIG wheel!

Jingle as equally as friendly as his brother, but isn't quite as sure footed! However, he will follow his brother's lead!

The Toms

2008-05-28T06:21:00.001-05:00

Here are Thomas (the bigger guy) and L.T. (Little Tom); they were in the feeder tank at the store, but so sweet I just couldn't leave them there!

ESCAPE!

2008-05-27T06:21:00.002-05:00

This is an old picture of Thomas, Jack-Jack, Houdini and Vader trying to escape...

Piggy-back ride!

2008-05-26T14:55:00.001-05:00

Here is a picture of Laney playing with the babies... or more like, the babies mobbing Laney!

Dumbos

2008-05-25T09:02:00.002-05:00

My three Dumbo boys are also my three lovey dovey boys! They're the apple of my eye! (Don't you just love how Queequag looks as if he's trying to hide his nekkidness?!?)

BEANS FOUR WEEKS PT 2

2008-05-24T11:32:00.002-05:00

The girls! I am either looking for a home to take Jezebel and Jewel together, or to take ALL THREE girls together!

BEANS - FOUR WEEKS OLD!!!

2008-05-24T11:24:00.004-05:00

Here is the daring dozen at four weeks old!

Jimmy is my "keeper", the little boy that will DEFINATELY be staying with me!

Jedi & Jelly Bean will be going to new momma Darlene next week!

These boys still need adoptive homes!

Beans - 27 days old

2008-05-23T19:38:00.003-05:00

Sweet momma spending some quality time with a few beans:

And then a couple other cute bean pictures!

Beans - 26 days old (& Houdini)

2008-05-22T11:48:00.002-05:00

I'z just hangin' out...

What's that story about the Tortoise and the Hair.....y rat?

This is an old picture showing how Houdini got his name. One night, we looked up from supper to see him high up on a shelf, pretending to be a Cabbage Patch Rat!

Beans - 25 days old! (& Story)

2008-05-21T17:26:00.004-05:00

Happy baby beans above, and a gorgeous Auntie Story below (whom we are anxiously waiting to see if she's going to have beans of her own - NAUGHTY QUEEQUAG!)

Beans - 24 days old

2008-05-20T10:33:00.003-05:00

Momma Jasmine is in that pic with the babies! Soon they'll be big as her! Let's hope they stop nursing before then!

"Here's lookin' at you, kid!"

ROOOOAR!

Kaba-Kaba-Kaba-Kaba...

2008-05-20T06:32:00.002-05:00

Kabacadabra! Hair come and go, hair come and goooo oh oh ooooh!
These are old pictures of Kaba when she had a nice fuzzy layer of fur. It's kinda of eery how she grows and loses hair so quickly! It's like wearing a new outfit every day!

Beans - 23 Days Old

2008-05-19T17:25:00.000-05:00

He needs to join a drama club!

2008-05-19T06:19:00.001-05:00

This is an OLD picture of Jack-Jack, doing his best "Three Blind Mice" impression!

Beans - 22 days old

2008-05-18T16:51:00.004-05:00

Twelve healthy beans!

Time out?

I feel LOVED!

"NO! We don't wanna go back in the cage!! Play more, momma!"

The Bean Boys...

2008-05-18T12:21:00.004-05:00

Pics taken yesterday... These boys all need good homes, and will be ready to go on May 31! (Girls, pictured yesterday, MAY be rehomed if the right home presents itself! I just don't want to risk any breeding of these sweeties, so will be pickier on rehoming them.) If you're interested, they will be rehomed to good homes for FREE, preferably in pairs. Email me at rieux8@hotmail.com to reserve your babies, and I'll gladly send you daily pictures of them!
Jingle and Jangle are a light champagne color (darker than what you see in the pics) with ruby red eyes. They have a small amount of white on their tummies (running from chin to bottom), that vary just a bit so they can be differentiated!

Jelly Bean is the smallest of the boys! He is a light champagne color with no markings, and ruby red eyes! He is a cuddle bug!

Jedi is an amber color (doesn't show in the picture but similar to the clones below) with ruby red eyes. He has a straight line of white running down his tummy. Jedi has amazing climbing skills!
The four clones are gorgeous amber colored babies with no other markings, and ruby red eyes! They are a handful, that's for sure, but oh so cute!

Brother Thomas

2008-05-18T08:58:00.000-05:00

I love this old picture of Thomas "praying"!

Jasmine...

2008-05-17T15:23:00.002-05:00

didn't know what she had in store for her when I took this picture on her first day with me. She had a serious case of wanderlust, and escaped the next night, and that's when the baby madness started! Poor sweet innocent Jasmine! :P

Beans - THREE WEEKS OLD!

2008-05-17T15:17:00.003-05:00

YAY, we've made it to the three week birthday, abd WOW are these beans on the move, ALL of the time! I've never seen Jasmine so worn out in her life! I'm sure she's anxious to get through the next two weeks, when the boys will be removed from the group to prevent accidental breeding! Three girls will seem like cake to her, I'm sure!

Speaking of the girls, here are their individual pics from today!
And for comparison sake, Jezebel and Jubilee only eight days ago! My, how they've grown!

Beans - 20 Days Old!!!!!!!!!!

2008-05-16T11:08:00.001-05:00

He's a rat to...

2008-05-16T06:29:00.000-05:00

look up to! (Vader)

Beans 19 Days Old (& Brothers...)

2008-05-15T06:49:00.005-05:00

Healthy Beans!

Never underestimate the power of "brother"...
Nor the impact of a friend...
(And no, I'll never get sick of seeing my boys all piled up on one another!)

Beans - 18 Days Old!

2008-05-14T08:13:00.004-05:00

I'm starting a list for adoptions of many of these babies! If you (or anyone you know) would like to adopt a pair of them, LMK! The only two NOT up for adoption are Jimmy & Jelly Bean.

more sleepy pictures...

2008-05-14T06:22:00.001-05:00

Houdini & Jack-Jack
Beckham
Jack-Jack, actually asleep (he sleeps with his eyes open often!)

There's nothing cuter than a pile of rattie boys!

Beans - 17 Days old!

2008-05-13T09:29:00.003-05:00

Here's Jingle and Jangle:
This is either Jelly Bean or Jewel, playing "King (or Queen) of the Mountain"!

Sleeping arrangements...

2008-05-13T06:30:00.002-05:00

The rat pile - the best way to sleep!!! I finally had to throw that "hammock" away after the boys made so many holes in it! Needless to say, they were not happy with me, and don't like their fancy store-bought hammock very much! There's something to be said about old rattie towels, I guess!

Beans - 16 Days Old

2008-05-12T22:35:00.004-05:00

WE HAVE OPEN EYES TODAY!!

Here are my two definate "keepers", Jimmy & Jelly Bean!

Precious...

2008-05-12T06:19:00.000-05:00

They are just too precious for words!

Beans - 15 Days Old

2008-05-11T12:26:00.002-05:00

Here's the first picture I've gotten of Jasmine with the babies! They can get out of the nest, now, and they MOBBED her! LOL She won't be getting ANY rest from now on!

Teddy & Houdini

2008-05-11T08:26:00.002-05:00

This is an old picture of Teddy and Houdini (begging for treats, no doubt). Houdini and another fellow are now in a seperate cage, as they were bullying some of the newcomers!

Beans TWO WEEKS OLD!

2008-05-10T09:52:00.006-05:00

Jimmy:
The Five Clones:

And the ARAD pic for today, a random sweetie:

Beans - 13 Days Old

2008-05-09T16:41:00.001-05:00

Jelly Bean:
Jewel:
Jingle & Jangle:
Jezebell & Jubilee:

Tongues

2008-05-09T06:21:00.001-05:00

I love rattie tongues, especially when sweet ones lick my hands (instead of nibble)! Here's Timo getting a drink, and silly Jack-Jack trying to lick my daughter's arm!

Beans - 12 Days Old (& Dynamic Duo)

2008-05-08T07:16:00.003-05:00

Twelve Beans in a Pod? They are doing great! Still looks like only three girls in the group!

Here's the Dynamic Duo, Beckham (right in first pic, left in second pic) and Vader! They are brothers who do everything together... well, almost everything! Vader is sick right now :(. Here's to hoping he pulls through, and that Beckham stays healthy!

Beans - 11 Days Old

2008-05-07T07:59:00.002-05:00

All twelve beans are looking GREAT! They are getting so mobile, and I've got a couple of good climbers in the mix! No open eyes yet, but I'm starting to be able to tell the genders!
These nine are boys, OR it's too soon to tell on them (in the case of the littlest, like Jelly Bean (who is third from left, if you don't count that white butt in there!) The other two white ones ARE boys, and they will be called Jingle & Jangle!
These three are definately girls! The white one is Jewel, and the other two will be Jezebel & Jubilee!

Rats = Happiness!

2008-05-07T06:13:00.000-05:00

This is me being mobbed by some of my sweet boys!

Ten Days Old (& Timo)

2008-05-06T06:38:00.003-05:00

Ten days old, and looking really good! They're starting to get a bit of wanderlust! Good thing Momma Jasmine packs their nest tight!

Here's a picture of the beige babies, all together:

And these are the white babies. The little one on top is Jelly Bean!

And meet Timo, the cutest little agouti rat in the world!

Beans - 9 days old!

2008-05-05T07:34:00.002-05:00

Man, are they ever wiggly now! I don't know if I got everyone back in the nest this morning, as they kept taking off!!! Now I know why Jasmine packs the nest down so tight! Hope she can chase them down if I lost anybody!
Also, I can see their colors now! Looks like four solid white and eight solid beige babies, with eye color yet to be seen! Here's a pic of two beige and one white bean - aren't they precious?

Cheerios!

2008-05-05T06:12:00.002-05:00

Cheerios (or any treat, for that matter) always taste best when they're hand fed, or at least that's what my boys think! (top - Teddy; 2nd - Houdini; 3rd - Teddy & Thomas; bottom - Thomas & Alfie)

Beans - Eight Days Old!

2008-05-04T09:06:00.004-05:00

Individual pics of each of the twelve babies! They all look the same to me!

And today's ARAD picture is of a Bean, just couldn't resist a photo of this sweetie "peeking" out:

BEANS - ONE WEEK OLD! (& Igby)

2008-05-03T09:01:00.002-05:00

YAY! All twelve beans made it to their one week birthday! YAY BEANS! YAY JASMINE! They have a fine layer of fuzz now, and it looks like most of them will be Jazzy's color all around, but I might see one or two white ones in there.... Time will tell!

And here's a picture of Igby dancing. What a cute boy he is!

BEANS Day 7

2008-05-02T07:09:00.003-05:00

Tomorrow they will be one week old! I think I'll throw a party! :P

Jasmine had moved the beans into the Igloo the night before last, and then she stuffed the doorway so full of paper towels that she couldn't get through. So the little stinker was going behind the Igloo and lifting it up and climbing under, but she dropped it down on a baby bean last night! Boy did he squeak! So I took out the Igloo, and Jasmine was fairly upset with me, but she only moved her babies over a few inches to the corner. I gave her extra paper towels and she's good to go! They all look good this morning, aside from the kinked tail of the one in the picture of the two babies (the other babe in the pic is the runt of the litter, Jelly Bean!)

Pretty Boys

2008-05-02T06:12:00.002-05:00

If you ask me, I'd say that Teddy and Alfie are the prettiest boys of the bunch! I love Teddy's face (especially those big ears), and I love Alfie's gorgeous blue coloring!

BEANS Day 6

2008-05-01T07:13:00.002-05:00

When I went to check on the Beans this morning, they weren't in the nest! Jasmine gave me a scare! ROFL She moved her nest during the night! Probably sick of me getting into it. Now she'll be mad when she realizes I got into the new one... although this one is much harder to get into and take pics of!!! Anyways, all babies accounted for (Good job, Jazzy!) and still all light so yep, there are NO dark colored babies in this litter! They're now FIVE DAYS OLD, and now the ears are REALLY pronounced!! And look at the guy on top... WHISKERS! Can you see them?!

I see it, take it and...

2008-05-01T06:30:00.001-05:00

I make it mine! Here, Teddy and Houdini are trying to steal the shirt right off my back, literally!

Beans Day 5

2008-04-30T07:21:00.001-05:00

(four days old, and all accounted for!)

Pretty as a picture!

2008-04-30T06:17:00.001-05:00

Nubs is such a pretty girl, the moment I saw her I knew I had to have her! She's a sweetie, but also very frisky!!

Beans Day 4

2008-04-29T07:28:00.003-05:00

(which means they're three days old...) All is looking really good today! Jasmine spent almost the entire day with the babies yesterday, and was with them when I went to bed and when I got up this morning. She's up and playing right now, and had a little visit with her sisters (after a cuddle from me, of course)... I have more confidence now that she'll go back to her beans in good time! Keep up the good work, Jazzy!

Hopefully tomorrow we'll start to see a little bit of color coming through! Otherwise I fear I've got a whole litter of champagne selfs (which I'm thinking would pretty much mean her brother Houdini is the poppa...) How would I tell them all apart?!?!

Alfie

2008-04-29T06:22:00.001-05:00

This is an old picture of Alfie, taken the first day I had him, when he was in a glass aquarium (which was only a couple of days). I just love the way he was sitting there!

Update on Jasmine and babies later today! I hear squeaking this morning, so things are SOUNDING good!

Beans Day 3

2008-04-28T10:20:00.003-05:00

I was able to snap a picture of the baby beans while Jazzy played with her sisters. So far all twelve are still there, but I'm thinking a couple don't look so good, while others look great. Wish me luck that all goes well! I'm going to get some supplies to prepare, just in case I need to hand feed any of them.

Ch-ch-ch-changes...

2008-04-28T06:16:00.008-05:00

Here is Mr. Hawes, who was SUPPOSED to be a hairless rat but turned out to be a Double Rex. Every day he looks different! I can't get an updated picture yet but at this moment he's fully covered with a thin layer of peach fuzz! Usually his head and back legs/back end are covered, with his mid-section and front legs being bare. His sister Kaba looks the exact same, except that he has a white belly (when he's got hair there) and she doesn't!

Hopefully I will get today's Baby Beans pic up in awhile. We had a rough evening last night, with Jasmine not wanting to return to her nest for over six hours, and me fearing for the health of the babies. She finally bedded down, and is with them this morning, and I do not want to disturb them at all!

Day Two (and boys)

2008-04-27T08:11:00.003-05:00

Day Two pic of the beans, all looks good so far!

Jack-Jack and Houdini (or is it Amos in this picture?) LOVE to sleep in this hammock I made for them. I love the first picture, it's as if they're saying, "What in the heck do you want?!?!"

BIRTH DAY

2008-04-26T18:53:00.003-05:00

I snapped a pic of Jasmine's beans on their birthday!! Twelve of them right now! Keep your fingers crossed or say a prayer or wish us luck that they all thrive!

Lookit those precious paws!

2008-04-26T15:20:00.002-05:00

Snapped this picture of Teddy sleeping the other day! How could I resist?!?!

Fast Friends

2008-04-25T06:11:00.002-05:00

Amos and Houdini came from the same rescue, but weren't together in the same cage until I brought them home. They were fast friends and love to sleep together! What cuties these boys are!!!

Igby

2008-04-24T06:12:00.004-05:00

Here's my other new boy, Igby! He is a bit on the shy side, but he's already learned that I come around often with treats, and he'll come looking for them! I fully believe that Igby was one of the boys in the cage with Teddy, Jack-Jack and Alfie, when I got them! He may be related to any one of them! How cool is that?!

Queequag

2008-04-23T06:24:00.004-05:00

I finally got a true hairless rat! Queequag (formerly known as Templeton) is so sweet and friendly! I just love him to bits! Tomorrow I'll introduce his friend, Igby!

I just love when...

2008-04-22T06:20:00.004-05:00

they peek at me! These three girls have a new cage now, though, so they can't play this peek-a-boo game anymore! Glad I have pictures of it!

Friends don't let friends...

2008-04-21T06:11:00.002-05:00

...drink alone!

Here, Taty & Story show how nice it is to have a drink with a friend!

Good news today...

2008-04-20T08:57:00.002-05:00

I'm glad to post some happy news today, to follow up yesterday's sadness. One of my sneaky girls IS definately pregnant! While this isn't ideal, who doesn't love babies? I don't know when she'll deliver, but Jasmine looks fit to burst!

RIP Mr. Locke

2008-04-19T08:43:00.007-05:00

I noticed that Mr. Locke was ill yesterday afternoon and rushed him to the vet. They gave him a shot for pain, and some antibiotics, and I pushed fluids on him that evening, but he didn't make it through the night. I'm glad for the last 2 weeks that I've had with him.

What's that saying about "curiosity"?

2008-04-18T06:35:00.005-05:00

Rats are so curious, and my guys and gals always come to check out the camera! I love those faces! Top is Beckham (or is it Vader?), middle is Amos and bottom is Jasmine.

What's the opposite of "cross-eyed"?

2008-04-17T06:17:00.001-05:00

Jack-Jack tried to pull off that sweet and innocent look that Tatyana gave me the other day, but he just ended up looking really goofy!

You can lead a rat to water...

2008-04-16T06:12:00.001-05:00

and she'll HAPPILY take a drink! This is Nubs... isn't it cute how they hold on to the water tube?!!

Teddy...

2008-04-15T06:16:00.003-05:00

Shhh, don't tell the others, but I think Teddy is the cutest rat in the house! When he does his "beggar" pose, I am helpless to resist!

"Momma?"

2008-04-14T06:15:00.001-05:00

"Pweaze tell me you have a tweat fow me! Pweeeeeeeze?!"

(Tatyana)

Rat from Da Hood

2008-04-13T08:11:00.001-05:00

This is my sweet Kabacadabra!

I can't say what I really think he's doing...

2008-04-12T09:29:00.001-05:00

...because this is a family blog! But you've just got to wonder what is going through BOTH of their heads at that exact moment!!! (Sorry it's blurry but I had to snap it quick before the moment was gone!)

Oh, that's Jack and Teddy, btw!

"I was here first!"

2008-04-11T06:12:00.001-05:00

"No, I was here first, you knucklehead!"

(Beckham & Teddy)