I just signed up and this seems to be the only place I can post?
I live in a unit (in Australia) and would hate owning a dog with no yard space and I am not a cat person. So having owned mice before and my partner having a rat (ages ago) I bought two female rats about 2 weeks ago. Have a few concerns so thought I should join and read up and learn more from other Rat lovers.
Our rats are Iris Loulabelle (Mine) and Kallieanta "Kallie" (Partners)
My rat, Iris, is a coloured pink/red eye rat, She is white with a caramel sort of colour. She is pretty chill and snuggly but does love exploring and I think she has learnt to nip when she needs the toilet
My partners', Kallie, is whit with Black/Dark Grey. She is rambunctious and has alot energy. She is being trained to sit on shoulders and is just learning to nip to go to the toilet (I'm hoping this is good to learn?)
HEALTH QUESTION - My rat (Iris) sneeze a fair bit more than my partners', she has not been gaining as much weight. I read that the first sign of sickness is red at their nose and eye. I have uploaded more photos of her trying to show those areas but as she was in an adventurous mood it is a little blurry.
Next question is food. The store bought food is mostly twigs and leafy stuff, they tend to pick out the dried corn, sunflower seeds, dog biscuit looking thing and a rat nut (what I was told it is). It makes a lot of mess them digging these select things out, Should I just mix up my own? What would you advise putting in? One likes oats (uncooked rolled) I gave her 3 and she loved them, another likes corn thins a gave her a tiny tiny piece and she loved it.
Any help and advice appreciated.
TIA
Minted.
I live in a unit (in Australia) and would hate owning a dog with no yard space and I am not a cat person. So having owned mice before and my partner having a rat (ages ago) I bought two female rats about 2 weeks ago. Have a few concerns so thought I should join and read up and learn more from other Rat lovers.
Our rats are Iris Loulabelle (Mine) and Kallieanta "Kallie" (Partners)
My rat, Iris, is a coloured pink/red eye rat, She is white with a caramel sort of colour. She is pretty chill and snuggly but does love exploring and I think she has learnt to nip when she needs the toilet

My partners', Kallie, is whit with Black/Dark Grey. She is rambunctious and has alot energy. She is being trained to sit on shoulders and is just learning to nip to go to the toilet (I'm hoping this is good to learn?)

HEALTH QUESTION - My rat (Iris) sneeze a fair bit more than my partners', she has not been gaining as much weight. I read that the first sign of sickness is red at their nose and eye. I have uploaded more photos of her trying to show those areas but as she was in an adventurous mood it is a little blurry.
Next question is food. The store bought food is mostly twigs and leafy stuff, they tend to pick out the dried corn, sunflower seeds, dog biscuit looking thing and a rat nut (what I was told it is). It makes a lot of mess them digging these select things out, Should I just mix up my own? What would you advise putting in? One likes oats (uncooked rolled) I gave her 3 and she loved them, another likes corn thins a gave her a tiny tiny piece and she loved it.



Any help and advice appreciated.
TIA
Minted.