Welcome..
This site is just a little place on the net for me to share my pets, their lives and the things I do for them. I suspect it will always be a work in progress; rats aren't ones to watch the world go by, while I frequently come up with new ideas.
Toothbrush Rats was created in the memory of Lirigon, although the banner image is of her sister Tanaqui.
Toothbrush Rats was created in the memory of Lirigon, although the banner image is of her sister Tanaqui.
About Me
Having recently graduated from university, I now live in Yorkshire with my pet rats. I also live with 2 housemates who together own more rats and a dog. Although I don't breed rats, I've been an active member of the fancy for a few years now. Additionally I am an active member of the North of England Rat Society; currently a committee member holding the post of Reports Officer (previously Fun Events Co-ordinator). I'm also an Activities judge and am training to be a Show Sec and Pet judge.
My non-rat interests include reading (fiction - especially historical fantasy), environmental conservation, outdoor sports (such as walking, kayaking and riding), photography and folk/ Scottish dance.
My non-rat interests include reading (fiction - especially historical fantasy), environmental conservation, outdoor sports (such as walking, kayaking and riding), photography and folk/ Scottish dance.
News
8/5/12 - I've added a load more photos on everyone's profile pages and also a few more Duetto layouts.
11/3/12 - The long overdue update to my diet/ feeding page(s) has been completed. I changed the way I fed my rats in August/ September 2011, but it's only recently that I've come to the stage where I can clearly explain what it is I do now. There is now a very long feeding article where I explain everything in great depth - although I still need to write the section on modified diets for e.g. weightloss, ill rats, babies. Additionally for a quick overview there are shorter pages with ingredients and photos for both batches of dry food and also daily fresh food. I am keeping my old feeding page online for reference purposes.
6/3/12 - dridh was put to sleep today after her latest bout of illness. She seemed to have fought off the pneumonia, but on her way out the other side was affected by an ear infection. She continued to fight, but it was too much and she was pts before her quality of life and sense of self diminished further.
5/3/12 - Freda was put to sleep on the 1st due to her undiagnosed neurological problem quickly progressing. While she was still herself mentally, I didn't want to wait for her mind to catch up with her failing body - which doubtlessly was already causing her some pain.
27/2/12 - both dridh and Freda are seriously ill. dridh is recovering(!) from pneumonia, and Anfreda seems to have something badly wrong neurologically.
5/2/12 - The current ratlings have had the personality and handling sections of their profile pages updated. While these things generally stay the same within a single individual, slowly as they age little changes develop. This is especially true if they're young - which most of the group seem to be now! I have also re-written the environment page as several little things have changed since the summer. No, I still haven't actually written the empty bits. Move along now, nothing to see... Except the cleaning section; just written that!
4/2/12 - The rat care section was becoming rather unwieldy, so I've split topics more to do with record keeping away from the more general (but lengthy, and still unfinished...) feeding and environment section. This new area currently contains cage layouts and a new page on rat weights.
3/2/12 - It's with sorrow I announce the loss of both Brie and Esker. Brie was put to sleep on New Year's Eve following starting seizures as a result of a fast progressing brain tumour. Esk was put to sleep also as an emergency call out just two weeks later. In happier news, I've updated Anfreda's care page, added new photos of all rodents to their profile pages and finally uploaded Duetto layout photos.
5/12/11 - Merrow and Cerridwen (belatedly) now each have a page. Also, following her death in October, Orb's page link has now moved to past rats.
2/10/11 - Completed (save for images) Anfreda's care page.
2/9/11 - After a period with limited time/ internet connection I've finally added pages for Larka and Foxtrot.
15/7/11 - Anfreda's page added.
10/6/11 - Brie's page added.
15/5/11 - Website created and the majority of content uploaded.
11/3/12 - The long overdue update to my diet/ feeding page(s) has been completed. I changed the way I fed my rats in August/ September 2011, but it's only recently that I've come to the stage where I can clearly explain what it is I do now. There is now a very long feeding article where I explain everything in great depth - although I still need to write the section on modified diets for e.g. weightloss, ill rats, babies. Additionally for a quick overview there are shorter pages with ingredients and photos for both batches of dry food and also daily fresh food. I am keeping my old feeding page online for reference purposes.
6/3/12 - dridh was put to sleep today after her latest bout of illness. She seemed to have fought off the pneumonia, but on her way out the other side was affected by an ear infection. She continued to fight, but it was too much and she was pts before her quality of life and sense of self diminished further.
5/3/12 - Freda was put to sleep on the 1st due to her undiagnosed neurological problem quickly progressing. While she was still herself mentally, I didn't want to wait for her mind to catch up with her failing body - which doubtlessly was already causing her some pain.
27/2/12 - both dridh and Freda are seriously ill. dridh is recovering(!) from pneumonia, and Anfreda seems to have something badly wrong neurologically.
5/2/12 - The current ratlings have had the personality and handling sections of their profile pages updated. While these things generally stay the same within a single individual, slowly as they age little changes develop. This is especially true if they're young - which most of the group seem to be now! I have also re-written the environment page as several little things have changed since the summer. No, I still haven't actually written the empty bits. Move along now, nothing to see... Except the cleaning section; just written that!
4/2/12 - The rat care section was becoming rather unwieldy, so I've split topics more to do with record keeping away from the more general (but lengthy, and still unfinished...) feeding and environment section. This new area currently contains cage layouts and a new page on rat weights.
3/2/12 - It's with sorrow I announce the loss of both Brie and Esker. Brie was put to sleep on New Year's Eve following starting seizures as a result of a fast progressing brain tumour. Esk was put to sleep also as an emergency call out just two weeks later. In happier news, I've updated Anfreda's care page, added new photos of all rodents to their profile pages and finally uploaded Duetto layout photos.
5/12/11 - Merrow and Cerridwen (belatedly) now each have a page. Also, following her death in October, Orb's page link has now moved to past rats.
2/10/11 - Completed (save for images) Anfreda's care page.
2/9/11 - After a period with limited time/ internet connection I've finally added pages for Larka and Foxtrot.
15/7/11 - Anfreda's page added.
10/6/11 - Brie's page added.
15/5/11 - Website created and the majority of content uploaded.
