Erika's Critter Blog

[Happi Bun]

Myia09 wrote:

What do you feed? I feed unlimited crested gecko diet, I let it "rot" a bit (keep it in the cage for a couple days, take out if there is mold however) and then I feed crickets to babies once a week, and adults only once a month. As a treat I feed bannanas. No worms or roaches either.

Crested Gecko Diet is his staple and always available to him. He also likes it aged and thick, so usually if it's too watery I will let it sit for a day or two. Then he gets his 5 crickets once a week, gut loaded and dusted (Phosphorus Free Calcium with Vit D). He gets quite neurotic if he doesn't get his 5 weekly crickets and will start stalking imaginary crickets. He is quite the character. He is afraid of large crickets even though most Crestie's his size have no problem with them. He refuses to eat them. So I feed him smaller end medium sized ones.

Thanks Emily! I actually got the idea from Ren's thread. She was asking if any members do anything special for Easter. Usually I don't but then the Bunny Easter Egg Hunt idea popped into my head! I will definitely be doing it next year. It was a big hit with the bunnies and actually held Amber's attention.

 

[Happi Bun]

The bunnies were sure wild last night! I got to watch the bunny 500 and some seriously high binkies. I think they have been feeling frisky with the nice weather. I've been thinking lately... if either Dunkin or Amber need to go to the vet then I should bring them together. They don't like to be a part and will groom each other once reunited. So I need to purchase a larger travel carrier. I also want to have it on hand for emergencies. Speaking of emergencies, I'm putting together a First Aid & Emergency kit for the animals.

Here is a cute picture I got of the bunnies. Sorry it's blurry!

Zee thinks I'm mighty tasty...

The awesome hammock I bought at the Wonderful World of Rats.

 

[Happi Bun]

Dewey's death and the reality that he isn't here just sometimes hits me...

Today is one of those days. :tears2:

Then it makes me feel like Miss. Sensitive because it's been what, a year? Non-rabbit lovers don't understand. "You are still mourning over that rabbit?" Is what they probably think. I am a very emotional person, so yes I am still mourning. I just don't think I'm over the horror of that night. It was really traumatizing. When I went in that back room and saw the vet performing CPR on his lifeless body I completely broke down. I just picked him up, hugged him, and sobbed... he didn't look like Dewey anymore. He was cold, limp, and his eyes were glazed. Just an empty body. I was glad he was free from the pain of those damned seizures, but that didn't stop the tears from flowing. I will never be able to forget walking in that back room or holding his lifeless body. To this day when we drive past that Emergency Vet building I have to look away. I doubt I would ever be able to walk back through those doors, it's that bad.

My tribute to Dewey... I take comfort in looking at this in the garden each day.

 

[undergunfire]

I'm sorry you are having one of those bad days, Erika. I get the same way when I think too much about my little Zaide (dwarfed 7 month old kitten) - he passed away right before my eyes due to what also was probably a seizure. I miss that little guy so much....its been a year and a half and I can't believe October 1st will be 2 years without "my little tiger".

One of the things that helped me through the grieving process was to get a tattoo of my baby....now he is always "with me" and I stare at "him" every single morning after I get out of the shower. Its just amazing how my tattoo artist was able to create such a "spot on" portrait of him....

 

[Happi Bun]

That is a gorgeous tattoo, Amy.

What's especially hard is Dewey died on the night of Dunkin's birthday. So I'm always torn two directions. During the day I'm celebrating with Mr. Dunk and at night I'm a mess grieving for Dewey. It's actually gotten worse as time has passed. That's how I grieve and just me though. I have a delayed response to traumatic events I suppose.

Look at me, it's Friday night and my mind is stuck in the past. Ugh...
I just have to keep remembering that he isn't in pain anymore. Nothing can hurt him now.

 

[undergunfire]

That has to be hard that he died on the night of Dunkin's birthday . I felt bad calling Alicia screaming and crying right after Zaide passed because he died on her birthday!

I hope with time you can learn to cope with Dewey's passing....it is just so hard when you think of them as your child. It is even worse when you are caring for an animal that you know is "special" (like Zaide was, due to dwarfism) or had known medical issues (like Dewey)...you bond with them so much more and when they are gone, it really just kills you.

How do you keep rats as pets? I'm still torn up after Spootie's passing, but Spice died a few months after him and I cried hard, but I was also numb. Maybe its because I mentally prepare myself that rats just die at a super "young" age and that's life for them.

 

[JadeIcing]

undergunfire wrote:

That has to be hard that he died on the night of Dunkin's birthday . I felt bad calling Alicia screaming and crying right after Zaide passed because he died on her birthday!

Don't ever feel bad for that Amy.

Erika it's ok to still hurt. It's normal when you love that deep. I thought I would be ok by now for Sam. I am for the most part but every so often it sneaks up on me. Like a kick in the rear. Next month it will be three years I lost her. It hurts like crazy the closer it gets.

 

[Happi Bun]

Thanks for the comfort Amy and Alicia. :hug:

Amy- It's hard with rat's, it truly is. They age so quickly. My older boy Zee is starting to slow down. It also is starting to take him longer to get going when he wakes up from sleeping. When they pass of course I cry and grieve for them but I will admit I find it easier to come to terms with the death of a rattie. I love them dearly and we share a bond but in the back of my mind I know how short their lives are. So I guess when they do cross the bridge it's not completely unexpected. Does that make sense? I hope so.

The kitties got spoiled yesterday! We got a huge 6ft tall cat tree and water fountain.

"What is dis...?"

Just a cute short video of Baby trying to figure out what the fountain is about.

Please ignore the voices... :whistling

 

[Happi Bun]

What happened to it being spring? We have a winter like storm passing through that has brought chilly temperatures and rain. Make up your mind Weather! The critters are enjoying the drop in temperature though. I need to get some crickets for Taji, as of late he's been coming to the front of the terrarium and staring at me. I believe that's my cue, haha.

The piggies are bonded again and doing great. I just ordered two Cozy Saks from The Cozy Cavy and new coroplast to make their cage look nicer since I slaughtered the current one when I combined their cages. The boys still act like boys though! Here is a glimpse into having two boars.

Mouth Open = Warning

If that doesn't work then chatter your teeth...

Then of course there is the humping.

Then relaxation for a while.

And this is what I deal with pretty much all day!

 

[irishbunny]

Your piggies are gorgeous

 

[undergunfire]

They make the cutest noises! Was this the beginning of bonding, or will they always be like that?

 

[irishbunny]

undergunfire wrote:

They make the cutest noises! Was this the beginning of bonding, or will they always be like that?

I love their noises too
I have three piggies living in my bedroom, sometimes you do feel like throwing a show at their cage though when it is the weekend and they want veggies at 7.00am!

 

[kherrmann3]

Aww, piggies! Too bad they don't get along 100%. I hope they get used to each other and stop the humping madness!

 

[Myia09]

I love piggie noises..when I don't have to hear it at night! LOL.

That video of your cat is adorable!

 

[Happi Bun]

That behavior is quite normal for Guinea Pig males and surprisingly is them getting along pretty darn well! They are always displaying their dominance and even do it just for the fun of it.

You should have seen Mowgli a few months ago before they got separated. Oh my god! He was a crazy humping machine and hormones flooding through him. He had just hit his awful teenager phase. He is calmed down a lot since then, which is why the boys are together again. Also, Henry Benry was looking depressed and not eating hay. Now he is back to his old self.

Of course it helps them to get along now that they have a 84" x 27" beast of a cage.

 

[kherrmann3]

Which one is which again? The tri-colored guy makes me think of my Regiford.

 

[Happi Bun]

Kelly; Henry Benry is the tri-colored pig, Mowgli is the crested.


So I may be getting a third rabbit this afternoon... Surprising I know! It's not an impulse buy though. I've been thinking about this for a month now. How I came across this boy is a long story. A breeder is needing to find him a home by tonight. She's been trying hard to find him one without any luck. He was the runt of the litter, she didn't expect him to make it but he has. He is now around 10 weeks old. He needs to go to a pet home because he isn't showable. Letting him go as snake food has been considered but she couldn't go through with it, thankfully. He's a nethie.

I will let you all know how it goes.
Fingers crossed, sounds like this little one is out of options.

 

[irishbunny]

Eeek hope it goes well!

 

[undergunfire]

Good luck, Erika! Sounds like the little bun guy is lucky that you are able to help him out !

 

[Happi Bun]

:caffeine

The little baby boy is home and settling in well. He dove right into his pile of hay which he didn't have access to at his previous home. He doesn't drink out of a water bottle, but that's fine. I cannot understand why no one wanted him, I think he is gorgeous. He has a great personality too and is 9 weeks old (birthday is the day after valentines day). He is sooo small! I will post pictures tomorrow, time for some shut eye.