Ars Technica has a wonderful write-up today of new research from Science discussing research into rat empathy. The full article is at arstechnica.com/science/news/2011/12/rats-show-empathy-will-come-to-the-aid-of-other-rats.ars.
Essentially, rats were placed in a pen that had a rat trapped in a center cage. The rats were able to free the trapped rat by rotating a door. Researchers also placed rats in the cage when the center cage was empty. Over a 12 day period, researchers were able to study the actions of each rat and observe any changes in action that developed during that time.
I am fascinated by the end findings. The loose rats were visibly upset when they were in proximity of the trapped rats, and by the end of the trial 100% of female rats and 70% of male rats became door openers. Overall, the trapped rats were released 77% of the time, yet when the center cage was empty, the door was opened only ~13% of the time. This suggests it was the presence of the trapped rat that led the free rats to release the door.
Check out the full article for more details on the study, including how things changed when chocolate chips were introduced.
December 8, 2011
Watching
The girls always keep a close eye on what is going on. This morning I was pulling socks out a drawer and looked up and Saké had contorted herself to see what I was doing down below her cage. They are curious creatures.
Their wine box is a particularly popular hideout from which to watch the world:
Their wine box is a particularly popular hideout from which to watch the world:
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| Sushi |
December 7, 2011
Limited Options
We're really struggling coming up with things that Sushi can eat that provide her any sort of variety in her diet. She's getting what she needs nutritionally from her lab block/baby cereal mixture, but that is a pretty dull thing to eat every single day. We can mix regular cereal (Kix, Cheerios, Apple Jacks) into the mixture and once those pieces soften, she can eat those as well, but that isn't particularly healthy. We can also mix in softer fruits like bananas and blueberries. She also eats soaked pieces of monkey chow. But when she's eating this every day, well, that isn't a lot of variety.
I also have a hard time getting vegetables she can eat. She does okay with softer cooked vegetables but she can't really eat anything fresh except for tomatoes. Even peas are hard for her - she needs help getting the skins opened up but is able to eat the softer insides.
She's gained weight since her surgery and I know that her quality of life is better without her constant vet visits. She isn't reluctant to eat anything, so perhaps I'm just over analyzing this.
I also have a hard time getting vegetables she can eat. She does okay with softer cooked vegetables but she can't really eat anything fresh except for tomatoes. Even peas are hard for her - she needs help getting the skins opened up but is able to eat the softer insides.
She's gained weight since her surgery and I know that her quality of life is better without her constant vet visits. She isn't reluctant to eat anything, so perhaps I'm just over analyzing this.
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| Sushi eats a soaked piece of monkey chow. |
December 6, 2011
MSU Fan #1?
Sadly, the Spartans lost this weekend's Big Ten championship game against Wisconsin. Instead of heading to California to play with the roses, they will head to Florida to play in the Outback Bowl on January 2.
I don't think Sushi really cares.
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| Sushi |
I don't think Sushi really cares.
December 5, 2011
A Day in the Life of a Zoo Veterinarian
This isn't strictly rat related, but KQED has a great video and article on zoo veterinarian Mike Selig. You can find the video at science.kqed.org/quest/2011/11/29/a-day-with-zoo-veterinarian-mike-selig/. Dr. Selig demonstrates how he examines an elephant, helps a turtle with a shell issue, anesthetizes a two-toed sloth, and deworms naked mole rats.
December 2, 2011
Size Doesn't Matter
I'm often amazed by just how different Sushi and Saké's body types are, considering that they are litter mates. Even though Sushi has gained weight since her surgery, she is still just a shadow of Saké.
Sushi's skeleton is easily felt and she looks like she is at an awkward adolescent stage. In reality she's nearly 14 months old.
Saké has weight to spare! She is taking full advantage of Sushi's baby cereal and lab block mush and has put on a few grams. Holding her is similar to holding onto a wet water balloon.
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| Sushi: bigger than a mouse but tiny for a rat |
On the other hand....
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| Saké is more akin to a water weenie. |
Saké has weight to spare! She is taking full advantage of Sushi's baby cereal and lab block mush and has put on a few grams. Holding her is similar to holding onto a wet water balloon.
Not surprisingly, the skinnier Sushi is by far the more active of the two. Saké prefers to be held and have her fat belly rubbed.
Dave was kind enough to pose with both of them so we could see the size comparison.
Dave was kind enough to pose with both of them so we could see the size comparison.
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| Dave, Sushi, and Saké |
Poor Dave. His neck is all red because instead of perching quietly, the girls were more interested in racing back and forth on him.
December 1, 2011
Sweatshirt Paradise
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| Sushi |
When the girls were playing in laundry the other night, they particularly gravitated toward one article of clothing, a thick sweatshirt of Dave's. They burrowed deep inside, ran up and down both of the sleeves, and generally did not want to leave. Normally when I put my hands near them they stop whatever they are doing and quickly run up to perch on my shoulders. Last night they wanted none of this, and each time I tried to grab them they simply burrowed deeper into the sweatshirt.
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| Saké |
Dave might end up sacrificing his sweatshirt for them.
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