Genetics to knowledge: Aa dd rbrb (possibly carrying Mink, Chocolate and Dumbo)

Too young... just too young...

Snake was one of our fittest, healthiest, strapping lads. He was perfect this morning - never had a moment's illness, and tonight we found him asleep, never to wake up. He was just a wonderful rat, and only a few days ago we tried mating him up too - so I hope to goodness that whatever has wiped him out won't have any effect on any potential babies - but TBH I don't think we'll be lucky enough to have any babies for a good while yet, as we're in a no breeding slump again.

Snake was very special... he's really pretty much what we'd been working towards, nearly enough Gator Possum, in Russian Silver Agouti. He had a fab temperament, lovely colour... he was just... wonderful - one of my special boys, always being used to meet and greet. It breaks my heart that we never got to have any of his babies here.

I'm in shock really, as I just have no idea what would take such a fit buck out like this - he was only a year old 2 days ago. We've not been anywhere to pick anything up of course. He's going for a PM to find out what it could have been if possible, but it won't bring him back.

There's a lot of straws trying to break our backs at the moment, every corner we turn there's more and more problems, more things to make us fail with these lovely rats... :*( I don't know how much longer we'll be able to keep it up - we have so few breedable rats left now - we may end up losing the silvers by default :(

I dunno... I just want my lovely boy back :*( Run free Snake... you were obviously needed somewhere else my snuggle bear :*(

He was also the lovely lad used for Russian Silver Agouti on the NFRS varieties page :( I'm going to miss him so much, and miss his cuddles... :*(

This song seemed fitting to him, and to our struggle with this variety, and how I feel about him too...

Gone At Last - Paul Simon

The night was black, the roads were icy
Snow was fallin', drifts were high
And I was weary, from my driving
And I stopped to rest for a while
I sat down at a truck stop
I was thinking about my past
I've had a long streak of bad luck
But I'm praying it's gone at last

Gone, gone at last, gone at last
Gone at last, gone at last
I had a long streak of that bad luck
But I'm prayin' it's gone at last
oo, oo, oo, oo, oo

I ain't dumb
I kicked around some
I don't fall too easily
But that boy looked so dejected
He just grabbed my sympathy
Sweet little soul now, what's your problem?
Tell me why you're so downcast
I've had a long streak of bad luck
But I'm praying it's gone at last

Gone, gone at last, gone at last
Gone at last, gone at last
I had a long streak of that bad luck
But I'm prayin' it's gone at last
oo, oo, oo, oo, oo

Once in a while from out of nowhere
When you don't expect it, and you're unprepared
Somebody will come and lift you higher
And your burdens will be shared
Yes I do believe, if I hadn't met you
I might still be sinking fast
I've had a long streak of bad luck
But I'm praying it's gone at last

Gone, gone, gone at last
Gone at last, gone at last
I had a long streak of that bad luck
But I'm prayin' it's gone at last
Gone, gone, gone gone gone gone
Gone, gone, gone, gone, gone, gone, gone
I had a long streak of that bad luck
But I'm prayin' it's gone at last
 

xx

 

 Pedigree