They bury their dead! Argh!

How many have had this happen.. I go in the snake/rat room and smell that horrible smell.. I first check all the rat tubs. Then I check all 14 tubs again. Nothing. Then I check all 30 something snake tubs. Nothing. Now I begin to wonder if a rat escaped and died under something. I'm looking under everything with a flashlight. Where the heck is it?!? I check the rat tubs one last time sniffing each one trying to pin point it. I finally find it completely buried under the bedding. An older male that I should have cycled out long ago but man was it an ordeal trying to find it. So if you have a lot of rat racks and you walk in there one day and smell that awful smell, start digging if you can't find it!

I never had one get burried. The only two dead (older) rats I have had were just laying next to the others. Both were males as well.

Yea, my ASFs did this. I've had about 5 or so die in the tub over the last 2 years. All 5 instances, they got buried in thick substrate in the corner farthest from their nest. Interesting behavior.

There is NOTHING worse than the smell of a dead mouse. . . Except the smell of a giant dead mouse (aka rat). :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by anatess

Yea, my ASFs did this. I've had about 5 or so die in the tub over the last 2 years. All 5 instances, they got buried in thick substrate in the corner farthest from their nest. Interesting behavior.

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Same here, everytime one dies

Yep, my rats bury their dead too.

I have always discovered them half buried and stinky!!!!!:O

Yeah, I've had that happen many times... They also bury their food, so it's pretty much the same thing.