Christmas was a joyous, lovely day other than a very sad bit last night. We went in after supper to feed the breeder/feeder rat colony and found old Casanova down. He was still alive but unable to move fully and sort of in and out of alertness. I assume the old fella had a heart attack or stroke of some sort. He wasn't in any pain at all though, just not fully responsive to touch or voice.

We brought him out, wrapped him up and just spent time sitting quietly with him. He passed gently in the night, in his sleep. I know for some of you, this might seem a bit much for what was in effect a breeder rat but Nova was our first male. He was always more of a pet, even more so since his retirement from the active breeder group. He fathered over the years some spectacular litters and contributed so much to our ability to keep snakes. He never put a tooth into anyone, rat or human and was just a big love right to end. I put this thread here in Pets rather than in Feeders to honor the old fella and just say goodbye to a dear old rat. The rat room will seem somehow less without the big guy standing up to beg for his treat of leftover pb & j sandwich.

Casanova in his prime....



Hanging out with his almost identical son, SuperNova.....



From last night, even in his last moments he was gentle, snuggling up with me then with Mike, bruxing a bit when he could....Mike and I will really miss this grand old rat....