I wouldn't tell you off, Jan. I like to think i'm more mature than that. No, I understand what you say. Rats don't live long. They die too soon for we who live for decades. I think the only real cure for a heart broken by a rats death is another rat. I will play with rosabella a lot just in case, and i want to take her to the vet just to see if i can do anything. Maybe my theories were correct when i was explaining her sickness. i'll have to see. she didn't act like this during pregnancy, it started showing up a couple weeks after she gave birth. thanks again. Lila