Quarantine Help!

Question
QUESTION: Dear Sandra-I am not sure which of you is available, so I am writing both you and Janell because I really need some help--

I'll try to make this as short as possible. I am fostering a mother rat and her babies. I adore all the babies and have fallen for the one little boy in particular. I am thinking to keep him and also adopt one or more from a breeder.  The problem is that now a few babies [they are about 3 weeks old] have started sneezing/snuffling just a little. The mother had been sneezing before-but I wasn't sure if it was from fear as she hasn't been socialized much and I make her nervous. Neither the mother nor the babies act sick and have clear eyes and nose and breath quietly.
I know all rats have myco. I also know that in babies, if they get ill the biggest thing to worry about first are the secondary infections, the myco second.  So...do I have them put on antibiotics at so young an age, while they are still ok [other than some light sneezes]? Should it be just to keep the secondary infections away and not go over board with the myco treatment?  [the "rat lady" Debbie Decommun says that the babies have been living wiith it since birth and myco rarely kills babies--the secondary infections do tho and quickly]  
If I don't do anything yet [to see if they get worse or not] can the baby boy I'd like to keep harm in any way the new boy[s] I am looking to adopt from the breeder [now or later]? [whose health will be perfect] Thank you, Mel

ANSWER: At this age, I would hate to keep them on medication.  I would wait, follow the guidelines on how to hold myco at bay and if they have a second relapse, start them back up and this is when they should have it twice a day for 30 days and after that, once a day using a high end dose.

I would not treat them unless they are sick though.  I do not always agree with Debbie D on many things. The truth is, myco is a slow moving organism that does not start to really mess with their immune system until they lose their immunities from their mother.  
Also, do not be fooled into thinking that rats from breeders are in perfect health. Its impossible to predict this no matter how good a breeder is. Once I adopted from a breeder that was had a great reputation.  Out of four males, two of them were so aggressive even as youngsters, I had them neutered the second day home. Also, one of them had two tumors already and she tried to tell me it was scar tissue from two abscesses. She forgot who she was dealing with, I suspect.  LOL  Long story short, I spent $500 on these two rats and only had them for two days.   Its best to get from a breeder in most cases but again, never be fooled into thinking they will be perfect.  I wish.....

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Sondra,
Many thanks for your thoughts and advice.  I was wondering if you can help me with some basic quarantine Q's.  

I read yours and other sites' info regarding quarantine.  I have the foster babies I mentioned above and will have had these 3 weeks by the time my new adoptees come home [from the breeder].  I intend to quarantine both groups.  

I do not have another home to keep one group in, so I was going to keep one group in an upstairs bedroom, away from vents, with a towel under the door, and with the door shut.  The other group will be downstairs in the dining room.  These 2 locations are as far apart as I can get them in my house.   If I wash, change clothes, blow my nose etc between visits, will this be acceptable?  

I noted on your site you keep them separated in a similar manner [walk in closet etc.].  They will all be about 5-7 weeks old.  

I have read what I should be looking for during quarantine, but I am sure I will hear some sneezing.  Big Q:  When are a few sneezes too many??  How long will little sneezes occur due to a new house/bedding [yesterday's news] and how long for histamine related excitement sneezes???  I am totally confused about those Q's.
Thanks Sondra!  Your advice is so appreciated.
Mel

Answer
The best way to do it is in a separate air space but to be honest its very hard for most people to do this so ANY precaution is better than none in my opinion.  I do use a walk in closet in another part of the house and never had problems but on the other hand, I never had rats get sick with something super catchy either.  I tell people to do the very best they can do rather than do nothing at all about precautions.  Your on the right track so it should be fine. The main carrier is YOU and as long as you wash up etc...and another thing is to try to wait 3 hours before going near your other rats if possible which will ensure if you do have something on you for whatever reason, it will be dead, as most organisms last  just a few hours.

Sneezing?  Its not always an indicator of illness although some older experts that have not really accepted the newest treatments etc  (I wont mention names....LOL) still feel a sneezing rat is a sick rat, the truth is, sneezing is natures way of ridding the nasal passages of irritants.  It can also indicate the histamine levels are elevated and the rat will sneeze. A new rat may sneeze due to being overly anxious in new surroundings. Histamine levels rise from stress, the rat sneezes.  Soon as the rat gets comfortable, sneezing subsides.  Sneezing that never seems to ease up or gets worse or is with congestion or ANY odd sounds coming from the rat means a vet visit is warranted.