wierd health issue

Question
I just recently got two pet rats, females. One of the first two we got died suddenly after I woke up to find her hunched up and  very lethargic. We got another one from another pet store, and have been keeping the two apart since then (about a week). Just last night when I got home both of them looked un-well. Their coats were puffed up, they were both hunched up and not moving a lot. However in a few hours, they both perked up and went back to behaving and looking normal. The same thing happened again this morning. I took one of them to the vet a few days ago because she was exhibiting a hiccupping behavior that i thought might be a sign of a respiratory infection, so she was prescribed anitbiotics. I don't know what these symptoms might mean, it is strange that they just seem to disappear, but each time they start looking un well I am almost certain they are going to die because they look so bad. any advice or information would be greatly appreciated.  

Answer
The cause of death could remain a mystery. The symptoms indicate pain or discomfort that comes and goes. All three may have the same illness.

My first thought is Mycoplasmosis and hiccuping/sneezing/coughing (we're not sure exactly what it is they are doing when they have these violent body jerks) are associated with Myco.

Baytril and Doxycycline are the drugs of choice for controlling Myco, as Myco cannot be cured.

More on Mycoplasmosis:
http://search.sympatico.msn.ca/results.aspx?q=mycoplasmosis+in+rats&FORM=MSN6B&l...

spazrats
http://spazrats.tripod.com