I have 3 pet rats, one of which is semi-albino, and I bought 2 or three weeks ago. She was in a cage with a boy rat when I bought her, but the boy rat’s testes had not dropped all the way, so I figured that my pet’s virtue was intact.
ERRRRTRT!
I noticed some odd squeaking from the cage today, and looked in. I was alarmed to see a blood stain on the bedding. When I picked up Violet (the semi-albino one I bought not too far back) and looked at her belly, I saw blood, and then somthing wet and brownish pink popped out. At first I thought it was an internal organ and that a fight had broken out, but I quickly realized that it was a baby rat. Violet was rather pissed off at my meddling, but after I put the baby back with the others, and removed the other two adult rats, she seemed ok.
What I’m looking for is any kind of advice the dopers can give me regarding what I can do for my little rodents. They are so cute, but I want to make sure that the mommy has a good spot for them to grow up. Any advice or stories would be helpful.
Thanks!!!
I couldn’t find anything under “baby rats” in the search.
Welllllllllllllll…I do have a 5’ corn snake that eats small rats on a semi-weekly basis…so, if you’re so inclined…
ow! ow! okay, okay, sorry!
As far as rat care, here are some links just from a quick search under “pet rat:”
http://www.interlog.com/~audiotre/rats/
http://www.altpet.net/rodents/rats/ratfaq.html
http://www.icubed.com/users/mfichten/rats/
Well, I’d tell you how I would take care of 'em, but…well, you already know I’m a hired killer, so…
Is there a Dr. Spock for rats?
There seem to be seven of them, but Violet is somewhat protective, so I’m not sure. They are -so- cute!
Thanks for the links Ruffian! They were helpful.
DaveW- I will forgo your services for now, as they are pets. If the “t” and the “s” were reversed, you would be the man to ask.
::Hands out to Wonko a cigar selection:::
“Cuban variety or bubblegum variety?”
Congratulations!
“One man’s pet is another man’s pet food.”
I once had a guinea pig do that. We thought she was just getting fat. Really fat. Like, balloon-up-to-three-times-her-normal-size fat.
Welcome to the baby rat club.
Ah, how cool!
I have wanted a rat for so long but with a cat, dog and fish, I think I am over done on the pet thing for now. If I lived close I would dig to see the ratlettes.
Rat’s are freakin cool and smart too!
One of these days I am gonna get me a rat as a pet.
CongaRats, darling!
[sub]so okay, I am covered with shame…but although I tried REALLY hard, I just couldn’t resist.[/sub]
So now down to business , honey…you need to think about what you are going to do with the babies once they are grown.
I hope you can find good homes for them, but…not that many people are looking for pet rats, you know.
Best of good luck, dear, and may you enjoy your brood!
Scotti
You might slip some newspaper in the cage that she will rip up and turn into a nest.
If the cage is in a loud place you might move it to a more quiet location.
Allow her more privacy. You don’t want to come off as a threat.
Monitor the food and water situation and make sure there’s enough of both.
You HAVE moved the male rat to another cage, haven’t you?
After babies are born one of his goals may be to eat them.
You once had a guinea pig give birth to seven baby rats?!
Wow! That is soooo coooool!
The male rat in question was in Lancaster, PA- about 130 miles away. All of my rats as of yesterday were females. I’m not so sure now. The mommy and babies are alone in the cage. The other female rats are in a 30 gallon aquarium next to the cage.
MSK I’ll take a bubblegum cigar, thanks! I’ve given up on tobacco for a while.
Does anyone in the NYC/Philly Metropolitan area want a pet rat in about 6 weeks?