Help with a rat

[camimom]

Good evening! Anyone out here have experience with pet rats? I found an albino rat on my apartment stairs today, and its in a rubbermaid bin with a towel, a bowl of water, and some carrots. I posted a few found signs around my apartment complex, but I fear it was just released because no one wanted it.. I need some ideas on what to do with him. AND if no one claims him within the next 24- 48 hours, I need someone who lives in the Maryland DC Metro area who would love to take it. FYI I have no clue if its a boy or girl.

 

[qdude46]

As you can see my profile pic is my dumbo rat so i have experience but give it cereal as they love it and sexing it very easy the male is very easy to identify because the, well, testicles are highly visible and girls won't have any bombs at all and just lift the tail to see but I would keep him but that's your choice but they are very lovIng and each have unique personalities I just love them

 

[camimom]

Well it got some cheerios, and some carrots, and some grapes.

I really hope someone claims it.

Its a girl btw.

 

[qdude46]

That sounds like a good mix and I like girls better the guys are boring and lethargic and get very fat although my profile picture is old so my rat(Libby) is a big chub but still fluffy

 

[KatCham]

Awwww. Hope you find a home for her

Yep, what you have there for her sounds good to me for now. Maybe add in some rat muesli as well as the fruit and veg, and somewhere for her to go and hide and get comfy to sleep.

Rats will eat ANYTHING!!! So make sure you don't give her anything too fattening

Keep us posted

 

[qdude46]

They won't eat some things if you spoil them rotten

 

[camimom]

Well so far no one has called to say they lost their rat. Which leads me to believe that someone let her loose on purpose.


So... Anyone want a free rat who lives in the dc metro area?

 

[qdude46]

Are you sure it's a pet rat

 

[camimom]

Its albino, and where i live, we dont get rats... here ill post a picture.

besides, i know the difference between pet rats and wild ones. and she came right to me, and she is currently happy with sitting on my shouders.

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[camimom]

Ok. Can anyone give me ideas on what they eat? Exacts please. And don't say rat food. I'm not buying any as I don't want to get too attached to her.

 

[qdude46]

Any grain or cereal is good they love pasta but that's a bit too far you can also try peas
Plus I love it when rats sit in your shoulder, mine doesn't to much cause her nails hurt me and she is a big baby

 

[camimom]

So far I know she likes Cheerios, carrots, doesn't seem to like grapes or cranberries.
Is that cooked pasta?

She seems to love my shoulder and my hair. I had a sweatshirt on so she was mostly on the hood of it.

How about lettuce? Spinach? Rice?

I named her Gertrude. Lol. And I have no clue on age or anything.

Oh and bread. Haha

 

[Andee]

Alittle bit of protein in her diet would be good too. That can be in the form of lean meats (use sparingly) or seeds. Seeds are definitely a big hit with my boy rat Dante. I know of a few people who would take her, but sadly we live too far away T^T. She seems like a sweetie though, also you can try pretty much any type of fruit, apples are great and so are strawberries. She still looks pretty young to me, though it's hard to tell with the girls as they tend to be smaller in size and the boys end up getting pretty big when they get to full size.

 

[MissBritt]

I have a friend who has an apartment full of rats, she and her fiancé are addicted to them.. Here's some of what they feed theirs..

fruit: apples, cherries, grapes, banana, strawberries, other berries, melons, and plums..

vegetables: broccoli, potatoes, peas, carrot, kale, parsley, bok choy, squash and cooked sweet potato(raw is bad for them)

whole wheat pasta and bread

cooked beans

unsweetened breakfast cereals

 

[camimom]

Thanks guys! I think she might stay. Ugh.

 

[Fretfreak13]

She may be some very sneaky snake food that escaped. I've had four rats in my life (all female, big differences) and they are wonderful pets! Hate to say it, but you'll probably love and keep her... lol

My last two ate whatever we ate for dinner. They were my little garbage disposals. This is an excellent thing to read on what she CAN'T eat. It isn't listed on this one, but I've also read that peppermint is bad as well.

Another thing to consider if she's staying with you is spaying. Female rats almost always develop mammary tumors later in life that may be benign, but get HUGE. Two of my girls were put down because these tumors got so large they inhibited movement and one even split the skin. Mind you, they were older in age as well. Normally spaying rats is far cheaper than spaying a cat or dog, and it will really help the gal in the long run. Here's a decent read, and some pictures of what I'm talking about.

 

[camimom]

Thanks a bunch!

Ya I think I'm going to name her Gertrude, lol.

Ill read those links.

I've never owned a rat before, and never had a reason to

 

[camimom]

Now to find a habitat for her.

Are they nocturnal?

 

[qdude46]

Yes but will get up a but during the day and a cage with a water bottle food dish and leech would be good but the perch has to be plastic and not metal bars as it hurts their feet over time and sawdust for small animals is good for substrate and they should be kept cage but not a screen kind if course and make sure she has a little something to naw in as her teeth can grow to big but all in all good luck rats are wonder pets and I think you will soon realize it

 

[camimom]

Wth is leech?