How do you take care of abandoned baby rats?
Keep the cage very warm and dark. Gallon plastic jugs filled with HOT water, around the outside of the cage, then drape towels over the cage. Always put the babies back in the nest, together, after feeding. Mom may very well turn into a good Mom if you can just keep them alive in the meanwhile.
What do you feed a newborn baby rat?
When the babies are 4-6 weeks old, you need to get them used to eating foods they will find in the wild. Offer them live mealworms from a pet shop (in a jar lid to keep them from crawling away), nuts in the shell, and a variety of different fruits, veggies, and grains. Here is how to release a wild rat.
What’s the best way to care for a pet rat?
There are many good pet bedding and litter options available that are very absorbent, not dusty, and safe for small pets; consider using pelleted products (typically very absorbent) under a layer of softer loose bedding. Usually, rats will choose a designated bathroom area in one part of the cage.
What should I use to cover my rat cage?
If needed, you can modify wire balconies by covering them with a thin sheet of wood, melamine, or other easy-to-clean solid material (fixed to the cage with wire ties). If the cage does have wire, make sure it is a fine grid (1/2 inch by 1/2 inch maximum) wire.
Is it OK to buy a rat from a pet store?
If you do decide to buy from a pet store, avoid rats with the following problems: red discharge around the eyes and nose, noisy breathing, open wounds, lethargy, cloudy eyes, dull coat or runny feces. Male and female rats may be mixed in pet store rat cages, one of the many reasons you shouldn’t be adopting from a chain pet shop.
What to do with a baby mouse rehabilitator?
A rehabilitator will administer kitten milk replacer, diluted twice the regular consistency, every two hours until the baby rodent’s eyes open. Kitten milk replacer must be watered down because the infant’s throats are so small, regular formula is too dense to pass into the stomach without causing choking.
How do you care for a baby rat?
Give your rat room to climb. Climbing is an important activity for rats, especially when confined in a cage. Outfit your baby rat’s cage with things it can climb, like ropes, small ladders, branches, or stacked cardboard boxes. Avoid wire ramps that can trap and injure your rat.
When can you start handling baby rats?
Baby rats can be weaned at 4 weeks of age, but many breeders like to wait until they are 6 weeks old to sell them, especially if they will be shipped. This is fine as long as the babies get plenty of socialization every day.
What do newborn rats eat?
Newborn baby rats drink their mother’s milk for around three weeks. After that, they can eat solid food but may continue to nurse for several more weeks while they learn about other foods. Baby rats then transition into an adult diet.