need a lil help with my new pet hairless rats :-)?

Question

okay, so i have had rats before, but it was 2 years ago, and i can't really remember much about how to take care of them.
i just got 2 so-ugly-they're-adorable hairless rats last night!!!! their names are jack and oreo. i had one of my old rat cages left, so i'm using that, also i bought food, a wooden house for them to hide and play in, a food dish, a water bottle, some special pet "stuffing" for them to shred and sleep in, a chew toy, and this special litter that feels kinda like fabric but it's supposed to be non-toxic and help with the smell and stuff.
i also bought johnson's baby lotion for them, because the guy at the pet store said that they need lotion put on them every once in awhile, coz they have sensitive skin and it gets dry and flaky. so how often should i put the lotion on them?
oh, and does it sound like i have all i need to take care of them? how often should i feed them? i fed them last night, and this morning when i woke up, their food dish was empty.

Do they hide their food or something? Since they’re new, I didn’t want to go rummaging through their cage, scaring them, by looking to see if they stashed it somewhere. So do they stash their food? I fed them again this morning, just to make sure they weren’t like starving or anything.
Also, when can I start playing with them? I held them a little bit last night, because it seriously looked like they were begging for attention at the door of their cage. And this morning I put my hand in their cage and fed them treats and let them walk all over my hands and let them sniff my face. And they started grooming my bangs which I thought was hilariously sweet lol. But when would it be okay to hold them?

Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated!!

Answer 1

it seems that if they're already begging for attention that its fine to give it to them. just make sure not to scare them by moving to quickly as rats don't see all that well.
you should put hammocks in the cage made of fleece, or an old towel will do hairless rats need extra things to keep their naked bodies warm.
rats hide and stash food all over their cages, they'll hide it everywhere they can think of. you should give them small amounts of food everyday since they're known for peeing in their dishes! i thought that i'd let you know that "rodent mixed food" isn't nutritionally healthy for rats since they pick out what they like and leave the rest. i use rodent food blocks for my girls so they get what they need. i use kaytee rodent blocks as they were recommended by a rat expert. they can also be fed many other foods in addition. fruits, vegetables and meat (rats aren't vegetarians!) my girls LOVE chicken, and oysters. since you have males i will tell you that you CAN NOT give them oranges its not healthy for them at all.
i would avoid putting the lotion on them because it might not be good for them to lick it off, could have something in it that could be poisonous to them. don't quote me on this, but i think that a little amount of olive oil should do the trick if their skin does get dry. although i do believe that if they're getting dry skin they may be lacking something in their diet.
also rats cannot have tap water because it contains fluoride and its not good for them. i know there are people that swear by distilled water, however i use bottled water that i have checked to make sure it contains no fluoride.
i'm going to give you some helpful links and also recommend joining some of yahoo's groups geared towards pet rat ownership. it will be helpful to get info from people that have owned rats for years.
hope this is helpful, and should you have anymore questions you can email me at [e-mail]
enjoy your new guys!!!

Answer 2

Okay, first of all, if you want to get a hairless, you ALWAYS want to get a furry, too. They need a buddy with lots of fur to snuggle with and keep warm.
The food dish was empty because they stored there food. You should give them a bowl full every other day.
Carefresh is a good litter, so says many rat owners.
You can also put fabric on the bottom of their cage instead of any litter. Just take it out and wash it as regularly as you would litter. You don't have to use "special" pet stuffing. All you have to do is put a tissue or two in there, they will absolutely looooovveee itt!! A rat expert that I know says that olive oil is good to put on them.

Well, here.
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AoJMGEBsCo1IxxJPEXD5SRLty6IX?qid=20070709102807AAAERTX
This is a link from a question that I asked, and you should read the answer by spazrats. That is the best answer, although I picked a different one, so just read up on those and be sure to care for them properley. Be sure to read up on your new rats, and have fun with them!

Edit: you are really lucky to have gotten such darling rats that love you right away!

Answer 3

Congratulations on your new rats- they are fantastic pets!!!
You should empty their food and water bowls daily, as they will kick bedding in it, and if they are like my rats, you may even find ratty raisins. Hairless rats do eat more to keep warm, and will also stash their food. You can use aloe vera, or vegetable oil. Just use a bit if you notice dry skin- or after a bath to prevent the skin from drying.
If you live in a cold climate- and you are concerned about their warmth in the winter you can take an old sock, and cut holes for the front legs and the head, and you have a hairless rat jacket!! Add a rat or two that have fur as cuddle buddies, this will help keep your hairless rats temperature regulated.

here are some links-
http://www.skyclyde.com/HairlessCare.html
http://www.skyclyde.com/OddFellowsHairless.html

Good luck with your new pets!

Teej

Answer 4

You can hold them & play with them right away, especially since they seem to be well-socialized already.
It does sound like they're stashing their food-- our girls actually make a game out of this when I'm hand-feeding them. Each one will grab a bit of food, dash off with it & immediately return for more. Our boys do this too, but not so enthusiastically.
You'll pretty much be able to tell when to give them an olive oil massage. If they don't look like they have dry skin, you might want to do this about once a week to prevent dryness & it's a nice way to bond with your little ones.

Answer 5

You should be able to hold them now. You may want to consider getting them a fury friend to snuggle up with. Hairless have a harder time regulating their body temperature and you will also have to keep the house at a constant temperature that they are comfortable at. They are more sensitive to changes in the environment than other rats are. Put some fleece in the cage for their bed or make them a fleece hammock or tube to sleep in. Keep them out of direct sun light. I wouldn't put lotion on them unless their skin gets itchy or it will actually cause irritation itself. You will want to bathe them every one to two weeks though to keep them clean. Just a baby shampoo to clean them with though since most soaps will irritate their skin.

Answer 6

ok well frist off the room temp should not be below 60digress ferhinhite

Is a rat right for you?
Rats make extremely good family pets; they are very intelligent and become quite tame with regular handling. There are many different colour variations available such as white, black, agouti and chocolate. Rats are not very expensive to keep, but you should buy the largest and most interesting cage you can afford. Rats live, on average, between two and two and a half years.

Where are rats from?
Fancy rats are descendants of the brown rat, which are thought to have originated from Asia. The keeping and breeding of fancy rats became popular in the early 1900s. As a result of captive breeding there are now many different colours and coat types, such as the Rex and even Hairless!


Where should you keep a rat?
Rats need lots of exercise and stimulation, so buy the largest cage you can afford. There are many different types of rodent cages available, however it is essential that the cage you buy is designed for rats and not for smaller rodents such as hamsters. Perhaps the most suitable type of enclosure is either a large wire multi-level cage or an aquarium with a well ventilated, secure lid as rats are extremely agile and can jump up to two feet or more! The minimum size cage for one rat is 60cm x 37cm x 22cm.

You should provide your rate with an entertaining environment. Suitable items include apple tree branches, rocks, tunnels and pieces of rope. Nesting boxes suitable for birds can also be provided. The base of the cage should be covered with a layer of wood-shavings. Sawdust should not be used as it is too fine and can irritate eyes and noses, and cedar wood-shavings can cause an allergic reaction.

You can also provide your rat with paper nesting material for him to nest with. Straw is not suitable as bedding as it is too sharp and may injure your pet’s eyes and mouth.

The cage should be cleaned at least once a week with hot water and a disinfectant suitable for pets. Rats are very clean and normally do not smell. Your rat will normally use one area of his cage as a toilet; this may need cleaning daily to reduce any smell.

Breeding
Female rats are capable of breeding at an early age. She can breed from as young as 6 weeks, but should be at least 12 weeks;
Pregnancy lasts between 21-23 days;
Average litter size is 8, but can vary up to 18;
The young rats’ eyes will open between 12-15 days;
The young can be removed from their mother at 4 weeks of age.

How to handle your rat
When you first get your rat home it is best to leave him alone for the first day or two, to allow him to get used to his new home. Allow your rat to sniff your hand before you handle him, this will help him get used to your smell. Gently stroke your rat in his cage to reassure him, once the rat allows you to do this he will normally allow you to pick him up. The rat should be gently scooped up with two hands, never pick him up by his tail. Once your rat becomes tame he will enjoy coming out to play at regular intervals.

Remember your rat likes to chew, so whenever you let him out of his cage he must be supervised at all times.

Keeping your rat fit and healthy
Rats normally stay healthy throughout their lives. However, they can be prone to a number of common complaints, most of which can be avoided with correct care and attention.

Rats can be prone to breathing problems; if your rat starts sneezing and is scratching excessively and there are no signs of mites this may mean your rat is allergic to something. Cedar wood-shavings can sometimes cause allergic reactions in rats.

Your rat’s teeth are constantly growing, and if they become too long he may be unable to ear properly. Signs that your rat’s teeth may not be growing properly are weight loss and a reluctance to eat and chew. Providing your rat with treats and a mineral block will help him to keep his teeth in trim. If your pet’s teeth do become overgrown you must take him to your vet.

What do rats eat?
Rats in the wild are scavengers and will eat a wide range of foods. In captivity you should provide your rat with a varied diet. The basis of a good diet should consist of a dry rat mix containing a mixture of seeds, peanuts and biscuits. This should be supplemented with cooked egg and washed and dried vegetables such as sprouts, carrots, cress, tomatoes and apples.

Feed bowls should be sturdy earthenware bowls as they are heavy, gnaw proof and easily cleaned and disinfected. Uneaten food should be removed daily, and the food bowl thoroughly washed. Remember your rat will drink a lot compared to other rodents so make sure clean, fresh water is available at all times.

Do rats like company?
Rats can be kept singly providing that you give them lots of human contact, care and attention. However, they are probably happiest kept in pairs from a young age – but remember, mixed sexes will breed very quickly, if not neutered.