I am adopting baby rats but...?

Question

I am in a vet school and our rats are having their last litter (they were used to breed snake food :( ). Since there is enough 'food' for that nasty ol' snake, I and some other students were allowed to adopt some rats. I've chosen a male and female (the male will be neutered) but I have never cared for small animals before, only dogs. I've bought a three story cage, some rat chow, food dish, water dripper thing, and aspen bedding stuff (I heard from forums that it's good stuff)

My questions are these:
1) At what age should I let them be before I take them home?

2) What can I do in the mean time to help take care of the rats at school? I do not believe they are properly kept (I've read that rats need 2 cubic feet per rat for a cage size. These ones have small hamster cages).

3) Should I do anything with the babies at school such as moving separating them? If so, when and with who? Girls stay with mom, boys stay with dad?

Thank you in advance!

Oops, yes I did forget to add their age. They are around 2 weeks old. They only just opened their eyes two nights ago.

I hear two same sexes are best to live together, but these two I picked are just...Well, out of the litter, which are mainly black and white, these two are twins! They are both tan with a white spot on their heads. They're so unique compared to the other rats living with them that I'd love to care for them both. The doctor in our school does neutering for free for students and has done this surgery before. Would a neutered male and an unaltered female be a good pair? They're just so beautiful.

Answer 1

Sounds great and I'm so glad you are getting the male neutered. They should live well together, but will have very different personalities. There may be some scuffles, but no one should be permanently harmed.

They are usually weaned around 4 weeks old, so make sure they are at least that old. I'm not sure at what age the dr. wants to neuter the male, and to be honest I don't know what the best age is.

Rats do need a lot of space, but I think they'll be fine for a few more weeks in a small cage, especially since they are not full grown.

What you should do while you're at school is to handle them as much as you can. Preferably for about 15-20 mins at a time, 2-3 times a day (but whenever you can is better than nothing). They will get used to being held and to your scent. With babies it's best to hold them close to your chest and support them well while petting. =)
I would not separate the babies at all, all of them need to be with the mom until they are weaned. However, you want to remove the dad, all he usually does is step on them. . .

One note on bedding: I've heard Aspen (and that brand only!) is ok, but I never use any type of wood chips. They tend to cause upper respiratory infections, so I stick with Carefresh bedding. It's much more absorbent and easier to clean (in my opinion). But that's your choice.

Have fun with your new ratties!

Answer 2

Thank you for providing a home for these charming creatures. I have 6 pet rats right now.
You didn't say how old they are now, but if they are still with their mama the boys can stay with her for 5 1/2 weeks and the girls can stay for 8 weeks. If they are that age or older then go ahead and take them home so you can start holding and playing with them as soon as possible.

I would suggest that you get either 2 boys or 2 girls so the boy doesn't have to be neutered. There is always some risk in any surgery for rats.

If they are under the age I mentioned, if the mama will let you, start picking them up and holding them. don't ever pick them up by their tails, I'm always suprized when I see a lab rat being picked up that way, seems they would know better. Gently slide one hand under them and cup your other hand over them.

They do need to have the baby boys separated out by 5 to 5 1/2 weeks old. I guess I would get 2 boys, that seems so young to be on their own.

Keep going to pet-rat websites to keep learning ll you can. I still learn new things there.
Rats make such good pets and it's fascinating to see the different personalities each has.

Enjoy your new little fur-babies!

Answer 3

1. Boys should be removed from the girls between 4-5 weeks b/c sometimes they're able to breed that early. Girls can stay with mom indefinately but boys should have a separate home (preferably not with dad). If you do adopt a male & a female, be aware that males can still reproduce for a few weeks after neutering, so don't put them together right away (but keep their cages close so they'll be used to each other-- not close enough for mating through the bars though).
2. If possible, campaign to get them bigger cages & enrich their lives with hammocks, cardboard boxes & other fun things. Interact with them as much as possible, they're such friendly & sociable little guys.
3. I think I covered this in #1 above.

Answer 4

at five weeks they can breed so separate on the first day of the fifth week. rats love treats.. an occasional dog biscuit helps them file their teeth if you know what ones you are keeping handle them as often as possible to help them get used to being pets. rats are social animals so putting the males in with dad after five weeks is fine as long as the dad does not show too much aggression (they are too lazy by nature to fight to the death with younger quicker babies, the only time the young are really at risk from the dad is when they are new born to about 3 weeks, and if dad is well fed this is rare) but enjoy rats are the best they are smart and can be taught tricks, but mostly they will just love to sit on your shoulder and sniff around. also any thing you can eat, they can eat veggies and fruit are the best for them of course.

Answer 5

Remove the dad all together, he might eat some of the babies.

I would suggest taking them home when they can eat on their own, all of their fur(depending on the bread, some don't have fur) has come in, and the males have developed.

If you want to help while they are still at your school, make sure the cage is cleaned regularly and that they have enough food and water, especially over the week end. You can start hand training them so that when you take yours home they wont freak out when you try to hold them.

Answer 6

They need to be separated by sex. I'd watch adult males and babies, males can get agressive. Females go into heat every 5 days or so and can get pregnant very, very early in life.

http://ratfanclub.org/helpinfo.html

has great info on rats, from a respected woman in the community.

http://www.ratsrule.com/ratcare.html

another great site with links everywhere.


one of them has an article about soy based lab blocks lowering the occurance of mammary tumors in females. Also about males and their hind limb paralysis in later life.

I currently have a rat that is 6-7 months old, and a baby that is about 1.5 months old according to her breeder. They're both the greatest little animals ever, but they do need handling to be social.

this is a great website for things to do with/for your rats.

http://www.dapper.com.au/index.htm


they're insanely addictive pets, and far more entertaining than a cat. My boyfriend and I had ours out earlier, and the older one was on his shoulder, and the baby was on mine. I'd reach out to pet the one on his shoulder and she'd bolt over to my shoulder, chase the baby across my arm and they'd switch sides. then she'd wrap up in my hair and brux like crazy. Anyway, I hope those sites help...and If you're becoming a vet, when you eventually get out into the world and start a practice, or working somewhere, make sure ratties are welcome. Its so hard finding a competent vet who thinks that rats are worth the time.

Answer 7

I'd say you can take them home around 5-6 weeks. Make sure they're eating on their own first.

Start socializing them after their eyes open.

Separate them at 4 weeks old. You don't really want to house the itty bitty baby boys with big ol' dad. You could get bullying, but you could try. I'd leave the girls with mom for another week to help dry her up then tak them away. Boys should be housed together but I'd recommend not with dad.

Here are a few articles that may help once you get your's home
Housing:
http://hubpages.com/_whitney05/hub/Housing_Pet_Rats

Games/Toys:
http://hubpages.com/_whitney05/hub/Games_and_Toys_for_Your_Pet_Rats

Illness:
http://hubpages.com/_whitney05/hub/Signs_of_Illness_In_Your_Rat

Treats:
http://hubpages.com/_whitney05/hub/Rat_Munchies

Answer 8

Just one thing - don't use wood for the bedding. Rats are susceptible to lung disease and wood chips do not help. You can use old fleece or paper towel too.

Answer 9

a baby rat needs to be a weiner ...or a weened rat which is at the age of about 2 months or around the time that they stop feeding off their mom ...but i would suggest lettiing them stay with there mom about 2 days after they stop feeding...

no they r not kept wrongly...that rule only applys if there is more than one rat in the cage...small hamster cages r fine for rats but they r happier if it is a larger cage...u can buy large rubbermaid containors and put drill holes at the top and then put bedding in it and a water dish and food dish..and they will live great and happy...

no dad will kill any babys he sees...so get 2 seperate large rubbermaids and do the same as the last ones and sepoate the babys in them

here is a care sheeet i found most acreate...

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.

hope this helps

Answer 10

Id just ask your teacher about this...