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My rat had babies while I was at camp?


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smerfartist
Yahoo User

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:15 pm Post subject: My rat had babies while I was at camp?

hi guys. i recently purchased a rat from a pet store. i know pet store's are bad, so please don't lecture. she's a sweetie & i luv her to death. her name is rhapsody. well, i went off to camp 4 or 5 days after getting her. i returned today, and she'd popped out 6 pinkies while i was gone. man, what a 'welcome home' gift. she's an amazing mother, or so mine says. she sits and nurses them, and is doing well. i cannot keep all 6, i may keep 1, which i will name bo. (short for bohemian). my question is; well i don't have a specific question. I need to know EVERYTHING about baby rats. if i touch one will the mother reject it? there's a runt; anything i should do? what are their stages of growth? thank you all so much in advance, from me and rhapsody both!

Kristy c
Yahoo User

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:20 pm Post subject:

Well go to the Library and check out rat books they usaully have breeding in there... I would have to just say don't touch them and sort of just let the mother rat take care of them. And basically all you should do is take care of Rhapsody.

candie_girl_634
Yahoo User

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:21 pm Post subject:

same as a regular rat except they grow quite fast and might be scared of you at first so be carefu when holding them, wait to hold it until about 3 weeks. good luck

mischugenah
Yahoo User

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:26 pm Post subject:

Your local pet stores will probably have 'all about rats' books. You also might want to try contacting an expert on the web http://www.petpeoplesplace.com/resources/advice/small_pets/small-rats.htmAs for what to do with them, do your friends want pet rats? Or if they're healthy, the pet store may be willing to buy them back from you.And I'd only say pet stores are bad if you're getting a dog or cat there, because dogs and cats are fully domesticated and there's so many of them that need homes. For rats, a pet store or specially dedicated shelter are the ONLY places I'd get one.

Classy Granny
Yahoo User

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:26 pm Post subject:

I'd not only check out what you can find at the library, but research it on-line and make a call to your vet. Before you sell them, make sure they are the right age and certified healthily by a vet.

elizabeth
Yahoo User

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:37 pm Post subject:

The mother will not reject the babies if you handle them. It is important that you handle them everyday so they become social. I assume they are more than a couple days old by now so go ahead and start holding them. Just for a few minutes a few times a day and as they get older, you can handle them for longer each time. Don't forget to separate the males and females at about 5 weeks of age or else the females (including the mother) can become pregnant.A few things you might want to know about.http://www.worldofrats.com/ROUSBreedingFAQ5.htmlPersonally, I would give the runt extra care if it seems it wasn't getting enough milk or attention from the mother. Though that doesn't seem to be the case from what you said.This link has information on orphaned rats.http://www.rmca.org/Articles/orphans.htm

Sophie G
Yahoo User

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 9:49 pm Post subject:

make sure you feed it enough to keep making milk and so it doesnt eat its babies an soon you should remove the boy and girls apart or they might have babies.

Coco Minnie
Yahoo User

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:54 pm Post subject:

Perhaps you should go to the library, give the 'mother' extra helpings of food, and don't touch the cage if the mother is inside. When she is gone, then you may touch them, as long as the mother likes you.

robins_rodents
Yahoo User

Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 11:14 pm Post subject:

Everything you need to know can be found on the breeding section of my rat website (link in my profile, it won't let me link it here for some reason), but I will answer your specific questions here.Rats are very good mothers and if she trusts you and is tame she will not reject the babies if you touch one. Even untame rats rarely completely reject their babies just because they were touched by a human. You can and should handle them daily.Their stages of growth are usually measured in days. They begin to show pigment around 2 or 3 days of age, and if they are darker colored rats they will turn a darker color, where light or white rats will remain pink. Their fur begins to show shortly after, with their full coat and color visible at 7 days of age. Their eyes and ears open at 14 days of age and at this point they will begin to walk around and explore their habitat, though hesitantly at first. Between 2 and 3 weeks they will start to sample solid foods and they are fully weaned by 5-6 weeks and are ready to go to their new homes. Make sure you take any males out by 5-6 weeks as well, as they will breed with their mothers and sisters.If you need help with sexing them, there are some good pictures of male and female babies on my website.For more information about rat care, please visit my website (link in profile) or feel free to email me by clicking the link on my user profile. Good luck with your rats!

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