Rat pup care...

[Loki1108]

Didn't have the heart to feed Loki his 5th rat pup today, not after he ate the 2nd 2 of both feedings alive... This time I heard the little guy squeaking for a bit afterwards.

Sooo, now I have a rat pup that's about... 2 weeks old? His/her eyes aren't open yet, niether are his ears.. But he's crawling around, and has a very thin layer of fur.

Right now he's sitting in Gnomey's old cage bottom (no real need for the top, he can't escape ) in a slipper that won't be used any more because the match was destroyed... I warmed the slipper using a hair dryer, made sure it wasn't too hot, and put him on the heel and he crawled right into it. I've been giving him water from an old eye dropper, so he stays hydrated, because it was all of... 45min ago my dad said to keep him for a few weeks and see if he is a she (realllly hope he is)

My question is, do I feed him puppy or kitten milk? And should I warm it, or just give it to him? Also, is feeding every 2hrs OK? Or does he need more/less?

I couldn't knowningly give Loki the pup if he was going to eat him alive... Next week he gets the next step up so I can only feed one, and have a higher chance of him killing it..

Oh- Here's the little guy/girl I've dubbed Waffle for now (His colors look like waffles )

[youbeyouibei]

That little dude/dudette is adorable! Hope she/he makes it through okay. I think this sight has most of the info you were looking for/requesting and maybe some you didn't ask for but might be good to know, lol! Good luck!

http://www.ratfanclub.org/orphans.html

[Loki1108]

-Typing one handed as Waffle gas fallen asleep in the other, sorry for typos-

Unfortunately, Dad doesn't like the idea of me waking up every few hrs to feed and make sure a rat pup is warm enough. Sooo, Waffle goes back to the guy I bought him from tomorrow, since I've already named him, therefore, as a house rule, he isn't to be fed to the snake (My parents will come to regret this rule soon possibly )

So, I'll continue to wake up and make sure he gets water every few hours, and warm him up, and, much to my lack of slee last night, and tonight, keep my fan off so he doesn't get too cold...

Next time I'll tell the guy to tell me the sex when I get the rats, unless I can tell... Dad says if we get a female, we keep her, and buy another male... Apparently he thinks it'll be more cost effective... I won't argue, because rat babies are adorable ^_^

[youbeyouibei]

That might be the best scenario for him as well as you, especially if your parents aren't on-board with you keeping/tending to him/her. The breeder might have a surrogate mom that would adopt him/her and keep him/her fed and warm while he/she grows up a little more. Hope it works out for you.

[Loki1108]

That might be the best scenario for him as well as you, especially if your parents aren't on-board with you keeping/tending to him/her. The breeder might have a surrogate mom that would adopt him/her and keep him/her fed and warm while he/she grows up a little more. Hope it works out for you.

I'm pretty sure his breeder still has his mom. But, I also have a friend, who referred me to the breeder who can take him and feed him to one of his snakes. I just can't feed him to -my- snake. I'm fine if he becomes another snakes food, I just can't put him with a snake who won't kill after the first because he's a pig (hense after 3 or 4 single rat feedings we're going to try f/t & zombie dances, then move up in size until he's at full sized adults)

That's also why my brother & I dubbed him Waffle... Easier to give to someone knowing he'll be snake food, since his name is a food for us.