Help me for having a heart? >>>>>>

Well Dec 24th I got more food for my snakes. I always tell the guy "no cute ones". Well when I got home I saw that I had two cute ones. A black and white and a brown and white one. Both in their fuzzy / just about to open their eyes stage. I felt bad but I still tossed both in the snakes feeding tubs and walked away. I felt even more guilty and ended up taking my dog for a walk in hopes to get my mind off of those two cute ones. Half way in to it, it really started to bother me so I turned around and ran as fast as my legs could carry me back on home. Flew into the house, flew in to my room, pulled open both tubs to see that I was to late for the black and white one, but the brown and white one was hiding and still alive. I grabbed her out of there!

So now since the 24th, I've been feeding this little one regular people milk out of a little syringe. She has opened her eyes and has gotten a lot more "frisky" and wanting to explore. She is in a small container with paper towels and is sitting on a small heating pad set to the lowest setting. I didn't think she was going to make it this far, but now I'm growing attached and really want her to make it and keep her as a pet!

So please please please if anyone knows how to care for baby baby rats please let me know!
How much should I be feeding her?
Also is people milk enough?
Should I be giving her baby/kitten/puppy...some kind of other formula?

I've kept rats as pets before but just never bred them or raised a baby baby one!
Here are a few pictures - sorry they are out of focus. She is a little squirmy thing and as you can see.... she likes to wear her food.
http://www.willowdaisy.com/rat1.jpg

http://www.willowdaisy.com/rat2.jpg

http://www.willowdaisy.com/rat3.jpg

people milk... is that breastmilk or formula for babies? or are you referring to cow's milk?

I fed cat formula milk to our rat babies when I handraised them from 5 days of age, and recommend not to. Especially at 7days of age, but your looks A LOT healthier and bigger than the ones I handraised (only having one out of th e5 survive and now she is a happy mom of 13) We also gave her baby formula and baby cereal to help her with her poop and gain weight which she started to and start to thrive. Cows milk isnt that great and would recommend baby cereal and formula.

I don't blame you that one is cute!

http://www.willowdaisy.com/rat2.jpg

ALSO

I have bever seen a more beautiful rat in my life! Is that.. lon fur? And the pattern and all.. wow, SHE IS BEAUTIFUL! Your lucky still have her.. she is a beaut!

Cow's milk

Cool, thanks for the tips!!!!

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Originally Posted by Chester & Teagan

I fed cat formula milk to our rat babies when I handraised them from 5 days of age, and recommend not to. Especially at 7days of age, but your looks A LOT healthier and bigger than the ones I handraised (only having one out of th e5 survive and now she is a happy mom of 13) We also gave her baby formula and baby cereal to help her with her poop and gain weight which she started to and start to thrive. Cows milk isnt that great and would recommend baby cereal and formula.

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I'm no expert but I would go with either goat milk or KMR(Kitten Milk Replacer) diluted a bit. Cow milk isn't good food for rats

This article recommend the puppy milk replacer powder, and make sure the little one is going to the bathroom. If they are still too small then you may have to stimulate them. Here's an article that should help...

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Originally Posted by Freakie_frog

I don't blame you that one is cute!

http://www.willowdaisy.com/rat2.jpg

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OMG I soooo totally agree:D She is just to cute for words. Makes you want to hug em and squeeze em and lub em all over LOL

It looks pretty big to me. I think you would probably be ok feeding it normal rodent food and not worrying about the milk. It is at least at the point where it should take some rodent diet. I have had an adult female die while nursing and babies all did fine on their own when they were much smaller than that.

Yup she is going to the bathroom on her own. Also John.... she has been attempting to nibble on a small piece of kitten food today and also trying to get the grasp of cleaning herself... still a bit wobbly.

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Originally Posted by pfan151

It looks pretty big to me. I think you would probably be ok feeding it normal rodent food and not worrying about the milk. It is at least at the point where it should take some rodent diet. I have had an adult female die while nursing and babies all did fine on their own when they were much smaller than that.

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Check this one out
http://www.ratfanclub.org/orphans.html

Thanks so much!

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Originally Posted by Pork Chops N' Corn Bread

Check this one out
http://www.ratfanclub.org/orphans.html

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by lillyorchid

Thanks so much!

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No problem. Hope it helps a bit

Try soaking some rat blocks in KMR and see how that goes. The baby looks about 2.5-3 weeks old. Make sure you're stimulating it's bottom to go to the bathroom, otherwise he/she can get sick. Keep the fur clean too, don't want him/her losing hair from being dirty.

Also, a heating pad set on very low, put under one side of the box/kritter keeper, will help the baby stay warm, or get away from the heat if it needs to.