some rat questions

[mr~python]

ok, i know nothing about rodents but right now i have to take care of one because my snakes aren't eating. i p/k the other on and didnt want to by 2 more rats so i just kept this one. anyway, i have a couple Qs about him. first, how do i tell if its a boy or a girl? second, ive been feeding him dogfood and carrots. will that keep him healthy and happy till my snakes eat? third, is newspaper a suitable bedding fo him? i'm keeping him in our backyard, in a 20g, with a little cardboard box for him/her to hide in. is that ok?

ok, i think i got it all. thanks

[BiGBaLLiN]

i used to keep rats. you might want to buy some rat food made for rats. maybe just a small bag because dog food has way too much protein for the rat. carrots are fine. is it cold outside during the night where you live? if its too cold, you might want to keep him in the garage. rats acutally do not smell so keeping it indoors would be most ideal. newspaper is fine. make sure there is plenty of water. as far as being male or female, males will have pronounce testicles under the tail. just watch him/her for a few minutes and if you see testicles, its male. if not, female. i am actually thinking about breeding rats to save money constantly buying rats. so that might be an option for you too. good luck.

[JimiSnakes]

Yeah, Males are really easy to tell. They will eventually have to straddle their "testicles" as they get bigger. Those things will just drag along behind them. I used to feed them dog food, but they will eventually get a protien rash that is really disgusting and bleeds a lot. But if your only going to keep him for a week or so, you should be fine. The protien problem is a long term problem and has no short term effects on them.
~Jim

[Shelby]

As far as dog food goes.. feed Nutro Lite! It is LOW protein, and very high quality. Commercial rat foods (that you find at an average pet store) are crap.. don't waste your money.

Never use newspaper, because your rats will stink FAST. Go get some aspen shavings, or carefresh or whatever.

[Smulkin]

Those things will just drag along behind them.

HAHAHA - no DOUBT. What I call "draggin baggage" - makes them rather easy to seperate once they've matured to that point.

As far as the food goes I have used both Beneful and Kibbles and Chunks when the Beneful is unobtainable and not seen the rash mentioned. The mix is heavily adulterated with grain cereals though.

I've been trying the newspaper supersubstrate (laid underneath the shavings - not instead of) idea for a bit now and it really doesnt seem to affect the odor one way or the other. If it makes cleaning the bigger tanks easier though I may stick with it.

[JimiSnakes]

Yeah, it's not common, but it does occur when they are overfed protien and underfed all other forms of nurishment...I used to feed mine only dogfood and soon realized my mistake...

[Smulkin]

only dogfood

OK I gotcha now.

Sounds kind of like what happens to me on a strict diet of Cuervo and SuzyQs

[JimiSnakes]

Okay then...well that'll do it too

[mr~python]

its not too cold, about 50-60. is that ok? and what would you recomend i feed if i cant go out and by anything? my mom has a whole crisper of organic fruits and veggies so if you name it i probably have it.

[Shelby]

Cooler temps are actually better for rodents. 50-60 is fine.

If you have any grains/cereals, they are good to mix with dog food. Stuff like puffed rice/wheat, cherrios, oats.. etc. Nothing with sugar added though.