I bought some feeder rats for my snakes, and due to a feeding accident I have decided to quit feeding live prey. A lone weanling rat was left after I decided to quit feeding live and I want her to survive. I don't know much about rearing rats so maybe some of you can help. She is pretty small, about the size of a medium mouse. Shes got fur and gets around just fine, but I don't know if shes expecting mom's nipple. She seems to lick my hands a lot when I hold her.

Shes in a critter keeper that seems to be about 3-4 gallons. I put her on some leftover aspen and cut up a paper towel tube for her to play in. I don't have an extra water bottle so i filled a shallow glass dish with water for her for now. She hasn't had any water since I bought her at the reptile show, and there were not water bottles in their holding pen. I tried to syringe feed her some water but I couldn't seem to get her to take more than a drop. I put a piece of carrot in there and she ate some of it. We have guinea pigs and I was wondering if she can have some of their pellets until i can get some lab block. How long will she be able to stay in this small enclosure? And what am I going to do with her, I feel that she has been save from a fate of snakefood and has been chosen to live for a reason. Thanks in advance for your advice/comments.

Jared