I picked up a male and a female rat about two months ago. I planned on breeding them so I could have a few free meals for my two BPs. At one point we bought two small male rats for my female but she didn't take them for about two weeks. The feeders were in the same tank as my pet rats the whole time. I didn't know that it was a bad idea until it was too late.

It seems that the feeders stressed my male (Humphrey) to the point where he was getting thin and stopped drinking. As soon as I realized this I gave the feeders to Louise and she took them.

He is eating and drinking (barely) now but he is still thin. I believe they gave him a respiratory infection, he has red tears and is breathing heavily.. I'm pretty upset too because I've become very attached to him.


I feel bad not taking him to the vet but I may as well feed him to my snake (as much as it breaks my heart) and buy a new breeder. My vet said it could take a while and lots of visits before he finds an antibiotic that would work for him, and that we should euthanize him but the way they do it is awful and I just can't pay someone money to kill my rat, if you know what I mean.


If it is a respiratory infection, what are his chances of beating it without vet care? Why isn't my female showing any signs of RI? Is there anything I could do to increase his odds of survival?