Send HALP! Stuck with feeder rat!

[MontyAndMelissa]

Not gonna lie, the fact that they strike and therefore kill the fish seems cruel to me, and it seems to be for no reason.

Also, this:



They are toxic. It's a no no.

Well, I was unaware of this fact. She didn't eat the fish. I didn't know that eating it would have made her sick, otherwise I would have never even gotten them in the first place. And snakes strike and kill mice? That's not cruel, just the way things work. I don't really see it as cruel. No offense.

[Atrox]

In case you haven't found a solution to this, I have about six pet rats right now and I have kept them for about ten years, which is odd because I also own a snake. Rats will eat virtually anything you want them to eat, you can put a mixture of things in their bowl. Or just biscuits. Or go down to your local pet store.. Good luck.

[Sauzo]

In case you haven't found a solution to this, I have about six pet rats right now and I have kept them for about ten years, which is odd because I also own a snake. Rats will eat virtually anything you want them to eat, you can put a mixture of things in their bowl. Or just biscuits. Or go down to your local pet store.. Good luck.

Rats live 10 years!!?? I didn't know that. I figured they were like mice or hamsters and lives a few years and then kicked the bucket.

[artgecko]

They probably meant they have kept a group of rats for 10 years. Typically they live 1.5 - 3 years older than that is highly unusual.

To the OP: Try cereals (unsweetened if you have it) dry pasta, raw veggies like carrots, oats (oatmeal), some people include dry rice in their diet. No dry beans though. They can also eat boiled or scrambled eggs (unsalted) and even meat.. although that makes their poo stink.

You might want to consider switching to f/t unless your snake won't take it. It's much easier to save uneaten food (or throw it away) than to care for a living rat if it is not eaten. I use f/t and if you order several months worth at a time (or order when there is a shipping sale going on) it is pretty inexpensive.. Usually much less per rat than buying live.

I have kept pet rats for about 2 years now and they are a lot of fun... But they smell.. and you have to change out bedding frequently. Other than that, they are great. Males smell worse than females for some reason.

[SCWood]

Update: my fiancee broke down in tears. She has fallen in love. Nonetheless, the MIL says no so she is being given to a close friend who already has one rat. We will be sharing custody looks like she got lucky!

As for f/t, he is 6 years old so I'm not sure how much I can do to get him to eat it. We HAVE tried to no avail. Bad enough he only wants food in his cage. I now have a bottle, food, and aspen set aside just in case we have this problem again...

1.2 Normal
1.1 Red-tail
0.1 Albino corn

[SCWood]

Meanwhile I have these cuties staring at me!



1.2 Normal
1.1 Red-tail
0.1 Albino corn

[DVirginiana]

Well, I was unaware of this fact. She didn't eat the fish. I didn't know that eating it would have made her sick, otherwise I would have never even gotten them in the first place. And snakes strike and kill mice? That's not cruel, just the way things work. I don't really see it as cruel. No offense.

I think they meant because the snake just strikes and kills the fish but generally won't eat it (and there's no reason to even give them fish in the first place... it's just not part of their diet). It's not cruel to feed snakes mice and rats because there's a reason for it and the snake benefits. Feeding them something just so they can kill it is like giving your cat a live mouse to play with.

[Sauzo]

Update: my fiancee broke down in tears. She has fallen in love. Nonetheless, the MIL says no so she is being given to a close friend who already has one rat. We will be sharing custody looks like she got lucky!

As for f/t, he is 6 years old so I'm not sure how much I can do to get him to eat it. We HAVE tried to no avail. Bad enough he only wants food in his cage. I now have a bottle, food, and aspen set aside just in case we have this problem again...

1.2 Normal
1.1 Red-tail
0.1 Albino corn

I'm surprised your boa is so picky. Both of mine would eat a paper towel tube during an earthquake if I rubbed it on a rat. My BP is even worse, she would eat in a shoebox on the way home from the store after buying the rat. Its good though that you found the rat a home, he just won the "life lottery"

Lol I thought this was the boa part of the forum, omg lol. Since that isn't the case, I can see a BP being picky about F/T, although like I said, mine eats anything...fresh killed, F/T, feeding tongs, my hand or fingers...

[SCWood]

I'm surprised your boa is so picky. Both of mine would eat a paper towel tube during an earthquake if I rubbed it on a rat. My BP is even worse, she would eat in a shoebox on the way home from the store after buying the rat. Its good though that you found the rat a home, he just won the "life lottery"

Actually, it's a rescue BP the boas are garbage disposals!

1.2 Normal
1.1 Red-tail
0.1 Albino corn

[MontyAndMelissa]

I think they meant because the snake just strikes and kills the fish but generally won't eat it (and there's no reason to even give them fish in the first place... it's just not part of their diet). It's not cruel to feed snakes mice and rats because there's a reason for it and the snake benefits. Feeding them something just so they can kill it is like giving your cat a live mouse to play with.

From what I had heard, they would strike, kill and eat. She didn't eat it (which apparently was a blessing in disguise).