Please help - Does this rat need help eating?

[Mindibun]

I just got back from Walmart with kitten formula. I tried to give him/her some, but he/she didn't want it. Then I tried peanut butter, and he did eat a little bit of it, then when I put him back in the carrier he ate a pumpkin seed. Or at least appeared to.

So, I'm hoping ... *fingers crossed*

[littleindiangirl]

If he really is 60 grams, that rat is a weaner and should be eating solid food as well now. He's approx 3 weeks old, I always wean at 3 weeks.

Give him a bunch of aspen to play in, easily accessable water and a dish of rat food. I recommend if your going to keep him to get him a play mate. Rat's should always be kept in pairs, they are really social creatures and need a mate.

Also, don't give rats peanut butter. It's too thick and they can easily choke on it.
You can give him a few treats like bread and left overs.
Check out this link for foods to avoid.
http://www.ratnutrition.com/suppleme...forbiddenfoods

You can toss in old paper towel tubes and stuff for him to destroy and hide in too.

[Mindibun]

When I woke up this morning I picked him up and held him for a while then offered him more KRM. He drank a few drops of it but not much. Right now he's jacked one of my cheerios and is eating it on my desk. So I guess he's in an in-between stage. I'm just nervous because he's not eating very much at all. Just a seed or a cheerio here and there. He drank only a little water last night. And all he does is sleep.

Is this not eating and always sleeping thing normal for a baby his age?

Also, if I get him a companion should it be another lab rat, or a pet store rat? Because I'm afraid the pet store rats will be MUCH too large to play with him.


P.S. He's currently eating a dried strawberry.

[littleindiangirl]

When I woke up this morning I picked him up and held him for a while then offered him more KRM. He drank a few drops of it but not much. Right now he's jacked one of my cheerios and is eating it on my desk. So I guess he's in an in-between stage. I'm just nervous because he's not eating very much at all. Just a seed or a cheerio here and there. He drank only a little water last night. And all he does is sleep.

Is this not eating and always sleeping thing normal for a baby his age?

Also, if I get him a companion should it be another lab rat, or a pet store rat? Because I'm afraid the pet store rats will be MUCH too large to play with him.


P.S. He's currently eating a dried strawberry.

He can be housed with another rat of any size. I have my girls foster weaners when they aren't breeding, and they will clean and fuss over the young ones. Just make sure to get one of the same sex. I find the weaners will quickly fall asleep in hoods and pockets and be content for quite a while

Rats will instinctively eat only small amounts of whats offered and run away and wait for any delirious effects. This is how they know what food is ok to eat or not. Continue to offer the same food you see him eat in a little dish, once he thinks he's safe he should go and munch on some more.

Also, when the larger rat starts to eat the food, he will want to greedily join in. I know there are rat people out there that say (now i have no idea if this works or not) to eat or put some of the food in your mouth to get the rat interested in what your eating. I have honestly no idea if it works, but if your desperate you can try.

[littleindiangirl]

Also, maybe try and do a KMR mixed with some food, to make the food a little softer, like you do for puppies. Maybe it will smell icky good to him

[Pork Chops N' Corn Bread]

I wean my rats at about that size(judging by your finger size). He should be ok. You may even offer him some moistened food to get him started.

[catawhat75]

For those of you who wean at 3 weeks, have you noticed any ill effects? I have always waited until 5 to give them the best start possible.

[Beardedragon]

Cant help you with its problem, but if i had that there is no way in hell i could feed that off! IM in love!

[littleindiangirl]

For those of you who wean at 3 weeks, have you noticed any ill effects? I have always waited until 5 to give them the best start possible.

Not at all, I think it's harder on the mother to have any past 4 weeks with her. , the mom will wean them regardless, but it does take the toll on the mother, and they do fine weaned at 3 weeks for me.

If you watch them, the rats will begin to eat the hard food around 3 weeks of age. So technically, I wean at 3 1/2 weeks because I do tub changes on saturday's, and they are most often born on a wednesday.