NOTE:
Due to the Holidays,there may be a short delay in receiving answers as fast as I usually do.However,any emergency question should be addressed by writing EMERGENCY in the subject line.If I read it and see its not an emergency at all but just a way to get my attention first,I will reject your question and you will not get answered at all.Any life or death situation, of course,should be handled by a qualified Vet.To request a telephone consultation, please email sandyscrittercity@yahoo.com. in order to schedule a date and time that is feasible for both of us. There is no time limit on weekends or after 9 pm M-F or if your cell phone carrier is Verizon Wireless.There is no charge for a telephone consultation. I offer my advice free of charge since my goal is to simply keep your rats happy and healthy for as long as possible. My reward is knowing that people learning as much as they can on rat care in order to provide the best care possible. Thats all I need to know. You cant put a price tag on love:)
As one of the top experts here at allexperts for 2008, I am happy to be able to help advise others on the proper care of pet rats.
I am a rat care specialist/advisor for area vets and have 20 plus years experience working with rodents.
I can advise you on the most current treatments available to your rat for common and also complicated ailments that seem to affect domestic rats during their life time. I do telephone consults and have even had some wonderful Vets call me to compare notes/stories. I also have training in animal behavior with the main focus being the study of rodent behavior.
I also have experience with wild rats, raising one myself.
Experience My expertise
Includes the following:
1. Education on prevention of tumors, lung and heart disease and disease of the kidneys too.
2. Up to date treatments for tumors in rats,both benign or malignant tumors.
3. The most current treatments used successfully to treat lung and heart disease
4. Prevention and treatment of the mycoplasma organism that our rats are plagued with since the day they are born, among other common ailments that attack our rats, just to name a few.
My job as a rodent consultant is to educate the owner on proper care of the animal but in no way does my advice take the place of seeking professional treatment by a qualified Veterinarian.
However, I will contribute to this site by answering your questions about raising pet rats and any problems that may arise regarding their health, diet, husbandry and over all well being of the rat to **the best of my ability.**
Organizations I maintain my website, Critter City and update it often to keep up with current treatments concerning pet rat health care. Please click the link above to take you there!
Publications My own website of course, and also I have brochures on rat care that are found in various animal clinics in my area.
Education/Credentials
Mentored by highly noted exotic specialists in my area. I am a member of the ASPCA.
Awards and Honors Was honored by being chosen to be one of the top 50 experts of 2008
Past/Present Clients My past clients have been through various animal clinics and I also am mentor to new rat owners that reach me through here and my website too.
Question Hi!
I recently aquired what I thought was a pregnant female mouse (a rescue). I have had her for 3 weeks now and it seems that she is just fat! I went today to purchase a female mouse friend for her (a 2 month old). While I was pickin up the baby- I somehow ended up with a 6 week old female rat that was about to be culled by the store. I currently have all 3 ladies in an aquarium that is about 2.5 ft by 1 ft. They are all in a big cuddly lump and are grooming eachother. I dont want to aquire any more pets, and want to know if I should be able to keep the 3 of them together. I also need tips on helping my baby rat's nutritional needs, as I feel certain she was taken from mom too soon. I put a dish of esbilac in the feeding area as well as a quality mixed seed feed. Thanks for any help!!
Answer Hi Becca
For starters, the rat and mice must not be put together. Right now because she is so young, the baby rat is too young to realize she is among mice. When she does, she will kill them. I have known some people that did not heed our warnings and put them together and and it took several months but it happened. It was not pretty. The rat is a natural predator of mice so, they will not get along!
I am glad you rescued her though. As for the aquarium, it really isnt ar good place to keep rats or mice once they grow. For mice, its not bad since they are so itty bitty, but once they are adults they need to be a mouse cage with the bar spacing very very close together. Rats also should never be kept in an aquarium. When small they should be in a cage also with the bars spaced closly together so they cant escape. Tanks do not allow proper air circulation and this can contribute to lung disease. Here you are asking me one thing and I am throwing all sorts of stuff your way, you probably want to strangle me. LOL!
Anyhow..about the baby rat and her food. Seed mixes are not good for rodents, esp rats. Birds eat seeds, rats need vegetables, fruits and a healthy rodent block that is low in protein and fat. You can buy these and moisten it with water so it gets real soft and feed it to the baby rat and also can feed her baby food too. Infant forumula (soy only) can be given via a dropper. The Esbilac is a bit too rich and high in protein for the rat but a little bit wont hurt for now. I would not use much though and when you can get to the store replace it with human baby soy formula.
