About Robin Bartlett Expertise I can answer any rat-related questions including feeding, housing, breeding, showing, genetics, health, and behaviour. I am a veterinary assistant and though I cannot answer in-depth health questions I am familiar with the most common ailments and treatments for rats. I have owned rats for 10 years and have been breeding them for 5 and have studied everything about them that I can get my hands on. I currently run my own rat care website at http://careguide.evergreenrattery.com and have been answering rat and other rodent questions via email and IM for several years now.
Experience I am a veterinary assistant who has owned rats for 10 years and bred them for 5. In this time I have learned nearly everything there is to know about rats and continue to study more about them every day. I have been answering rat questions via IM and email for several years now and I am currently ranked #3 on Yahoo! Answers for the best answers in the rodents category.
Organizations RatsPacNW, RMFE
Education/Credentials Though I am a veterinary assistant, I have not gone to college for it. My parents are both vets, and I have grown up with our family business and have learned what I needed to know on the job.
Question Hi, I have a baby rat and she/he wont eat anything. I've tried feeding him rat/hamster food, tried yogurt , given him grapes and he only nibbles at them and even tried a bit of milk in a syringe.
my baby rat doesn't really look old enough to be even around two months old yet he looks about 3 -4 weeks. I have had rats before but they've been a lot bigger than the one i have just got i believe my rat was taken away from her mother way to early because i have to take his water dispenser (with the ball thing at the end) held it and he will only drink from it when i hold it. also he has a fascination with my mouth and likes to lick my lips, I've had him for 3 days now, so when he was licking my lips i put i tiny dot of yogurt and he would eat it ? what's wrong with my baby rat or is he just adjusting still? Or could he just be to young to eat on his own ?
Please help me Im in a bit of a panic!
Thanks, Samm
Answer Usually when you first get a rat, especially if it is a little baby, they may be too scared to eat around you. Have you noticed any of the food missing or moved to a different place? Rats won't starve themselves unless they are sick; he's probably eating at night when you are asleep.
Rats start to eat on their own starting at 2 weeks, but aren't fully weaned until 4-5 weeks. If you think your rat may be 3-4 weeks you may want to give him some human baby soy formula in a little dish and see if he will drink it.
Use a gram scale to keep track of his weight; since he is a young baby he should be gaining a little bit of weight every day. If you notice his weight stays the same, or he begins to lose weight, you know he is not eating and may be ill. He may have to be seen by a veterinarian.
If the rat/hamster food is a seed mix, switch to a block type food. Try to find one where the first ingredient isn't corn. These provide better nutrition than mixes where the rat can pick out what he doesn't want.
Hopefully he is already eating, or will start soon. Keep track of his weight and if he shows any other signs of illness or is losing or not gaining weight, take him to the vet.
I hope that helps you out, good luck with your rat!
