Guys! I need help! Now!!

[MischiefManaged]

I was in a pet store today getting stuff for my fish when I saw one of the employees come out of the back room where they keep the feeder rats, he had a plastic bag in his hand and it was MOVING! I had to ask him what was in it, and it was a little baby rat...... He said someone dropped off all of their rats that they couldn't keep them anymore and didnt care if they went as feeders. The little baby was in the bunch but, he said, they don't sell them that small so he was going to "dispose" of him. so I asked if I could have him... but he's soooo young (im guessing maybe 3 weeks at most) and I need help!

I picked up some soy baby formula (thats what a quick google search on my phone said I should do), I have HT blocks, and can go pick up anything really that you think i'll need!

Here's the baby! Age?

and would testicles be apparent by now? sex? (ignore the poop stuck to the foot)

Thank you!!

 

[lilspaz68]

I see girl and 3 weeks...start supplementing with baby cereal, ensure, soft foods, if you can get soy powdered milk formula that would be good as well. What an absolute darling!!!

 

[SQ]

soy infant formula mixed into baby cereal
baby will nibble good quality lab blocks

 

[KatTheHippie]

You can use the powder from the HT to make mush, just mix in some water to make it easier for the little thing to eat, or crush up some block for the same result. That poor baby, she's so lucky you found her :/ It astounds me how desensitized people can be..

 

[Joanne]

Wow! I'm so glad you rescued him!
It looks like it's a boy. He'd be too young for his testicles to descend yet. (That's my best guess!)
I'd say three weeks sounds about right.
Can he lick up food?
I would work on giving him lots of nutritious food like baby cereal (I mix it with soy milk) or scrambled eggs.
His diet needs supplementation right now - HT blocks are good, but the protein is too low for growing ratties so they need extra.
He's too little to intro to other rats right now unless you have some very young ones yourself.
Good luck! Right place at the right time for this baby!

 

[lilspaz68]

Wait 1/2 a week and testes will descend or not LOL...I hate sexing off of pics, but give me a live'un... :cheeky:

 

[temblabamomo]

What perfect timing that you happened to be there just as she was about to be gotten rid of. I'm so glad you were able to take her (or possibly him :giggle: )

 

[SQ]

You can also check for nipples - girls have about 12, boys just have a belly button

 

[xKrAzEdShOoTeRx]

dispose of a baby rat :O

 

[jorats]

That little one looks like a girl to me. Poor baby, so young...

 

[arresai]

OMFG!! WTF is wrong with people :redhot: :gaah: She/he is soooooo tiny and beautiful...how could anyone look at that face and want to "dispose" of him/her?

 

[henry's_mum]

humans can be so heartless.....
looks girl to me also, and yeah 3 weeks ish...
mushy lab blocks is good, along with the soy and baby cereal like everyone else has suggested.
thank goodness you were there when you were...
((hugs))

 

[MischiefManaged]

Ok here are some new pictures of the baby! I was thinking girl but I can't seem to find nipples!! lol

Compared to the size of my hand

 

[mamarat]

What a little cutie. :heart:

 

[Rattus]

omg that poor baby must have been soo scared! :redhot: talking about 'disposing' of animals as if its no big deal, thats gross!
You are this babys angel giving him/her a chance at life :joy:

 

[Sharlees rattakisses]

:thud: Cuteness overload!!
Poor sweetie, stoopid humans!! :roll:
Lucky you!! :cuddle:

 

[Joanne]

So teeny tiny - what a doll!

 

[MischiefManaged]

Ok I've been looking at pictures of 3 weeks old ratties online, and I'm starting to think this little one is a male!! I can't find nipples anywhere, and I've looked really hard, and I think the testicles may be just starting to form... I'll try and get good pictures later but he/she is so squirmy its hard! Hehe

 

[lilspaz68]

nipples are only visible for a finite time when the baby fuzz goes and the coat starts to grow in...you missed that window.

OK 3 week old baby sexing pics I can do Actually these babies are 20 days old

Baby girl (short gap between anus and genitals)...this baby ended up being Jorat's Scout

Baby boy (twice as big a gap between anus and genitals) this baby ended up being Jo's Sawyer. :heart:

 

[MischiefManaged]

Best genital shot I could get, what do you guys think?