[ozzysangel]

Well, I was at the pet store.....for some reason it's like it waits for me to walk in and just see something wrong....but anyways, I always walk over by the rat cages and talk to them. And this itty bitty little rat came out of the wooden house they had in there for them and it looked waaaaaaaay to small to be weaned fully. So, me having the soft spot for rats that I have and me being VERY upset at the pet store. I bought him, (they made me pay 17.99 ) and he is here and is on a formula diet right now. If anyone could give me an estimate of his age I would be very happy.

 

[breyer08]

I'd guess maybe around 3 weeks? That's when their fur becomes fluffy. I've never raised rats, though, so this is just a guess. Thanks for being a hero for this little guy. He's got a great home now!

 

[ozzysangel]

Thanks, I just couldn't leave him there and still have a clear concious

 

[CrWoodyspets]

Aww poor thing Keep us updated.
I would say he's around a few weeks old, definitely doesn't look weaned! Great job caring for him

 

[Frankz]

Ugh, the way pet stores treat rats are horrible, ESPECIALLY when they're in tanks and have nothing to do.
I remember seeing too large rats TOGETHER in a tank that was literally no bigger than they were. It be a tank for like, a small lizard or something, if that.
Sorry I just like hijacked your thread LLOL.

But yeah, whenever I walk in a pet store i'm bound to see something I don't like >_>

 

[VanillaRat]

Awww...poor little guy.
He looks about 3-4 weeks to me.
Good luck with him.

 

[ozzysangel]

Ugh, the way pet stores treat rats are horrible, ESPECIALLY when they're in tanks and have nothing to do.
I remember seeing too large rats TOGETHER in a tank that was literally no bigger than they were. It be a tank for like, a small lizard or something, if that.
Sorry I just like hijacked your thread LLOL.

But yeah, whenever I walk in a pet store i'm bound to see something I don't like >_>

These rats were in a tank, which to me even if its big enough, rats should not be in. I agree petstores really should have tighter regulations put on them. That's HORRIBLE poor ratties

 

[ozzysangel]

Thanks guys, keeping my fingers crossed

 

[windyhill]

I looked at some of my od litter pictures and he looks about 3 weeks old. Poor thing. Pet Stores can be so horrible.

 

[TweedleDeedle3]

Oz, he probably is about 3 weeks old. My babies generally eat solids at three weeks, and stop nursing. At this point, I also take Mom out for a few hours a day to visit the other girls, and get some much needed rest.
So you can give him solid foods as well. I would also try and get him to eat some KRF (Kitten Replacement Formula), Hard Boiled Egg Mash, and a little bit of Oatmeal, with a little bit of meat bsed baby food in it (my ratties love the chicken/sweet potato food FYI).
I'm glad you saved him though! Congrats! Now Uno has a Pal! Yay for Uno!!!!

 

[Dustette]

KRF i think is also known as KMR in some places, cuz that's what we called it in new york...
I would have guessed about 3 or 4 weeks old as well. Definitely not old enough to be sold in my opinion, at the pet shop I was at, which was bad, we'd sell them at 5 or 6 weeks old not less.

 

[ozzysangel]

Thanks for the advice! I have been feeding him solids along with the KMR, he has been really bright and alert so I don't think any lasting harm was done. The pet store I go to (not normally to get animals just supplies) is always doing stupid stuff like this. Even going so far as to sell alligators (which someone turned them in for and they got fined) but still its amazing just how much people will sell for money its sick.

 

[CrWoodyspets]

Ugh, the way pet stores treat rats are horrible, ESPECIALLY when they're in tanks and have nothing to do.
I remember seeing too large rats TOGETHER in a tank that was literally no bigger than they were. It be a tank for like, a small lizard or something, if that.
Sorry I just like hijacked your thread LLOL.

But yeah, whenever I walk in a pet store i'm bound to see something I don't like >_>

At the pet smart by me they always have rats in way too small tanks.
They had 4 or 5 HUGE male rats in a 15 gallon tank (maybe, it might have been 10) last time I was there. It was sickening.

 

[windyhill]

The petstore near me sells alligators, but its legal here. Some people will sell just about anything to make a qiuck buck. Its so sad.

Hows the little guy doing?

 

[ozzysangel]

He's doing great! Very active and has to be near me at all times lol

 

[Jennicat]

Thanks for the advice! I have been feeding him solids along with the KMR, he has been really bright and alert so I don't think any lasting harm was done. The pet store I go to (not normally to get animals just supplies) is always doing stupid stuff like this. Even going so far as to sell alligators (which someone turned them in for and they got fined) but still its amazing just how much people will sell for money its sick.

Well they've learned an important lesson -- an unweaned sad rat is an easy sell!

 

[ozzysangel]

Well they've learned an important lesson -- an unweaned sad rat is an easy sell!

Well, if they were any kind of human beings they wouldn't repeat it.

 

[Jennicat]

Well, I mean, you already said they "constantly" do stupid stuff like this, including selling alligators, so I'm not sure why this should be the exception. It's apparently bringing in business -- people are buying their sick animals, they make money, and they don't have to pay for vet care!

 

[Storyseeker]

If they charged you 18 dollars, they were laughing all the way to the bank. Why is it the most unscrupulous people are the ones who open pet stores? This is why I refuse to go into crap pet stores anymore. All I end up doing is supporting them.

We've got a horrible place here in town called Ed's Pet World. A more vile example of animal trafficking I've never seen.

 

[ozzysangel]

If they charged you 18 dollars, they were laughing all the way to the bank. Why is it the most unscrupulous people are the ones who open pet stores? This is why I refuse to go into crap pet stores anymore. All I end up doing is supporting them.

We've got a horrible place here in town called Ed's Pet World. A more vile example of animal trafficking I've never seen.

I probably wouldn't even go there if it wasn't for the fact I live so far away from everything and its the only petstore within 40 miles of me. And I don't even think there's a feed store near me.