The First Seven DaysThe first week with your new rats is very important! I wrote this guide to help all of the new owners out. There is still plenty more to know, so make sure you do your own research as well. Hope you find it helpful! |
In the first week, you should keep a close eye on your rats for any illnesses. Although rats that leave my rattery are in great health, it's still not a bad idea to closely monitor them for any signs of sickness, which can be triggered during a stressful move. This includes, but is not limited to: Sneezing, wheezing/rattling noises from chest, constantly raised fur, hunched posture, squinted eyes, lethargy, a rapid loss of weight, and an excess of porphyrin. If you spot one or more of any of these signs, please contact me and/or your vet immediately. |
In the first week, you should transition the rats to their new food, if applicable. All rats in my rattery are on a staple diet of Mazuri 6F pellets. I highly advise you to buy this food for them, even if you are not planning to feed it to them long-term. Buy a bag and gradually transition them over to their new food by adding a little of the new pellets every day in replace of the Mazuri until they are completely eating the new pellets. Do not feed them any other foods at this time as you'll need to monitor them to make sure they're handling the new food well. Once they are on the new food with no problems, you can start feeding them fresh fruits and vegetables. Take it slow and introduce one new food per couple days to ensure you don't upset their stomachs. |
In the first week, you should be socializing your new babies as much as possible. For the first day or two, you can allow them to settle into their new home with minimal to no handling. They will likely be nervous in the new environment - this is to be expected. After a couple days, it's crucial for you to handle the rats as much as you can, even if they're still nervous. Feed them treats, pick them up, and hold them close to you. Some rats do perfectly fine in their new home from the get-go while others may need more time. Either way, you want to be confident and interact with them as soon as you can, as it will make the bonding process go much faster. Here are two links to two different methods you may use for bonding.
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