Three Orphaned Baby Rats- Tampa Bay Area **Adopted** Thanks Jen

[Chris Miller]

Need homes for three orphaned babies approx 3 weeks old. These rats were found in a life jacket on my boat and I have been caring for them for 1.5 weeks.

All seem healthy (due to info provided by this site) and very friendly. I must find homes for these babies within the next 2 weeks as I am going out of town and I will have no one available to look after them.

Please contact me at c_r_miller@yahoo.com if interested.

[Noe]

Are these wild rats? Could you describe their sexes and coloration?

[Marybelle]

* Marybelle tries very hard not to look...

But better descriptions would be good....  

[Chris Miller]

I can only assume these are wild rats. The mother must have had them aboard my boat while I was moored at a boat dock. I did not find the babies until I returned home and cleaned the boat.

All three have a brownish grey coat with no distinguishable markings. I will try to take some pics and post them tonight.

They all seem to be the same sex (don't know which they just look identical). I will try to determine what sex they are and update this thread.

[Marybelle]

http://www.ratz.co.uk/sexing_rats.htm

That might help.

[Chris Miller]

Thanks,

All three are males.

[Marybelle]

Hm.  Well, I think that takes me out of it.  Hubby says no more boys.  Besides, at this point we'd have no place to put them....

[Chris Miller]

Here's some pics-

(By the way, can someone tell me if they *are* rats and not mice?)

http://www.posterland.net/babies1.jpg


http://www.posterland.net/babies2.jpg


http://www.posterland.net/babies3.jpg

[Heather]

How big are they now, inches wise?

[Chris Miller]

About 2.5 inches without the tail.

[Noe]

They look like they might be black rats (rattus rattus) as opposed to those normally bred for pets, norway rats (rattus norvegicus). But I've never seen baby black rats so I'm not sure.

If they're over an inch long (not including the tail), they are definitely not mice. Whoever takes them should be ready to bring them to a vet to check for parasites.

[Amphigorey]

Hi there -- I have e-mailed you privately in regards to the little  guys. I have several years experience working with and keeping (those that can't be released) both wild R. rattus and R. norvegicus and would be happy to share my home with them again. I'm located just outside Orlando.

[Marybelle]

Yay Jen!  Thanks!  I was feeling guilty, but I feel so much better knowing they'll have a great home with you!

[Amphigorey]

No problem    I am so excited! I'm going to take photos once I get them and from there make up a little page for them and post it here (in another section). Yay baby ratlets!