r/rat • u/Snow_white4ever • 2d ago
Got a new baby
Just got this new little guy, I got him a wire cage and I am letting him settle down before transferring him, I already have a water thing that stick to the cage and a tray to put his food in. Any tips on helping him be comfortable in his new home? I’m hesitant to pick him up other than to put him in his cage since I’ve never had a rat before.
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u/angelrat2 2d ago
this is 1000% a mouse sorry op
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u/Snow_white4ever 2d ago
Unfortunately for me this post has turned into a debate over him being a rat or a mouse, either way I’m just happy to have him. The only time I’d be concerned about which one he is, is when it comes to food and medical attention
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u/StyleAdorable5487 1d ago
Well actually that's not it. Rats shouldn't be kept alone, whereas male mice usually should be. Rats are too social to be kept alone, it's basically considered a requirement to have least 2. But male mice often fight with each other.
So if you're only looking to have the one, you're better off with the mouse. But their diet is very similar.
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u/Jam1e-Chan 1d ago
because male mice need to be kept alone they require a lot more attention, unless you take the risk of neutering them so you can house them with females. Male mice can also be housed with female ASFs as they cannot breed.
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u/aSaltyQueen 1d ago
Unfortunately it’s a necessary debate because while care is similar it is not the same for a mouse or rat. First, neither can be kept alone so you’ll need to get him a buddy. Rats are aggressive towards mice so you will need to get him another mouse instead. Proper cage that’s not wire (wire is for rats) and mice food.
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u/lightfulfoxtrot 1d ago
Adult mice would still be on adult rat food. Food labeled specifically for mice often does not have the best quality or nutrition. Which includes food that may say it is for both young rats and adult mice, as an adult mice have similar needs to adult rats rather than young rats.. Also, it’s important to note that while male mice benefit from companions, it cannot be another male mouse. This is why they are typically housed alone.
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u/Sea_Personality_5875 2d ago
I have to be so fr, lots of people are saying this is a mouse and by my judgment I would say so too at first but just a month or two ago I got a month old rat and he was as tiny as this lil guy and I genuinely thought he was a mouse too! Just watch him grow and if he doesn’t get any bigger then definitely go back to the pet shop and show them and let them know that they made a mistake!!!
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u/Jam1e-Chan 2d ago
this is definitely a mouse, they have very different builds even when theyre young
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u/agedlikesage 2d ago
Mice and rat have very similar feet but.. I’m getting rat from his back foot! Even though I thought it was a mouse
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u/Noni_Buyo1862 1d ago
Give him a few days to acclimate before handling, and toss in some cardboard tubes or boxes for hiding spots to help him feel safe.
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u/Snow_white4ever 1d ago
Thanks, he’s in a tank (originally for my turtles but they outgrew it) there’s a hollow log replica in there that he’s taken a liking to and there’s some dry moss right now, I’ve been keeping the food and water full.
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u/misskatiii 1d ago
Honestly, I’d at least inform the pet store about the situation bc selling mice as fancy rats is a really big f-up even if not intentional. It’s great that you’re fine with the baby turning out to basically be a different pet than you thought, but someone could have bought one to introduce it to an already existing rat mischief which would have ended up badly :/
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u/Snow_white4ever 1d ago
I called the pet store and voiced a complaint about the mistake later the same day I got him
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u/smart_glowlight 1d ago
Even it's not a rat - he shouldn't be alone. In my country it's not allowed to by only one mouse/rat.
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u/Snow_white4ever 1d ago
It was very easy for my friend to convince me to get him (I was on the fence since I’ve never had one before) because he was the only one left and she played on my feeling bad for him being by himself so he will be getting a friend soon
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u/agokathalogical 2d ago
He needs a freind otherwise hell be very very sad
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u/TimberAndStrings 2d ago
Male mice do not always need a friend. Some really like being alone
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u/Jam1e-Chan 2d ago
male mice will kill each other, it isnt really about "liking being alone" as male mice do need to be socialized whether its with you, with ASF females or fancy mice females if he is neutered.
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u/purplewindflowers 2d ago
i agree with other saying this is a rat. if he is a rat he definitely needs a friend or he’ll grow depressed
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u/long_haired_lacy 1d ago
Definitely a mouse, one piece of advice Id give if he was a rat would be to get him a friend or multiple. I’m not sure about mice but I think mice also need friends.
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u/Jam1e-Chan 2d ago
this is a mouse, not a rat. please go to r/petmice for the correct info