Baby rat is only eating sunflower seeds..help?

Question

I got a pet rat this tuesday. And she is only eating sunflower seeds. We bought the food the store was giving all of them but she wont eat it. So my dad and I put some in there and that's what shes been eating, the sunflower seeds. Also, I don't know if shes drinking from the little bottle thing or not. So I put a bowl of water in there but I don't know if shes drinking from that either. Any advice would be very helpful. Also shes a month old.

Answer 1

You probably got a kind of generic rodent mix. Rodent mix is fine for mice, which are primarily grain eaters but rats need much more than grains.  A few sunflower seeds are okay to give your rat, say 2 or 3 a day, but never give the salted kind.  Don't give rats any kind of beans or other food that causes intestinal gas (it can kill them) nor any raisins/grapes.  Do give your rat a little of whatever you eat; bread, fruit, veggies, meat, eggs, poultry.  No junk food or desserts, please.  Rats are omnivores.  For more information, your pet store should sell books on the care and feeding of rats which are well worth reading if you want to be a good pet owner.  Take out any leftover food after 20 minutes so it won't spoil and mske your rat sick.

Answer 2

She's still really young, i breed rats and don't place them in new homes till they're six weeks old.  She might not like the food your giving her, try some breakfast cereals, yoghurt, fresh fruit and vegies, brown rice, wholemeal pasta(cooked) rolled oats, some dog or cat kibble.  I had the same problem when i got my first rats years ago, but they started eating more when i gave them more variety.  

Answer 3

Most rodents prefer sunflower seeds over anything else in their food mix. It's nothing to be worried about. Sunflower seeds to rodents are just like chocolate cake compared to something like broccoli for us. Sometimes young rats, hamsters, gerbils, etc. don't understand the concept of a water bottle right away. They figure it out though, especially a rat because rats are intelligent. Give her time and she'll figure it out. I don't think you need the bowl of water in there but if you're too worried about her not using the water bottle then I guess it's okay to have that in there. But she's fine, don't worry. Good luck with her and have fun with her, rats are great pets!

Answer 4

My rats personally love sunflower seeds the best. They are good for their teeth because they can gnaw them open. Water bottles are a better solution, because they do not tip, and are easier for them to drink from.

If you are worried about its weight, see your veterinarian.

Answer 5

Aww, a month!

Anywaaay... Seed mixtures generally aren't the best for rats, though they're not horrible the alfalfa pellets are indigestible and just get left at the bottom and rats tend to only pick one part (like sunflower seeds) And while sunflower seeds are very good for them, it'd be like eating only broccoli for your whole life, not the healthiest, no variety.

I'd try making your own mixture, this is a good recipe:

http://www.worldofrats.com/ROUSRatMixRec...

Or you could get some good lab blocks, that's great too:

http://www.kimsarkrescue.org/content/vie...

If you make your own, get a high protein dog food, and if you get the lab blocks, get the one highest in protein, because if she really is a month old, she was just barley weaned and still needs the protein. :)

Oh, and if you only have one, get another one! Rats desperately need the company of another rat, especially a young one like you have. Get one close in age and if possible, from the same litter. ALWAYS the same s*x though.

Answer 6

Obviously, the rat have the right to choose to eat sunflower seeds.  Maybe when she grows up, she might try other foods.  For now, let her.  It is not the worst thing in the world.  Always have a supply of water for the rat, even if she drinks it or not.  Obvisouly, when she gets thirsty enough, she will drink.