What do I do??o.o

[Floof]

Alright,first feeding for Mallie.We went to the pet store and ended up buying a fuzzy rat...The girl insisted that was the size they'd been feeding their hatchlings since,for one reason or another,their pregnant mice hadn't given birth yet.Anyway,we went for it...I seemed to have forgotten how small Mallie really is and didn't really get to see the rat up close.Now we have a problem.The fuzzy is far too large for Mallie...A pinky rat may've been just about right.The point is,I need to somehow euthanize the rat and chop off its head,which should be right around the right size for now...But how do I euthanize it?I've read a bit about it on the forum since we discovered this little predicament,but whacking it against the wall just isn't all that appealing.My brother wants us to keep it as a pet,but it's eyes aren't even open,so not gonna happen.The only thing I can think of that doesn't directly involve me is put it back in the box and wait for it to die of hunger,but that sounds even worse than stuffing it in the freezer...We never planned to feed live in the first place,so I question my own lack of real research on the subject.

Well,this entire thing completely scratches breeding my own mice for Mallie,so I think we'll go f/t...But what do I do with the fuzzy?Even if we do decide to just take it back to the store to try trading it in for a pink,Mallie needs to eat...We'll get some frozen mice on order,but what should I do with the rat?Should I try to euthanize and behead it?Or should I take it back to the store and wait for the f/t to arrive?

Help would be GREATLY appreciated.I'm freaking out over this...I think the entire thing almost turned me into a vegetarian (amazingly,freakishly weird if it happened--I like chicken and beef more than I do ice cream!)...Luckily,a corn dog from DQ proved me wrong...Never thought killing a little rat would be so hard.:shrugs:

 

[Nanci]

Can you trade it in tomorrow for a frozen something smaller?

 

[Floof]

I don't think they sell frozen...We would have to get a live pinky or wait until we can get some f/t mice delivered...Do you think it wouldn't affect Mallie's f/t diet if I give her a live pinky,or would it be better to wait a few days for f/t?

 

[susang]

The rat as you say is to young to live on it's own, the best thing would be to kill it. Sorry to say the best thing for one rat would be to thump or snap the neck (which I can do). Put in a plastic bag and give it one hard whack and it's done. I took me two weeks to kill my first rat( but I had Mom to keep them alive), but it is easier now. Sorry fro your predicament. susang

 

[Floof]

Awww,do I really have to kill it?I would've whacked it already if I had the guts...:eek1:

 

[dionythicus]

It's too young to survive on its own. If you can't take it back to the pet store ASAP, then I suggest either cervical dislocation or the whacking against a wall. Make it one really good hard swing. You can't be timid about it or you'll just injure it and you'll have to do it again.

 

[Floof]

I realize it can't survive on its own...But about how long can it not go?We can take it back to the store,but going 'right now' would be suicide...it's pitch black out(and only 7:30 over here...Dx) and if it took an hour to drive twenty miles in the middle of the afternoon,we sure as hell wouldn't get there before closing time.Do you think it'd be able to survive until morning,at least,without anything?

Now,though,I even begin to question if I should feed Mallie right now--I pulled her out to weigh her(I only recently remembered we own a kitchen scale with gram weight),and discovered she's in blue...I understand some snakes will refuse food in blue,so should I bother?This predicament,as well,would make killing the rat more or less pointless unless we freeze it and hope it doesn't get freezer burnt before she's big enough to eat it,wouldn't it?

Oh,this is sad...I feel like I'm just fishing for excuses until an alternative is found or I find my guts again...Geeze.Why does killing rats have to be so much harder than smashing spiders and flies?>.<;;

 

[Velvet]

It should survive until morning, as long as it is kept warm.

Feeding in the blue is up to you, some people don't but I've never had problems feeding in the blue...some snakes will not eat though.

I would not recommend feeding the rat fuzzy head to your little corn. Not only is it poor in nutritional value but the chance of a regurge is very good.

I feed my BIG guys two rats fuzzies that size each...crazy petstore people!

 

[Velvet]

PS: Killing rats that small really isn't that bad...you do get used to it...and its part of being a snake owner...Try not to think about it so much, just do it if you are going to do it!

 

[Floof]

Ah,I decided I couldn't do it.Yeah,completely psycho pet store people!

Well,this sucks.I've become attached to the little fella!!We decided we're going to take it back,but not knowing if it would be able to live until morning or not,we tried to give it a ridiculously tiny piece of cheese soaked in half&half...It licked it a few times,but I don't think it likes the taste of havarte cheese...Since Mallie decided to go hide away for now,we stuck a folded up paper towel in the cottage cheese container and put him in Mallie's tank,more or less on the warm side,which is around 85* right now...I figure it should be good for him--I don't know what a rat's body temp is,but it's gotta be at least 85*.It's doing very well,sleeping soundly with the occasional twitch...

The horrible thing is,I want to keep it.While I was trying to feed it the cheese,its eyes fluttered...So it's not long from opening its eyes.Mom approved to the plan of getting kitten formula at the pharmacy tomorrow(thank god one of them's open on sunday..),and if it won't take it,we'll take him back to the vet...But otherwise,I want to keep the dumb thing!!!Dx Curses!I thought I swore off rats when the dogs accidentally killed my little brother's smuggled hamster...Excuse me.MY hamster.He may've smuggled it in,but Yummy was my hamster...Dx All my brother ever did was run around with her and leave the cage open because he didn't know how to close it properly.Stupid hamster.Should've figured out that roaming is a bad idea with two 80-pound boxers on guard...Dx

Sorry,got off track.

Anyway,I've handled the rat enough that I wonder if,if we take it back,the mother will re-accept him.I've heard rats are good foster mothers anyway,but still...I dunno.If all works out like I hope it will,the little rat will end up in my currently unoccupied critter keeper with a heat pad and some water 'n kitten formula!I know I should probably give the little guy up,but I really don't want to...

 

[Cat_Eyed_Lady]

from the looks of the rat pup..... he is maybe 10-12 days old if at that.... they arent weaned til they are atleast 21 days old. I really highly doubt it would live I would take it back to be with its mom... then if you still want it, go back and get it in a couple weeks

 

[Nanci]

I've raised squirrels from that stage. It's not so hard. He's not going to be eating cheese (which isn't what he should be eating anyway) until his eyes are open and he's walking around, but kitten formula is fine. If you can't find a pet nurser, you can let him suck off the end of a Q-Tip. Good luck.

Nanci

 

[Floof]

If I take it back,it'll probably end up food...

I figured he wouldn't want the cheese itself,but it and the half&half were the closest things to a rat's breast milk I could think of that might be in the house,so I was trying to at least get him to suckle off the corner of cheese.

Thanks for the idea,Nanci!I'll see what I can find when we get to the pharmacy.The little fella's doing fine at the moment,slumbering away in the corner of Mallie's warm side.

 

[MrsCornSnake]

Best of luck with your rat-pup. I hope it makes it.

But next time, shop around for some frozen. It takes away all the drama and angst. I personally see it like buying frozen chicken from the market, even though it always freaks out my house guests when they open my freezer.

 

[Floof]

Yeah,we're definitely doing frozen next time.
We'll be heading down to the store before too long.We don't know when the pharmacy is open(grandma insists they're open "one hour on sundays"),but after some brainstorming,its been concluded that the pet aisle at the local department store might,at least,have kitten formula.

 

[LeeC]

You can find find kitten formula at safeway, albertsons, or some gas stations even.

And you dont want to feed a mouse or rat cheese, even though u see it in mazes in tv and such... its like giving a baby human a butterfinger. Wont kill it but not good for it.