Ahhh, so much wrong info in this thread. First off neutering a rat does not harm them and they are just as prone to getting tumors (especially mammary tumors) as does are. Neutering a rat should be done as early as possible due to their chance of bleeding during the surgery. Most breeders such as myself choose to neuter their rats at about 6 to 8 weeks of age. Their chances of recovering quickly are greater, plus having a rat neutered can help tremendously with agression issues that may not pop up until later when they reach sexual maturity. Usually around 7 to 9 months of age. Just because he's a nice fellow now doesn't mean he'll stay that way. And just FYI, testicular cancer in rats is becoming much more common due to processed foods and bad breeding. If you do choose to neuter your rat please find a rat knowledgable veterinarian. Do research, ask tons of questions! You want to find a vet who has neutered rats before. Some clinics do them very often, and these are who you want to seek out. Neutering rabbits is much more complicated than neutering a rat so don't worry too much.

Oranges are a no no for male rats, but seem to be perfectly fine for females. I would definitely stay away from these.

My girlfriend feeds hers normal people food because processed rodent pellets are really bad for their health, worse than dog kibble is to dogs. I don't know what they can't have, but I know she won't give hers peanuts.
This is very untrue. Lab blocks and premium dog food are much much more healthy than traditional mixes. Lab blocks have 100% complete nutrition for rodents and are made that way. A good block to try? Harlan Teklad. These are the blocks most labs use to feed their rodents and keep them in tip top condition. http://www.teklad.com/ Of course, feeding just pellets is pretty boring. Would you want to eat the same thing day in and day out? Try spicing it up by introducing fresh veggies and fruits. Good ones to try are peas (frozen during the summer...you can play your own version of bobbing for apples), apples, carrots, green and red leaf lettuce, kiwi, banana etc. Absolutely NO cauliflower or broccoli!!! This can cause very bad gas which does not make for a happy ratty. Rats also love nuts (don't feed too many!), pasta etc. I give mine spaghetti and tuna cassarole often and they really enjoy it. Try not to give too much though as they can get pudgy quickly. Usually whatever is healthy for you is healthy for your rats.

I usually go to the health food store such as Trader Joe's to make my own mix. I buy only organic ingredients and mix a few pounds together in a bucket. It's far cheaper than buying a commercial mix and a LOT healthier. Kay is right on in regards to housing. Due to rats being prone to uri's having one live in an aquarium isn't a great idea. It may not smell to us, but imagine being that close to your bedding in such a confined area. They are right on top of their feces and urine, and being close to amonia isn't a good thing. Having a multi level cage is preferred, as long as the bar spacing isn't too big. Some good cage companies to try are http://www.martinscages.com/ , and Quality cages. http://www.qualitycage.com/ Both ship directly to your home for a small fee.

As others have mentioned please try to get a friend for Winkie. Rats are very very social! Here is a good article on why rats should have company that I find very helpful for new owners.

http://www.rmca.org/Resources/apair.txt


If you have any further questions don't hesitate to ask. I've been breeding rats professionally for about 10 years or so. Not that I know everything but I know quite a lot. Oh and thank you for rescuing this sweet boy! I think pictures are in order.