Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / August 2007

Q1) I know how much food a rat is 'supposed' to eat a day, that being
about 10% of thier body weight.

I am stuck on how much fresh food to give Christmas, so that she
doesn't 'go hungry' and doesn't stash it all. The last two housework
days I have found a pile of stashed food thats been a bit yukky in her
nests. She can't really go hungry, due to the dry food available, but
well, you know.

The boys don't seem to stash much or leave much either - but I assume
that due to them growing still. I try to give Christmas about a 6th of
what is in thier dish, and like any parent am happy when her bowl is
empty the next day, except for the stash that I look for now.

Should I get pedantic and measure out an ounce every night or what?
Perhaps clean up the stash, and start again with 5gms, and work my way
up to where she starts stashing?

Q2) can rats get cold sores? or more correctly, catch the virus from
one. I had a cold sore pop up over night and I really wouldn't want to
give the virus to them.

thanks guys,

M&m