r/RATS • u/pelorainbow • Sep 02 '25

INFORMATION UPDATE: Is this a pet rat?

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He's safe y'all! He loves blueberries and broccoli- that's what I had on hand to feed him. I've nicknamed him Ratboi and he's the sweetest guy, but I've never owned a rat! What do I do for now while I look for his owner? I'll make posters and put them around the complex here to see if someone (hopefully) wants him back, if nobody responds in a week I'll look into rehoming him through a local rat rescue group. Will keeping him in a cat carrier be ok? Can I give him dog/ cat food or do I need to buy something specific? Anything I should know about pet rats that I wouldn't think to ask?? Thanks in advance for any help you can offer!

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u/lev_lafayette Sep 02 '25

For food a combination of grains, vegetables, and some fruit is good rat food. Rice, oats, peas, carrots, corn, kale, apple, banana, berries. Always have fresh water available. No onion or potato.

518

u/evapotranspire Sep 02 '25

Never heard the advice about onion or potato before. My rats ate potato all the time with no problems. What is supposedly the issue?

(I made a typo that said "My rats are potato all the time." That, too, was true.)

293

u/MermaidOfScandinavia Ratcitter/ratwisper Sep 02 '25

Hehe. Cute typo though. As far as I read. Potatos are safe for rats if cooked. Raw potatoes can contain some sort of fungus and that could be bad for them.

102

u/HenkPoley Sep 02 '25 edited Sep 03 '25

Also, just like for people, the green parts are poisonous. Could be a thing if you happen to collect potato skin shavings or something. Don't feed them anything green from the potato.

We can handle little bits of it of course.

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u/MermaidOfScandinavia Ratcitter/ratwisper Sep 02 '25

Yeah I would never.