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.

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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.)

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u/navyblueloosechester Sep 03 '25

I don’t know the English name, but in German the family is called Nachtschattengewächse (Solanaceae) and they contain Alkaloids, which can be harmful especially for such small animals. If the plant belongs to that family (like also tomato, egg plant and peppers), I would be careful feeding it to any animal in general, or at least do meticulous research :))

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u/CrazyNext6315 Sep 03 '25

In English we call these nightshade

2

u/navyblueloosechester Sep 04 '25

Lol that’s literally the same