Rat jumped out of box while preparing to stun it!

[swiftskater1]

Hey guys, So i need your expertise on catching a small rat. While attempting to stun the small rat for my ball python to eat, It jumped out of the box and ran out of the room. I followed it into another room and it went under a bed. I tried catching him but he got away somewhere in the room. I need help trying to catch him! I have no idea where he could have gone! :O Also this rat was extremely aggressive! He was hissing and trying to bite me!!

[SSSSnakes]

HAHAHA I laugh because it has happened to me and not to make fun of you. I had to use my snake tongs to grab the rat by the tail. And he attacked the tongs. Good luck on finding and catching him.

[Snakefood]

well if he'll eat it killed you can always use the spring trap. Catching it live would probably take a live trap with bait.

[swiftskater1]

OKay, I just set up a trap. And when he goes in it and goes for the cheese/peanut butter the cage door will close. Hoping he will be in there in the morning.

[Snakefood]

that should work!!!!

[NennaMeerkat]

Just remember that a lot of feeder rats are NOT used to being handled and are liable to bite. Rat bites are awful. Used to rescue rats and have been bitten plenty of times. They can even bite through thick work gloves. Would have suggested using a snap trap and let it do the job of killing for you. But since you used a live trap be careful when handling!

Next time get the rat in a bag and use the bag instead of the box.

[swiftskater1]

Thats a good. Idea, And maybe just bang the bag against the wall a few times? Im trying to figure out a way that these guys wont bite me!

[NennaMeerkat]

Thats a good. Idea, And maybe just bang the bag against the wall a few times? Im trying to figure out a way that these guys wont bite me!

Um I know some pet stores, if they are selling them as feeders, will pre kill them for you. Or you could take the bag with you and ask the person working at the pet store to put the rat in the bag instead of the box. And this is kinda heartbreaking to say but ask to "play" with the feeders if they allow you to. Find a rat that doesn't mind being picked up and won't bite before you buy one. That way you can transfer it from box to bag.

[swiftskater1]

Okay, Cool thanks. Any ideas on how to stun them easily? I usually find a hard object and then strike the rat in the head/neck a few times.

[NennaMeerkat]

Okay, Cool thanks. Any ideas on how to stun them easily? I usually find a hard object and then strike the rat in the head/neck a few times.

That is the way I have always been told to do it. Most people I have talked to say to grab the tail and whack against wall or counter (more suggest counter because of the edge) but I would be unable to ever do that so I would use a heavy paper bag (don't want to risk the bag tearing with the force of the hit).

Some people say to break the neck but again I have had feeders that don't like to be held and the risk of a bite isn't worth the easier more "humane" way of killing a feeder rat. And again I don't think I could do it while seeing the rat.

[swiftskater1]

Okay sweet. Thanks man!! Hopefully i will catch this stupid thing tonight!

[swiftskater1]

And looks like i will be sleeping in the guest room tonight! haha

[NennaMeerkat]

Hey no problem! And it isn't to late to set down a snap trap ;)

[swiftskater1]

I don't have a snap trap :/ Looks like a quick drive to walmart wont hurt!

[NennaMeerkat]

Nah. Rats love to run along walls. Make sure no other food items are in the room where you think the rat is. However don't be surprised if the rat has moved to another room. Make sure there are no holes anywhere. If they can fit their head through a hole then their body will follow.

[swiftskater1]

Craaap. I sure hope he didn't go to another room. My only concern is that he will chew up cords for my tv/xbox/phone ECT. Haha

[swiftskater1]

Craap. i sure hope he didn't go to another room. My only concern is that he will chew up my cords for my Tv/Xbox/ ECT. ://// And crap everywhere...

[Snakefood]

oh, he will chew whatever he comes across!!

[swiftskater1]

Foreal? :0

[Snakefood]

for real!! I breed rats, and I have had them chew their way out of/thru things you wouldn't imagine!! Wood, plastic, wires. I even had one find a way to chew it's water nib right out of the side of the cage and escape through the consequent hole (and that was a 6 week baby)

[swiftskater1]

Oh great. Okay, Here is my idea. Im going to turn off all of the lights. And then go around the room with a flashlight and try to see the light shine off of the eyes. Good idea?

[stephanbakir]

Try to avoid banging him against the walls... Its simple to kill them with Co2... Just get some dry ice in a box and toss the rat in (make sure he can't get onto the ice because it will burn him)

[Jay]

Try to avoid banging him against the walls... Its simple to kill them with Co2... Just get some dry ice in a box and toss the rat in (make sure he can't get onto the ice because it will burn him)

That's not really efficient for 1 rat. Give it a good wack in the neck/head with a screwdriver that should stun it then break his neck.
I agree with the c02 method, but is erelivent to set up for 1 rat 2 or 3 times a month. I buy frozen, it's way cheaper, less time consuming and I don't have to deal with that rat smell.

[Snakefood]

I raise my own feeder rats, and hubby just puts them on a surface, lays the edge of a ruler over thier neck and very quickly pulls up on the hind-end, snaps thier neck right away.

[TeaNinja]

rats love to chew things. i've had them grab stuff from out of the cage and pull it in to shred before. they've shredded a plastic safeway bag, a pair of my headphones, shredded the leg of a pair of shorts i love lol. they LOVE to chew wires.

[swiftskater1]

Okay guys. No luck yet :/

[NennaMeerkat]

You are probably gonna have to just get another rat and then hope for the best with the one that got away.

[SpOoKy]

Craaap. I sure hope he didn't go to another room. My only concern is that he will chew up cords for my tv/xbox/phone ECT. Haha

Well on the plus side if he chews up a live wire you wont have to worry about stunning him anymore :)

[ilovemypets1988]

simple way to kill a rat:
get a fully charged car battery, get a tub of water, use jump leads while wearing rubber gloves, put rat into water, put leads into water, thats how i do it.

[swiftskater1]

simple way to kill a rat:
get a fully charged car battery, get a tub of water, use jump leads while wearing rubber gloves, put rat into water, put leads into water, thats how i do it. No way?! Haha, Thats awesome :D

[stephanbakir]

Make sure you don't reach in to get the rat without disconnecting the wires.

[Coffee Black]

Best rat/mouse trap ever is a five gallon bucket and a 2x4. Put food in bucket and lean 2x4 on the bucket. Rodent falls in and can't get out.

[Coffee Black]

Only ever used it on mice but a small rat shouldn't be able to get out either. Large rats may be able to.

[TeaNinja]

big rats can jump a foot or two directly up, it's astonishing. especially considering they have tiny little T-rex arms :D

[Snakefood]

t-rex arms with a he-man grip!!!

[TeaNinja]

sometimes they have mega sharp little nails too. i have 2 big male rats around the same size, a big black one and an albino that is the black one's son. the albino has reasonably dull nails and can walk on me with no problems, but when the black one loses grip and claws to get back up, he will leave little razer cuts on my hands or arms.

[NennaMeerkat]

Rats are super climbers and jumpers. Don't think their size causes them any lack in either area.

Pet rats jumping for food - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQmeiVqcOT0)

[TeaNinja]

Rats are super climbers and jumpers. Don't think their size causes them any lack in either area.

Pet rats jumping for food - YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQmeiVqcOT0)

LOL, they are hairless!!! i canNOT decide if they are cute or terribly ugly.

[Snakefood]

my vote......... terribly ugly!! my feeder rat colony is way prettier than those ones!! Just seems wrong on sooooooo many levels!!

[NennaMeerkat]

I love hairless rats and they actually have really really soft skin. Have had a few short term rescues that were hairless, but so many people love the idea of them that I never had them for very long :) Perhaps in the future I will get me a pair, though I plan on owning a snake or two more before more rats.

[Snakefood]

LOL, well I've always found the hairless mammals somewhat ugly!! You know, the sphinx, the hairless terrier, the crested hairless, ect, ect. And I don't know about hairless rats, but the hairless dogs and cats leave grease spots on your furniture!!! EEEEWWWWWW!!! (thx I'll deal with the hair!!)

[NennaMeerkat]

Its funny cause even rats with hair will leave grease marks on your carpet and such if they run across the same path over and over again. In fact professional varmint killers will use these grease marks to find where rats travel often. But then again wild rats are generally more "dirty" than our tame fellows. But I am sure the same would happen.

I think every animal/mammal leaves "stains" if they are not really clean since skin and hair pores excrete natural oils.

[Snakefood]

Yes, I agree with that, but hairless leaves bigger stains!!

Proof???

My step-father used to be able lie down on the couch when he had hair. Now, mamma won't let him because since he lost his hair, the arm that he rests his head on has turned grey and gross!! LMAO!!

[TeaNinja]

lol. i used to have the foot of my bed against a wall and id always put my feet on the wall and theres a darker shade there where my feet would always touch.

[Snakefood]

back when I had white walls, there was always a dark patch running down the wall from my dog walking against the wall!!