Active

[sausage4ever]

Okay This maybe a pretty stupid post, but my skinkids are very active and always getting into trouble. Which may seem all well and good but they are distracting me from my school work. It's very difficult to do homework while yelling at the rats to get down off the bed, the window or marking all over my textbooks and print paper. I am forced to take off my powerbar (which is my laptop, radio, TV, etc.) because I'm pretty sure they're chewers and don't want to find out by getting a zapped rat. I have no problems with Eli, he'd rather snuggle than explore; but him and Teddy were never chewers, nor do I remember them being this active. I guess what I am asking is if anyone knows a way to calm the skinkids down? I love them to bits and they're just starting to love me but I don't think I can continue like this. I don't want my school work to suffer because of them. I figured I'd give them a month from when school started and see if there is any real efect on my school work, then thought it would be just as wise to advertise for help in the mean time seeing as I don't think this will get any better without suggestions and I don't really want to fail my mid-terms just to see that - O yeah the skinkids do distract me from my work. However if there is no real solution I may have to make a very hard decision as I am unable to wait the year it will take for them to mature into gentlemen.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, I am responsible for them but for the first time in my life I am also Responsible for me and my future. :sad3:

 

[mamarat]

Can you keep them in the cage while you study? Rats will be rats and are curious and playful. It actually means they're healthy and normal. Good luck.

 

[jorats]

Ratties need about an hour of out time a day, more is better but an hour is good enough. Can't you just take them out when you are not busy with homework?

 

[SQ]

As previously said, why don't you take them out when you are taking a break from studing and relaxing. Then you can play with them. Rats in large enough cages do ok if only taken out for 1 hr a day to interact and play with you.

Another option is to get a large martins playpen and let them play in that when you are studing ... tho you will still need to take them out and play with them daily.

 

[sausage4ever]

They are in a 3ft cage and get an hour everyday it just happens to be the hour I study in. The only reason I let them out when I'm studying is that it seems to be the only time I have. It seems to me all my time spent in my room is spent studying. And I don't like them out when I'm reading 'cause they disturb my reading. I used to let them out while I was on the laptop but I'm fearful of them chewing my wires, mind you it is a laptop so I could unplug it. I'll try that for a while that might be better. Thanks for your suggestions. I feel dumb not thinking about the hyper youngens when I got them, for some reason I imagined they would be like little Elis.

 

[jorats]

lol... and the rats are thinking, the reading is disturbing their fun time with you. You are the rats best play toy. Take an hour to interact with them. It's really quite therapeutic. :heart:

 

[rat.charmer]

I think the funniest study session I ever had was once, sitting on the couch and trying to read, I had 8 rats out with me. I thought with so many out, they'd just play on their own and not bother me. Boy, was I wrong. They SWARMED me and wouldn't leave me alone, pulling on my hair, shirt, climbing up my pant leg, dragging my papers and pens away, chewing on my books etc...