I have 3 baby girl rats who are about 6 weeks old! Wev had them for 3 weeks and they are soo playful and so much fun! Yesterday i went to take them out as i usually do and in the same place that i usually do, but they wouldn't come out and usually theyr hanging off the door waiting to come out! When i tried again later that day, 2 of the girls came out, but one still refused! Iv tried again with them this morning and the 2 are out playing happily as usual, but the one girl is really skittish and is sneaking around sniffing the air! She's not playing or interacting and keeps running behind the cage! Im worried because shes usually the most playful! I hope shes okay! Any help would be much appreciated! Thankyou x
Baby rat acting strange
- Thread starter Jodie_D
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dspch911
Senior Member
Its possible something scared her - rats get scared easily. I had that problem when I first got my boys. After a few weeks I realized they wouldn't go to the bottom level of the double critter nation cage they lived in. Long story short, it turns out our cat was going in the rat room at night and scared them. We ended up putting up a baby gate and covering it with a towel so they couldn't see each other and after a few days things were back to normal. Hopefully its something simple like that with your girl.
Is she makes any noises? Have your rat phoned her to see if her lungs sound clear? Hold her up to your ear like a phone receiver. Does she have any porphyfin coming out of her nose or eyes?
Is she makes any noises? Have your rat phoned her to see if her lungs sound clear? Hold her up to your ear like a phone receiver. Does she have any porphyfin coming out of her nose or eyes?
Iv been trying to think of something that might have scared them, but i cant really work it out! Only that I had me Niece and Nephew over yesterday, maybe they were too loud compared to what they are used to!?! If it is that she got scared by so something, i just give her chance to settle back down??
Iv given her a quick check over and i cant notice anything, no noises and her eyes and nose look fine!! I'll keep a close eye on her and hope that she returns to her normal self in the next couple of days!! Thanks for your help
Iv given her a quick check over and i cant notice anything, no noises and her eyes and nose look fine!! I'll keep a close eye on her and hope that she returns to her normal self in the next couple of days!! Thanks for your help
dspch911
Senior Member
Could be as simple as a loud noise. They also don't like you reaching over them so scoop them up. Things above them can scare them.
Try sweatshirt bonding - put a sweatshirt over your regular shirt and just let them hang out in there while your sitting around. That worked on some of my skittish boys.
Try sweatshirt bonding - put a sweatshirt over your regular shirt and just let them hang out in there while your sitting around. That worked on some of my skittish boys.
hopefloats
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Babies go through a skittish phase as well. I would listen to her to make sure she isnt sick and keep an eye on what freaks her out sometimes it is something as easy as a normal household sound that can make the spaz out.
jorats
Loving rats since 2002.
The new movements of different people can definitely set them off but that's ok, they need to experience new stimuli. The little one should adjust but in the meantime you should continue to offer treats and try to play with them inside the cage and also get them out for out time play too. One thing I had to do with mine with one set of rats was to leave a radio on. That made them less skittish.
Thanks for your help guys! She seems a lot better now, but still a little bit jumpier than usual!! So I'm guessing something freaked her out, poor baby!! I was just worried that she was getting ill, I will keep checking her though to make sure shes okay! 👍😁
