Grandma bought a rat...any pointers on taming?

[Shadaloo cammy]

Now my grandma wen out and bought a rat...yes A rat not a pair (shame on her *sigh*) as far as i know hes a couple months old and is a dumbo rat, i just wanted some advice to give her onto handling the cutie? ive held him twice and he seems to always look for a hiding spot, i had him go in my slave, he doesnt nip, bite, or squeak, i havent seen any signs of stress such as mouth breathing or shaking, all he did was squirm, once i got to hold him when we got him home, im planing on getting him a buddy (a spayed female unless i can find another young male while hes still young) i want to make sure i can give him enough attention because my grandma is home all day. he comes out of his hide for water and food (i put a pile of snacks right in front of his hide so he doesn't have to choose safety over eating)..im trying to get him to come to me by placing a trail of small bits of apple to the corner of the cage im sitting next to and i sing/talk softly to him...other then that should i pick him up and start handling him? i dont want to come along as a aggressor to him, i have a feeling i should just let him come to me by using a vast array of nutritious snacks....

 

[SQ]

The baby is likely terrified without his brothers.
Can you go back where she bought him and get at least one of his brothers?
Immediately.
If he is under 3 months old and you get another boy under 3 months old, there shouldn't be any problem putting them together.
Same source so you will not have to worry about air born diseases.

Having another rat will help make him less afraid and more outgoing and friendly toward you.

 

[Shadaloo cammy]

The baby is likely terrified without his brothers.
Can you go back where she bought him and get at least one of his brothers?
Immediately.
If he is under 3 months old and you get another boy under 3 months old, there shouldn't be any problem putting them together.
Same source so you will not have to worry about air born diseases.

From what i was told, he was the only rat left in the store

 

[SQ]

Then see if you can get one or two baby boys from a rescue litter, or an accidental litter.
You could check to see if the SPCA or any rat rescues have a baby boy you could get.
He really needs another baby to live with now.

Putting on two shirts - a tight one with a loose one over it and putting the baby between the two shirts will help him get used to you and your smell. A small stuffed animal might give him something to cuddle with.

 

[Shadaloo cammy]

Then see if you can get one or two baby boys from a rescue litter, or an accidental litter.
You could check to see if the SPCA or any rat rescues have a baby boy you could get.
He really needs another baby to live with now.

Putting on two shirts - a tight one with a loose one over it and putting the baby between the two shirts will help him get used to you and your smell. A small stuffed animal might give him something to cuddle with.

okay ill look into that, thanks :nod:

 

[jorats]

The down the shirt trick does great things to rats.
I too agree with finding another baby male for him.

 

[Dahlas]

yeah and your grandmother will really enjoy watching them play and wrestle. Two babies are more fun then one....

 

[Farrah]

Update?

 

[SQ]

Does the baby live with you or your grandmother?

If he lives with you, you should find him a good home with other rats imo .....
I looked back over your posts and noticed that you had decided not to get rats because you have snakes.
For their own good, you decided it would be best not to get rats and put them in such a very stressful situation.
Stress causes rats to become ill.
The baby may always be stressed and afraid living in the same household with predators who eat other small rats or mice.

 

[hopefloats]

my boys live with my dogs, who could very well be a predator in their eyes and they do just fine. I think we need to read what we post prior to recommending re-homing for anyone.

 

[Shadaloo cammy]

Update?

im still working with him, hes squirmy, but he fell asleep in my sleeve of my shirt when i was watching tv while handling him (good sign?) and we are looking for another baby male as of now