Hello. I'd like to get some extra advice on taming my two rats. Both came from the pet store yesterday. So far I've been giving them Cheerios by hand and they would take that and run off. I'll try to pet them every now and then and they seem to like it somewhat. Then if they are calm enough I would attempt to pick them up but most of the time they would freak out and run away. I've read all of the tips from the three rat books I own and they all are about the same in tips for taming. This is my first time owning rats and I want to make sure I got this taming down right. Don't want to mess up. x_x A few years ago I used to own a mouse that came from the pet store. Somehow he got tame pretty fast. Is it a different rate for rats? Thank you!
Help On Taming Please
- Thread starter Azalea
- Start date
Help Support The Rat Shack Forum:
Cityratt
Well-Known Member
I dont have as much advice as other people can provide on here...but i would suggest feeding them something that they cant run away with....maybe some babyfood on your finger or a spoon if you think they may bite you....
When I bring babies home i generally don a hoodie and wind up with some babies in my hood/on my shoulder for the evening.... But my most recent babies were well socialized before they came home to me...but they were still nervous coming home to a different place....
All the best with your new additions!
When I bring babies home i generally don a hoodie and wind up with some babies in my hood/on my shoulder for the evening.... But my most recent babies were well socialized before they came home to me...but they were still nervous coming home to a different place....
All the best with your new additions!
jorats
Loving rats since 2002.
When I have babies, i like to do the down the shirt trick. I put on a t shirt and then a sweatshirt over top and put the rats in between. I keep them in there for a long time. I do this several times a day, whenever I would watch tv or read a book. This gets them bonded to your smell and makes them want to be with you.
Dahlas
Well-Known Member
Hmmmmm how about if you just found out they are all covered in lice. I had the babies in my shirt today but now I'm feeling a bit itchy....I guess I will wait until tomorrow.....and no bedtime kisses.
Are for trust training........
Be patient....lots of treats...put your hand in the cage and just leave it there for them to sniff......and yes lots of time down the shirt.....
Are for trust training........
Be patient....lots of treats...put your hand in the cage and just leave it there for them to sniff......and yes lots of time down the shirt.....
jorats
Loving rats since 2002.
lol Dahlas, that might be a different story! But lice will only stay on the rats, unless you've got some nice fur to hang on too? lol
Dahlas
Well-Known Member
:wink2: I know that from working at the shelter but for some strange reason it still makes me feel itchy.....I felt like I had things crawling on me last night....weird I know.
Godmother
Well-Known Member
Me, too! I felt really crawly last night when I met the little post-surgical girlies, even though they'd been dosed with Revolution and even though SQ said the vet had noticed that many of the lice were already dead by the time she left the clinic.
As for taming, if they try to bite when you pick them up you might have to put a dish of something yummy right beside you and then sit with them for a while. They will gradually approach and climb on you, and then you can let them run under your sweatshirt. Poor little pet store rats are always afraid of hands.
As for taming, if they try to bite when you pick them up you might have to put a dish of something yummy right beside you and then sit with them for a while. They will gradually approach and climb on you, and then you can let them run under your sweatshirt. Poor little pet store rats are always afraid of hands.
jennifervb
Well-Known Member
Azalea said:
Give them plenty of time Azalea. They are in a new environment and there are new smells, sounds and people to deal with. Fear is normal. Some rats have had the fortune of being raised by rat loving breeders who take the time to socialize the rats. If your babies are from a pet store then that is, most likely, not the case. They are probably from a rat mill and have seen no human love or affection.
As Cittyrat mentioned, food on a spoon is a good start. Give them treats, speak gently and softly to them and do not try to grab them for the first few days. Lie your hand in the cage and give them a chance to check it out. Do not grab them.
You have to remember that you are HUGE and your smell is not one they know. You are still perceived as a threat. I didn't start with the "up the sweatshirt thing until after a week of hands in cages, treats and loving words.
Make sure that your rats are of the same gender!!!! Petstores are notorious for not knowing anything about rats and not being able to (or interested in) establishing the genders! As a result, males and females may wind up together and before you know it... you have oopsie litters on your hands!!!
Attached are links, from Debbie Ducommun, on how to intro new rats into the household and trust training. I hope this helps.
http://www.ratfanclub.org/newrat.html
http://www.ratfanclub.org/trust.html
