I know I’ll get **** for asking this

[It’s always sunny]

FRANK LICKED ME !!!!! I was stroking him in his bed while he was grooming and he started to lick me. I wondered if it was a mistake but a minute later he held my hand and started licking it!!!!
This means he accepts me right? And feels secure?
The other two are taking a lot longer to warm. They Will walk over my body but if my hand goes near them they often flinch. If they see I have food they will take it from my hand but you can tell they are apprehensive.

 

[Dena]

Yay! Yes he LOVES you!

 

[It’s always sunny]

Yay! Yes he LOVES you!

Are you sure? There were no food smells or anything on my hand so it must be loving licks right? ))) not to sound dramatic but honestly was so beautiful to feel and really touched me

 

[Dena]

YES! Especially if he held your hand and groomed you. Mine do this once in a while and I LOVE it. But not all of them will do it. Macaroni, my oldest girl, will every chance she gets, but she's a particularly licky rat! LMAO

 

[It’s always sunny]

Update. Frank the one who was less nervous to begin with is coming along very very nicely. Licking me and napping in my hair. The other two are still so nervous and often flinch even if I make the tiniest movement and dart away if I come close. However if it comes to food they will come to me... maybe it’s just in their genes ? I will keep trying obviously. Will never give up on them. My lovely boys.

One request for advice; should I quit trying to pick the shy ones up and just focus solely on working on their nervousness in general first? To be fair buster flinched even if the other rats make a noise jumping about.

And a question; so the nervous ones all started sleeping outside the cage on cushions not too far from me. They will brux with eats relaxed and eyes not staring wide open or anything. Do you think it must be relaxed bruxing then as opposed to a stress brux?

Sorry for the essay- just want the best for the little fuzz chunks.

They are currently going crazy playing under my duvet with each other !

Here are some pics !

 

[Dena]

Omg they are so adorable! I love the curious looks on their faces. The one where they are all on the pillow is so cute! Some rats may have a shy personality. That's just how they are. I have had a few like that. It's usually the ones with pink or ruby eyes in my case. They just seem to be more....cautious...

 

[It’s always sunny]

Omg they are so adorable! I love the curious looks on their faces. The one where they are all on the pillow is so cute! Some rats may have a shy personality. That's just how they are. I have had a few like that. It's usually the ones with pink or ruby eyes in my case. They just seem to be more....cautious...

Do you think that’s because of their poorer eyesight?

 

[CrazyRatBarbie]

I have a timid rat too, she was initially with feeder rats and then completely alone before I bought her. I have another rat that will jump onto my shoulder as soon as I open the door. What i do is park a desk chair in front of the cage and sit in it with the top door open (which ends up around shoulder level). Then I just chill. Eventually she gets brave enough to come out, and she feels safer because she can go right back in when she gets scared. After awhile when she gets scared and goes back in...she just runs right back out!!! It just takes a lot of patience, just try to set things up so everything is “their choice” and not you trying to force the interaction. Good luck!!!!

 

[CrazyRatBarbie]

Omg they are so adorable! I love the curious looks on their faces. The one where they are all on the pillow is so cute! Some rats may have a shy personality. That's just how they are. I have had a few like that. It's usually the ones with pink or ruby eyes in my case. They just seem to be more....cautious...

@Dena and going along with what you said, my timid rat is one with ruby eyes....
and I do think they have poorer eyesight... she always does that slow, side to side head movement.... which is normal because rats use their eyes separately, (i.e. they can look at two things at once)... but us most commonly seen in pink or ruby eyed rats. My two normally pigmented rats don’t do it though. Rat vision is poor in general, about 20/600 in normally pigmented rats.... so my ruby eyed Tootsiebelle is probably more or less like Mr. Magoo.

 

[Natasa]

Do you think that’s because of their poorer eyesight?

I have a rat like that too. Her name is Posh and she is super fat for some reason and big and kind of looks like a possum loool. She likes being pet but she doesn’t like being picked up. She also doesn’t like high energy (I’m very high energy with my girls lol) she’s much calmer. The main thing is she is very vocal. So when I try to pick her up she squeaks cuz she doesn’t like it but it’s also awkward cuz I have small hands and she’s fat lol. Anyways I love her but she’s just like that and all my girls have their own personalities. I think you shouldn’t worry about their shyness too much.