New girls in their new home - questions

[Saterema]

Hey everyone. I got my two girls today they are little ones just under 6 weeks old. I am pretty excited to finally have them here. Anyway, once I got them in their cage, they scurried around and climbed up the walls as expected. ( I have a Martin R-695) After a bit they started wrestling, for about a half hour or so, I wasn't too concerned however because they are sisters and when I would make the squeek noise they both stopped to look at me. After some more wrestling they started cleaning each other, it was pretty cute.

Anyway what I am trying to get around to saying is that, after some play time, the settled down to sleep, but one girl went to the top level and purposely fell asleep directly on the wire floor, even though I had covered the floors with fleece. The other girl did the same on a lower level. Is this strange? Are they just not used to their environment yet? I suppose they will need time to adjust from their large litter and momma.

Is there anything I should be looking out for? I have provided them with a little house to sleep in, but they don't seem to care about it, but it is still just the first night.

Thanks!

 

[henry's_mum]

I wouldn't worry too much, it's there first night home, and they just need to settle in hun.
They sound adorable!

 

[CrocHunter]

Its normal. Once they get used to their environment they will pick a spot and usually sleep together. If you don't have a hammock, i suggest one. They will love you for it. They may not use it the first day, but usually by the second night they'll be using it every day. They were probably just exhausted from the move, the trip, and the exploring the new home. Just flopped where they dropped.

Here's a pic of our home-made crocheted hammock -

 

[CrocHunter]

Alice likes to sleep with her head hanging out - don't ask me why. She's got her quirks :laugh4:

 

[Saterema]

Yeah I ordered a hammock, tube and cube for them a couple weeks ago. They should be here in the next few days. And I figured as much. They are just little babies and so curious even without it being a new place. They woke up after their nap to scurry around some more, and I took them out for a little bonding in a big sweatshirt. They seemed very content, or I would have put them back in their cage. Both of them started grooming and sat still in my lap for a good minute before trying to run down my shirt. After about 10 minutes I put them back in their cage and they are wrestling WHILE climbing now. It is quite silly.

 

[CrocHunter]

Are these your first rats?

 

[Cigar]

I think it's nice that they feel secure enough not to need to run and hide in the nearest hut.

 

[realisedsin]

A couple of my boys actually prefer the wire flooring. Since I put them in to CN (which has no wire shelves) they go out of their way to sleep on the wire ramps, despite all the comfy sleeping places I provided. I wouldnt worry too much. If they werent comfy, they'd move. lol

 

[Saterema]

Are these your first rats?

Yes they are. I have been reading as much as I can the last few weeks on this forum so I think I have the proper info on food, bedding, habitat, health care and all that. But behavior is new to me. I got these girls from a planned litter and they have been handled and socialized from birth so they are friendly and will come stand on me when I put my hand in their cage, but they are still a bit skiddish about being picked up. I don't force them into my hand, and just wait a bit, I gave them each half a grape last night and a single cheerio this morning and that helped a little bit. I figure it will be a few weeks before they are totally comfortable with me. And since they are sisters they are happy with each other.

 

[Saterema]

I think it's nice that they feel secure enough not to need to run and hide in the nearest hut.

I guess that is true, I didn't think of it that way.

A couple of my boys actually prefer the wire flooring. Since I put them in to CN (which has no wire shelves) they go out of their way to sleep on the wire ramps, despite all the comfy sleeping places I provided. I wouldnt worry too much. If they werent comfy, they'd move. lol

Well okay. I was just worried about their feet, since most people seem to say fleece covers are best. I guess if they are ripping it up themselves they must be alright with it. I will just keep an eye on them.

 

[Saterema]

They are sleeping with each other now, instead of separately like last night. I gave them some broccoli and cucumber, which they have never had before. My Berkshire girl, Josephine, just went for more lab blocks, and my capped beige/white girl, Feodora, ate some broccoli but only after I went back to sit on my bed.

 

[Cigar]

So long as the wire is clean, don't fret. It sounds like they're settling in well!