Shy baby boys won't come out!

[Naturalraes]

So I picked up my first rats ever, two baby boys, today. I was told they are about two months old. They are shy as can be, and won't come out of the Kleenex box I brought them home in. Its now about 2pm, and they have been in there since 8:30 this morning. No food, no water. I have tried to entice them with yogurt, and toys. No luck. Is this Normal? How long can they be in there with no food or water before things go bad?

 

[jorats]

It is normal for some rats to be very shy and skittish. You could give them some time to come around but I never do. I always pull out my rats and stick them down my shirt so they can bond to my odour. I would do this several times a day and for an hour at a time.
Rats can go 36 hours without food or water before it becomes detrimental to their health. But I can almost guaranty that a rat will never allow that to happen if there is water and food nearby.

 

[Naturalraes]

I tried that. I'm not so successful. Maybe my in-expertise, but when I put them under my shirt, the just wriggle out. (they are definitely two very wriggly fellows). So I took the box they were, and held it under my hoodie against me. The snuck out just a nose or to, and sniffed at me for a bit. That's something I guess. I'll keep trying every day.

 

[jorats]

What I do is put on a tshirt and a sweatshirt over top and put them in between.

 

[Naturalraes]

UPDATE: These boys are SO painfully shy its like beeing in high school all over again!

They huddle in the corner and shake if you try to touch them. One little fellow is definitely braver that the other. I was able to lure them out from their cover yesterday with peas. The first pea I sent in--had to slide to them with a stick--the shy fella picked up. His brother was so greedy, he pulled that pea right outta his mouth! I gradually moved the peas closer and closer to me, until they had to come all the way out to get one. The little shy fellow (still no names, want to see their personality first) would only go so far, then would slide his toungue out as far as he could, and sneek forward until he could slide the pea towards him with his tongue. Hilarious.

The brave one would come up, gallantly pick the pea up in his mouth, wriggle his little nose, sniffing around, then run back under cover to eat it.

 

[jorats]

I would suggest that you keep a radio on around them most of the time. This should help stop them from getting startled. And again, pull them out several times, keep interacting with them.
Sounds like they are going to be smart rats, creative for sure. lol