Sudden 180 change in behaviour? O_O

[MrWifflebottom]

Hello, I adopted a 2 year old rat and I've had him for about 2 weeks now. We've bonded really well, just yesterday morning he was almost falling asleep on my lap and bruxing his heart out. However, I let him out to play for a bit last night, and when i went to pet him, he suddenly become very frightened of me, and hid under the bed and would not come out.
When I approach him with my hand he would lick it softly and let me pick him up, but is completely limb in my hand before going berserk in a couple of seconds an claw with his life to get away. He also stares at me with eyes wide open and head swaying slowly from side to side, it's really scary . He is very tense and hides at every sound/movement I make.
There're no physical abnormalities on him, so I don't think he is ill, please tell me what is wrong.
Thanks

 

[Roo]

Possible stroke? the fear and swaying is something that happened to my ratty earlier this week. Stroke was my vets best guess.

I hope everything is alright

 

[xxchelle]

Is he a pink or ruby eyed rat? They often sway to help them get better death perception, since they don't see very well at all. I have some pretty big "swayers", who look like they might fall over because they sway so much! Haha.

 

[MrWifflebottom]

He is ruby-eyed. Thank you guys, I think he might have had something like a stroke since now his hind paws seem to have lost the ability to grip on bars . The fear has gotten a lot better though, I think he is recovering.

 

[jorats]

If it's a stroke he could recovery completely. As for the fear, it could be any changes near his cage. My sister's girls became suddenly scared and it turned out it was because the cat found a way to get to closer to the cage. Another member had found that her rats became scared and the reason was a balloon that was hanging near by.

 

[lizmo1221]

Is he a pink or ruby eyed rat? They often sway to help them get better death perception, since they don't see very well at all. I have some pretty big "swayers", who look like they might fall over because they sway so much! Haha.

Chelle means "depth" perception! :lol:

 

[xxchelle]

Is he a pink or ruby eyed rat? They often sway to help them get better death perception, since they don't see very well at all. I have some pretty big "swayers", who look like they might fall over because they sway so much! Haha.

Chelle means "depth" perception! :lol:

Gah! Yes, thank you. That's what I get for posting at 6:30 AM.