What Scale Do you Have?

[smilez_n_hugs]

She said he tips over the box because he won't stay still.

 

Yes, he tips it over, wants nothing to do with being contained in a box ..cover or no cover. He won't even eat a treat in one, only when he gets out of it. I dont have this problem with the others. Thats what I am looking for a scale with a bigger platform that he can just sit one, like my smaller rats do!

 

[victoria]

I always put an open plastic box/bin with fleece on top and then put the rat in. On the cold scale surface they tend to get skittish and run off but on the fleece they stay long enough to get a reading. My scale also has a feature where I can tare it (set the weight at zero) after I put the bin on so I don't have to subtract weight.

 

[lilspaz68]

Yes, he tips it over, wants nothing to do with being contained in a box ..cover or no cover. He won't even eat a treat in one, only when he gets out of it. I dont have this problem with the others. Thats what I am looking for a scale with a bigger platform that he can just sit one, like my smaller rats do!

All my rats start like that. You put your hand over the open box (not a big box, but a nice flat one with an open top) and keep putting him inside...they figure it out eventually, and most will stay still

Hope isn't fond of being weighed and always rears up and holds the side of the gift box. (I put a small hammock in there) and I keep gently replacing her. Today she "got it" and froze for a few seconds so I got her new weight.

You can use flat plastic tupperware, as well. Put fleece down inside and on the scale for the box/container to grip. never put them in a box they cannot see over, as they will struggle to get out and feel their senses are cut off.

 

[temblabamomo]

You can also try smearing a bit of something tasty on the bottom of an open tupperware or box. With a yogie or other treat they can easily run off and avoid being weighed, but if there's something like yogurt in the container Oscar could stay occupied licking it up long enough for you to weigh him.

 

[Slapdash]

I have this one and it's big enough to fit my 700g boy :lol: When we got it two years ago it was only $9.99 at Bed Bath and Beyond! :thud: It's doubled in price there now. I usually just put them on it and hold both my hands up like walls on either side of them or have my hubby help me do so while it calculates? I guess we're lucky in that they usually just sit there or turn around a little!

http://compare.ebay.com/like/2905255706 ... 602_309572

 

[Godmother]

I have one like lilspaz68's, and it is great. Some rats need time to get used to sitting in a container, but they eventually get used to it. You could always train your rat to sit in the box first. Easier said than done for some!!

 

[Bamboo]

I have the same one as you Ratty Momma. I love it! I agree that changing the scale isn't going to solve your problems. It's the method that is the issue. When I first got Rumina she was the exact same way: she just wouldn't stay in the box! (and there was a chance she was pregnant so she was the one that needed to be weighed daily...of course :roll: :lol: )

What I did was use a vase. (from IKEA, I think it's this one but I'm not sure:http://www.ikea.com/ca/en/catalog/products/80068010 It's pretty much just an oversized glass lol) I would put some fleece on the bottom and tare out the weight of the vase. Then, I'd give her a cheerio and that was that. Maybe it was mean but I really needed something she couldn't jump out of right away lol!

She has since gotten used to sitting in the box when I weight them. What I found worked well was put the box in the cage for a few minutes before I start, so she can look at first. I don't know why, but that seemed to help her chill lol

 

thanks guys, Ill try the fleece Idea!

 

[TheRatQueen]

We actually just went out and bought a 'biggest loser scale' from Bed Bath and Beyond. It was $17 and some change using their 20% coupon. Tonight it worked great, I found out if you wake them up while they're sleeping they are in their coma and they just kind of sit there with a WTF look on their face. Afterwards, I put them right in their cage and they all fell back asleep. Success!

 

[Zooy]

I have a Weight Watchers scale, it's not digital since it's one of their old ones but I think it's pretty accurate. I don't even need a bucket to stick the rats in as it came with one!