It's been over a week now and the 2 new baby rats (female) are still terrified of me (and everyone else) and don't seem to be making any progress in their socialization. I have been trying to go by the instructions for trust training in the sticky on this board, but they are still scared to take food from me and to be held. I've been very gentle with them, talked to them in soothing voices and given them yummy nomnoms but they still seem to think I'm a big scary monster that's going to gobble them up.


I've spent a little more than an hour a day trying to interact with them. Sometimes it seems like they are making progress, they'll come to the door of the cage to sniff me or something, but if I get up to use the bathroom and come back, they have no recollection of the interaction and revert to hiding in the corners and shivering. One of them is slightly more brave than the other as she'll come outside of the cage and walk on me, but she won't let me pet her or hold her. The other won't come anywhere near me.

I guess what I want to know, is this normal for a week's worth of work on them? I've never had rat babies before, Kipsy and Meepling were both somewhat socialized when I got them. Should I worry?

Also if it is normal if they are still like this in 2 weeks when the quarantine ends, can I still introduce them to my other rat, even if they don't like me? I'm worried about my other rat, she's been very depressed since her cagemate died and has been sleeping a lot. I want her to make new friends and be happy.

I'm no expert on this by any means, but I have a little female, Karma, who took almost a month to come up to me. I worked with her almost daily, bribing with food and free range time, and eventually she warmed up.
Some ratties take longer than others. I hope yours doesn't take a month to show improvement, but be patient with them. It will happen.

Also not an expert but reckon introducing them to the other rat should be ok, maybe the other rat's trust of you will encourage them to trust you also. Needless to say, follow the standard rat intro procedures. And yeah, 2 weeks and young rats isn't that long, don't be disheartened yet :-)

Well that's good news at least.