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I'm trying to remind myself that it's only been the 5th day of my boys being home with me, also the fact that not every rat is the same. But I can't help but be concerned for my boys. I just wanna see if what im experiencing with my boys is common or not. Please let me know if you have or are dealing with any of these things and maybe give me some tips and pointers!
1) I don't feel like my rats are drinking enough water. I see Jekyll drink more often than Hyde, but sometimes I feel like he's struggling I've gotten them a new water bottle that seems to work just fine, but I dont know, I don't feel like they're drinking enough. I've also put out a water dish, and again Jekyll will drink from it time to time, but I rarely see Hyde drink. I don't see a big difference in the water bottle either (I tally where I fill it and see how much it lowers through out the day). Is there a better water bottle for younger rats?
2) My rats sleep a lot.
I've read up that males usually tend to be lazier, but these boys do play with each other. I don't see them chew much of their blocks, nor do they care for the wheel, seesaw, or dangle toys. They just like to stay on their second level and sleep. I took away their dark little hut (they'd sleep really fast when in it) and am using a see through igloo at the moment. I'll put the wooden hut back for bed time. Any tips to keep them awake or more active?
3) My boys don't like to play outside their cage.
Update: Today I got Jekyll to happily come out of the cage with encouragement and allowing him to burrow in a nearby blanket. He stayed out for some seconds then ran back in. Hyde came out for a sec too and again ran back in.
I realize I have to build more trust with them, but even if I just let them do their own thing they still just hate it. I brought them to a room where I just did my own thing and let them run around and be. They were making very loud clicking sounds and pooping everywhere and even on each other! Then they were literally jumping on the walls trying to escape the room. On occasion the climbed on my lap and let me pet them for a few seconds, but I could not once successfully carry them in my lap or pick them up.
4) I can't pick them up.
I've been trying to do the under hand thing - where you pick them up from under the belly into your palms rather than from above like a hawk. They immediately run away and get scared. No bites have happened to me yet but they immediately become suspicious of me for even trying. Jekyll has no problem going outside the cage for a treat in my hand (he does run back in the cage but he doesn't hide from me - unlike Hyde) but he doesn't seem to like crawling on me much.
5) Treat recommendations. The boys love their rat food (Oxbow) and I've currently been giving them carrots and grapes (in moderation of course). What treats have you been trying?
6) Hyde sneezed today for a few seconds (two separate spurts) and I am scared about it. They have a vet appointment this coming Monday. Jekyll sometimes does this funny twitching jump but again it's only for a couple of seconds and then he's back to normal.
1) I don't feel like my rats are drinking enough water. I see Jekyll drink more often than Hyde, but sometimes I feel like he's struggling I've gotten them a new water bottle that seems to work just fine, but I dont know, I don't feel like they're drinking enough. I've also put out a water dish, and again Jekyll will drink from it time to time, but I rarely see Hyde drink. I don't see a big difference in the water bottle either (I tally where I fill it and see how much it lowers through out the day). Is there a better water bottle for younger rats?
2) My rats sleep a lot.
I've read up that males usually tend to be lazier, but these boys do play with each other. I don't see them chew much of their blocks, nor do they care for the wheel, seesaw, or dangle toys. They just like to stay on their second level and sleep. I took away their dark little hut (they'd sleep really fast when in it) and am using a see through igloo at the moment. I'll put the wooden hut back for bed time. Any tips to keep them awake or more active?
3) My boys don't like to play outside their cage.
Update: Today I got Jekyll to happily come out of the cage with encouragement and allowing him to burrow in a nearby blanket. He stayed out for some seconds then ran back in. Hyde came out for a sec too and again ran back in.
I realize I have to build more trust with them, but even if I just let them do their own thing they still just hate it. I brought them to a room where I just did my own thing and let them run around and be. They were making very loud clicking sounds and pooping everywhere and even on each other! Then they were literally jumping on the walls trying to escape the room. On occasion the climbed on my lap and let me pet them for a few seconds, but I could not once successfully carry them in my lap or pick them up.
4) I can't pick them up.
I've been trying to do the under hand thing - where you pick them up from under the belly into your palms rather than from above like a hawk. They immediately run away and get scared. No bites have happened to me yet but they immediately become suspicious of me for even trying. Jekyll has no problem going outside the cage for a treat in my hand (he does run back in the cage but he doesn't hide from me - unlike Hyde) but he doesn't seem to like crawling on me much.
5) Treat recommendations. The boys love their rat food (Oxbow) and I've currently been giving them carrots and grapes (in moderation of course). What treats have you been trying?
6) Hyde sneezed today for a few seconds (two separate spurts) and I am scared about it. They have a vet appointment this coming Monday. Jekyll sometimes does this funny twitching jump but again it's only for a couple of seconds and then he's back to normal.