[future_rat_lord]

Hi, my name is Logan, I have two lovely ladies named Chunt and Usidora, Wizard of the 8th realm of Euphoria, Master of hide and seek, Devourer of willow sticks, Champion of the Great Maze of Te'Rattus (Usi for short).

I've had them since June 2021 and it's been fair sailing so far, but recently they've been moving their bedding even more than usual. This morning, I woke up to a whole new nest on the upper level of the cage. They have a little hut on the bottom where they usually sleep, and there's nothing wrong with it that I can see. I'm worried that I'm doing something wrong or that they're getting stressed out. Does anyone know what's going on? Is this a normal rat thing?

 

[RatPappy]

Normal normal normal! Just being creative and energetic.

 

[Newtorats]

If you had just adopted them I would say that it might be pregnant behavior but since you’ve had them a while that’s not why. I think either they were just being creative and got bored of the way the cage looked or they were in heat. Last night my rat was up ALL night reorganizing her cage bc I think she was in heat and nesting. Point is either they were playing or in heat. If you remember the last time she was on heat it’s every two weeks i think so if it was two weeks earlier then theres
your answer.

 

[future_rat_lord]

Oh so they're fine? Is there any other behavior I should watch for or anything I should be doing? They seemed a bit tired when I came home from work, but they usually sleep most of the day but Chunt usually runs to greet me when I approach the cage. I'm still working on that with Usi, she's much more shy. Chunt just kind of laid there sleeping.

 

[Newtorats]

Oh so they're fine? Is there any other behavior I should watch for or anything I should be doing? They seemed a bit tired when I came home from work, but they usually sleep most of the day but Chunt usually runs to greet me when I approach the cage. I'm still working on that with Usi, she's much more shy. Chunt just kind of laid there sleeping.

Try playing later in the day (after around 5:00-6:00) Rats are nocturnal creatures thus most active during evenings and nights. If you want in depth I wish I had known before type stuff then you might want to make another thread however something that seems pretty common (I’m lucky enough to not have had to deal with it) is URI’s. It means Upper Respatory Infection. Early symptoms include stuff that looks like dried blood. I don’t know how to spell it but it appears around eyes and nose. I’ve seen someone mistake it for sneezing blood. URI’s are also identified by Covid like symptoms. Sneezing, coughing, difficulty breathing, runny nose, etc. Not lethal when treated but requires a vet visit. That’s something that I think all new rat owners need to be told based off of how frequently I see this. Also if you want more info I would recommend just scrolling through posts and if you see anything that you don’t know about click it to learn more. Dang it I sound like in advertising something to you

 

[future_rat_lord]

Thank you everyone so much, this has been way more helpful than I ever expected!

 

[Newtorats]

Thank you everyone so much, this has been way more helpful than I ever expected!

Here everything is more helpful then expected

 

[SonicRat]

Welcome to the Forum,I have had girls for years and the random nesting thing and even the varying energy levels is all completely normal,likey due to fluctuating hormones.Girls are pretty high energy at times the day before and the day they are on heat,so thye then have to sleep it off.Welcome to you and
Your girlies too,II have a rat called Dust In A World of Grim Obsession but now you‘ve beaten me with the long name thing🤣🤣🤣

 

[future_rat_lord]

Welcome to the Forum,I have had girls for years and the random nesting thing and even the varying energy levels is all completely normal,likey due to fluctuating hormones.Girls are pretty high energy at times the day before and the day they are on heat,so thye then have to sleep it off.Welcome to you and
Your girlies too,II have a rat called Dust In A World of Grim Obsession but now you‘ve beaten me with the long name thing🤣🤣🤣

Yeah, they've seen to have calmed down now, they even pushed a chunk of the new nest out of the cage. Also that's a really cool name for your rat, very original. I just snatched mine from one of my favorite podcasts 😂

 

[SonicRat]

Thanks but cant take credit for mine either,stole a lyric from a song”I am Dust”