i just got a pet rat 5 hours ago and its nice but it wont let me toutch it any good advice on how to pickit up or how to make it more comfy? onlys serious anwsres?
2006-07-03 13:31:07 · 5 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
can they eat apples?
2006-07-03 13:59:26 · update #1
it is normal for rats that are not use to being helded to bit. however they can't help that their nails are so sharp. you will have to get use to that. if it has a bitting problem use thick rubber gloves. it is just trying to defend itself. pick it up with the gloves a few times a day and just hold it for a while. it should start getting use to you after a few weeks. if it still bitting after that while you are holding it bobit lightly on the head. again lightly, too hard and you could knock it out of conscious or kill it. also i should tell you that when you go to bath the rat, they can swim but hate the water. they will jump, scratch, and squill and the first few times you wash it, it might bite. if it does just bob lightly to let them know that it is not nice to bite you. also when you wash them make sure that the water is warm, and dry them as well as you can. they catch colds extremely easy and could die from it. if you have any questions about rats, i will be more than happy to answer them for you.
2006-07-03 14:29:09 · answer #1 · answered by weirdo fernado 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
You need to give the rat some time, it must be terrified. All it knows is that one minute it was in a place with its siblings and all of a sudden its in a strange place and all by itself.
I find the best thing to do is to just put your hand in the cage for a few minutes every now and then, keep it out of reach. This lets the rat get used to your smell. Then after a day or so, I pick the rat up and put it under my shirt(I wear it over a tshirt) and let them explore me. I also have some baby food ready to give them as a treat. I do this a few times a day for about 20 minutes at a time and within a day or two, they are fully tame. It has also helped that they have a sibling for comfort and support.
2006-07-04 12:02:05 · answer #2 · answered by kiffie 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try to give it a time to relax and adjust to it's surroundings by leaving it in its cage for a day or two.
Make sure it's in a quiet, calm enviroment, where it can observe the members of the household safely.
After a day, pick it up, handle it for a minute or so, and then put it back in the cage. Do this every few hours, soon it should be used to you.
However, if it /really/ starts to freak out, then put it back in the cage.
Good luck and congratulations on your new friend.
:)
2006-07-03 20:54:51 · answer #3 · answered by fortune_cell 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Give it time to get used to it's new surroundings. Keep it in a place where it won't be stressed for a while and then take your time to let it get used to you.
2006-07-03 20:37:25 · answer #4 · answered by shelly 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Give it some time it's probbly very nourvous from it's experience...when they are nervous they get very touchy because it is their instinct to do so....
2006-07-03 20:34:53 · answer #5 · answered by Lana 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋