i got a rat a few days ago and he is scared of every noise is something wrong with him?

Question

When he sits in my lap he has his eyes wide open and jumps at everything. Will he eventually come around? I only feed him from my hand which he rarely takes to make sure he knows hands= good. i have another rat who is completely fine with me and likes to be with me. Is there anything else i can do to help him come around and want to be with me like the other rat?

Answer 1

I have 2 rats of my own... Be patient, keep feeding from hand and speak softly to s/he, look on internet for advice, I recomend The Dapper Rat...But keep practising and let ure rat calm down and get used to the surroindings and noises! Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

OK first I understand what your doing as far as training the rat that hand = good. But keep in mind this is a new rat, in a new environment, where everything is loud to him (sensitive ears you know) and there is another rat, maybe in the same cage maybe not, but you can bet they can smell each other. The new rat probably thinks he's wandering onto someone elses terority and that makes him nervous too.
Give the rat a break, give him some peace and quiet and stop trying to pick him up. Let him get used to the environment, to you, and your smell, before you jump the gun and scare the bejeebies out of him and he winds up biting you.
So feed the rat, that means dump some food in a bowl, you say hes rarely taking the food, and you're only hand feeding him and you've had him for a few days... hes probably starving. Since you already have a rat you know how much they can pack away and how much their lives are based around finding and storing food.
Its best if you keep the tasty treats for hand feeding for now until he gets used to you a bit more, or else you might need a zee box and a shovel cuz he's liable to starve to death.

Answer 3

It sounds like your new rat has a wilder temperament than the other. If he doesn't bite, keep working with him and hold him a lot.
I once got a rat that I think was abused by previous owner (the owner's mom gave her to me, probably for this reason.) She was very scared of people, and I kept handling her and talking to her, and finally she became the most affectionate rat I had.
However, some rats are born with a poor temperament for a pet. Wild rats of the same species are almost impossible to tame. Sure, they can learn to take food from your hand, but they won't let you handle them, and startle easily. Pet store rats are bred for a fearless and calm temperament.
However, in recent years, more rats are being bred for snake food. This has resulted in breeders that are careless about their rats' temperament or health, since these don't matter for a "feeder" rat. So nowadays you can find rats that don't have a good personality for a pet. This doesn't mean there is anything "wrong" with them otherwise.
A neighbor once gave me a white rat that was a biter. She was like that from the beginning; not a good pet. I put her in a cage with 2 other rats. She got a little aggressive with therm too, and they set her straight and then they got along fine for the rest of their lives. But she never became a good pet.
So, if you want to keep working on it, you may be rewarded. If not, it's up to you what to do about it.

Answer 4

I think the rat is just nervous about its new home and it needs time to settle. I would be scared too if I got put in a small box, can't see my friends and family,and got put in a new home. Or , either the rat's personality is like that. Well anyways, good lucky with your new rat!! :)

Answer 5

They come with all personalities. Just keep handling your rat, feeding him with your hand, he will certainly come around. We have had several, some laid back, others nervous. The nervous ones came around eventually, but maybe werent as laid back as the others. Whenever we went to pick one out at the pet store, we handled several of them to find the one we thought was the friendliest. We always picked from the ones who hopped right onto our hands, no problem. Good luck

Answer 6

I have a pet hamster that flinches at every loud noise just like yours. It is normal, if it was raised in a more quiet place when it was born. Or it could have sensitive ears. Don't worry there is nothing to worry about. But no it will not come around, if that is the way it is raised it might keep doing it. sorry i bet his cuteness still makes up for his hoppyness :).

Answer 7

We have three rats like that; chances are, he'll come around soon, once he gets used to his new home. Be prepared for the possibility that he remains jumpy, though. Letting him out with your other rat may help - if they get along, of course - since he'll see that your other rat isn't scared.

Answer 8

Rats are highly sensitised creatures, mine jump at small noises even now and they're bold as anything. He's probably still pretty nervy - don't worry, he'll settle in. Just give him lots of love and tasty things and he'll relax:)

Answer 9

first off he's in a new environment and mya not be well socialized with people. take it easy on him and let him get used to his surroundings. speak to him gently in a calm, soothing almost crooning way and try not to make any sudden loud noises( like if he jumps suddenly and surprises you) gain his trust and he ought to calm down. if he's still spazing after a few weeks you might want to see if he's sick or injured, so take him to the vet.

Answer 10

he's in a new place with strange smells and noises. rats can't see very far so he is relying on his hearing to keep him safe. just let him adjust to the new place.