I just got her 3 days ago, and right when i brought her home, set her immediantly in her cage for 24 1/2 hours, without me picking her up, or putting my hands in her cage. Today, I've started to put my hand in the cage, and everytime i do, she ducks her head and runs away!? Or, sometimes, she will hide in a toy and i'll stick my head in front of the toys opening and she'll stick her head out, and smell my hand, the duck back in...:( This morning, when she was in some toy blocks hiding, I picked them up and set it on my lap while i was sitting on my bed, she came out and seemed excited and happy. (she didn't want to go back in her cage! :D) I've done that twice today, and she is still afraid of my hand?! [even if i try to pet her back she ducks, and runs away...] What should I do?
She's 6 or 8 months old. (is that a baby?)
My only rat. (another female on the way soon)
First time rat owner.
2007-12-30 15:03:15 · 13 answers · asked by Pamela G 1 in Pets ➔ Rodents
The hand is scary and big. Let her respond to your voice, for now. You have to gain her trust, it doesn't come instantly. :)
Have you tried offering treats by hand, that way she'll realize those hands have a 'positive' concept to counteract the scary size?
6-8 months old isn't a baby, but it's like....''pre-teen''. Some places would even consider her 'mature' in age.
2007-12-30 15:10:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋
At six or 8 months, she's not a baby, she's a mature lady.
She seems like a nice rat. You just don't understand how she thinks. It's obvious that you like each other already.
What you have to do is pick her up and let her climb all over you. If she goes somewhere you don't want her to, just pick her up and put her on your shoulder. Don't be shy. She's the shy one, but she'll get over it if you keep handling her. Just be gentle and don't squeeze or hurt her. Soon you will find that you can pick her up any time you want to.
2007-12-30 16:46:27 · answer #2 · answered by The First Dragon 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ok! this is happening to my mouse too.
only i started picking her up on the first day. just get her into your hands and while your watching tv/reading or something just keep holding her. for 1/2 hour everyday. i started yesterday and its workingt.females are more frisky than males so it'll take more time. to know that its working ur rat will explore yourwhole hand and wrist after a while. this means she isn't that scared anymore. then let her explore yoiur arm and so on. they'll soon learn
2007-12-30 15:12:06 · answer #3 · answered by Alice A 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If she has been handeled before, such as at a different home, she might have been handled wrong and now is afraid to get hurt again. But if she is new, she just needs to get used to your smell and feel of yours hands. She is still fairly new to your home. Soon, she will be as excited to be held as she was when you moved the toy block. By the way, I have had my oets do a similar thing. It's nothing to worry about unless she starts to get too aggressive.
2007-12-30 15:27:46 · answer #4 · answered by Catherine H 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Congratulations for getting a rat!!! She is probably scared since she is new and she will need to get used to her surroundings. Try talking to her and feeding her and make her feel good. It will take time but none of the rats I have known (except for 1) have stayed that way.
2007-12-30 16:31:43 · answer #5 · answered by Girl you don't know 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At that age she is not a baby anymore. More like a teenager.
She has to get used to your smell. Maybe if you wash your hands first it might help, I don't know. Or you could put something yummy on it, like peanut butter or whatever she likes. But the key is to handle your rat everyday to get her used to you. Good luck.
2007-12-30 18:38:54 · answer #6 · answered by Andrea H 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
easily take it sluggish, they're going to heat as much as you eventually! do no longer attempt to rigidity it, or you may desire to land up making them much greater terrified of you. additionally, please bear in mind that female expenses are hyper. they would not be working away, or showing "scared" habit, they might purely be working off some skill. My female rats have continually enable me puppy them, yet often times they run away, and climb in each single place. i will by no skill get them to take a seat nevertheless for long, even whilst they're interior their cage!
2016-10-10 16:41:33 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have a female hooded rat. I would hold her everyday and let her roam around on the bed and she would start coming to me. Its been about 2 weeks and she now sleeps on my shoulder. She is constantly running around on me. If i touch her back she hops. She loves to play and she grinds her teeth which i have heard means they are happy. Also if she begins to pee on you it means she is comfortable. They do that in case something scares them, they know where to run too.
2007-12-31 11:24:30 · answer #8 · answered by Jess P 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
6-8 months old isnt a baby. But she obviously isnt used to being handled. Persevere with getting her out 20 mins a day. Rats sit nicely on your shoulder. once she gets used to you and your smell she will relax. You cant put her with another female rat as they will fight.
2007-12-31 04:17:05 · answer #9 · answered by Sam M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
give it some time and patience, eventually she'll get used to you, and wont be scared anymore. 6 to 8 months isnt that old but not a baby, remember baby rats wean from their mothers in less then a month, also dont feed it with your hand, otherwise it reconize your hand smell with eating, and you could get bit(ust from experience)
2007-12-30 15:09:52 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋