Friday, February 12, 2010

Do rats learn more traits through life?

I've had a pet rat for a month now (She is only a little over a month old) and I haven't noticed anything special except for she cleans her hands after she eats and when she gets excited she walks back and forth side ways on the spot. I just wanted to know, will she start to do more cute things as she gets older?Do rats learn more traits through life?
Yes she will, but she needs a few things. Rats are social beings, she must be very lonely. She needs another girl rat to play with eat with and curl up with for sleeping. She's still a baby. To get another one, her age from the same place would be best. There is a thing about quarantining, but I'm not going to get into all that. Don't just plop the new rat in her cage, she will defend her home.





Introductions go something like this. put the new one in a separate cage, it's only temporary so you could get a used one and disinfect it thoroughly, put them where they can hear and smell each other. They don't see well, so the use ears and nose more.


After a day take some of the bedding out and swap it. Do this a day or two.


take the new one, put a little vanilla near her rear end and put her in the empty bathtub. You can have a hidey-hole box that your first one has never used. Then get your first rattie and do the vanilla thing and put her in the tub. That way they will meet on neutral ground. They should do a lot of sniffing and chasing and maybe stand on their feet and wave their little arms or box a little, Even if one picks on the other and squeaking is OK. If one is thoroughly trouncing the other and or draws blood separate them right away. If all goes well let the first rat in with the new one,supervised.


Then put them both in the first ones cage. Even if all goes well, separate them the first night, (they will miss each other). If it all went well, put the 2nd rat in with the first rat and they should be OK.





Now another thing; Have you been taking her out to play? Rats need time out of the cage with you. If you haven't already done this, make a rat-proofed room, like a bathroom, where there are no electric cords or holes. A fun thing for her to do and fun for you to watch is pea fishing. put a few frozen peas in a shallow non-tip pan (a round cake pan would work) put in an inch of warm water and give her the first pea.





I hope you are spending a lot of time carrying her around in your sleeve, or a hoody hood or pocket, or on your shoulder. Without a buddy she is very lonely.


Rats soon love their human and can't wait to be the first one out to see you. Even if you have 10, each one wants to spend time with you. They are kind of like dogs are that way.





Does she have a wheel, a nest box, plenty of nesting stuff to shred? The like to climb ladders, ropes, chains, poles, amything climbable. Rats like to go through tunnels which could be as easy as taping empty poptart boxes to make one.


Does she have a hammock to sleep in? those are easy to make also.





There are many good websites to learn more about rats. There is spazratz, DapperRats, RatsArePeopleToo, RMCA. these are websites.


There are some good forums at Yahoo Groups. holistarats, ratlist, lovingrats rattiehealth, and others. These will supply all you need to know.





Oh Yeah, besides what your little rattie teaches you. Has she told you her name yet?





I wish you a happy relationship with your rats!Do rats learn more traits through life?
Thank you, these little bundles of cuteness are smart and can be one of the best pets you ever had. I really hope you and your little sweetie have a great time. I'd like to know her name and when you get her a buddy and all about how things are going!

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oh my god, i cant top that! ditto to all that!

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