First time rat owner, I have a few questions?

Question

well I'm a new rat owner and I just adopeted 3 new rats all girls. How much time a day should I spend with each one them? What are some games I could play with them to get them used to me. Now that I've had them for 3 days this might sound wiered but latley I've been letting them climb out on there own onto my arm but somtimes it takes forever is this what I should be doing or could I just reach in and grab them? Will they get mad and try to bite? I'm a little nervous because I don't want to get bitten I know again that probably sounds wiered

Answer 1

If you lol adopted them then your fine. If they bite you and get their saliva or disease or whatever they have, then the company who sells the rats will go to jail.

So don't be nervous, actually yeah go right ahead.

I was nervous when I got my pregnant mouse. He rname is Butterscotch. So I hope I helped. No, I didn't. haha.

Answer 2

well, i don't know about rats but hamsters are solitary creatures, like to be alone. if you say you've had them for 3 days and nothing has happened then obviously rats aren't like hamsters. don't reach in and grab them because they might feel threatened and bite. just keep doing what you are doing. if it takes to long for them to climb out then try putting food on you're arm to persuade them a little. you can buy them a ball so that they can run around in or you can put them on the floor, one at a time, and play with them. play with them at least 2 a day or so. let them know you care. (:

Answer 3

Rats are highly social creatures.  You're way more likely to get bitten by a hamster or gerbil than by a rat.  They 'want' to be with people.   I would get in touch with who they were adopted from to ask more detailed questions on their own personal behavior.  

www. goosemoose.com has excellent forums and information in their Rats Rule section.  Good luck and enjoy your new ratties!

Answer 4

You should start by coaxing them out with treats.  First try by feeding them frozen peas, cheerios, grapes, etc from your fingers.  Once they get used to that, try to get them to eat out of the palm of your hand.  Once they get used to that, try to lure them out of the cage on to your hand with treats.  It's best to it this way in the beginning to get them used to you.

After a while, the rats will begin to associate you with good things.  You won't have to worry so much about getting bit when you pick them up.  They'll probably come to the door of the cage hoping you have a little treat for them to enjoy!

As for playing with them, an hour or two a day is good.  You might want to focus more attention in the beginning so they get properly socialized to you.  You can play with them all at once if you put them on a couch or let them free roam.  

If you want to let them free roam, start in a small room, like a bathroom, and check it that it doesn't have any holes for ratties to disappear in.  Rat proof it to make sure they can't consume anything dangerous (like the trash).  Bring their cage in the room, or bring them in with a box or towel, so they have a place to hide until they are ready to explore.

I've included some sites below that provide great advice regarding rats.

Hope that helps!

Answer 5

Don't be nervous. Depending on where you got them really determines how they act.

If they come up to you they surly know you by now and should bite. If you got them from a breeder, they usually have more positive human contact then if you got them from a pet store.

My husband and I bought 6 rats from Pet Co and only one had  a biting problem, but I'm told they where they get their rats from, usually they have aggression towards humans.

They might run when you try to g get them, but they shouldn't bite if they haven't already.

Also spend more time with all of them, then just one on one. They are social creatures and you can even train them to come when their name is called.

here's a link to a web page full of more info

http://www.dapper.com.au/articles.htm

Answer 6

congrats on ur new little buddies!! u will love them tons!!

for how often u need to play with rats, u need to play with rats at least an hour a day. u can play with them more if u want, but at least an hour a day.

games that u could play is let them ride on ur shoulder, rats love to do that. and letting them have a ride allows them to connect with u faster and better. I'm not sure what other games u could do but just experiment. think of things to do and see if ur rats like it.

what u are doing now to get them out of the cage is great!! it lets them come to u when they are ready, keeping stress to a minimum. keep doing that and eventually they will come right out onto ur arm.  u can also just reach into the cage but since they are new and unfamiliar to u and the new surroundings stick to ur technique for now. if u do want to grab them from the cage then do it slowly. just so u don't startle them. and u don't have to worry about biting. rats are the least likely rodents to bite. if anything they would just run. and by what u have said, u are doing absoulutely nothing to make them mad or even think about biting.

Answer 7

Dear Brittneysue,

  You should let them just be in there cage and become fimliar with their surrounding before you start playing with them. Then you should start feeding them treats and gradually work your way up to holding them. You are correct by letting them come to you instead of you reaching in there in taking them out. They will most likely not get mad and bite but they might try to stuggle and get back into their cage or nibble at your finger, which will NOT hurt and is normal for rats when you first get them. I hope I helped!!

Congrats on getting rats!!

Rat Lover

Answer 8

First of all your rats have got to get used to you. They're probably quite nervous at being in a new home so you should leave them completely alone for a day so that they settle down. After that day of isolation, spend lots of time during the day just talking to them softly so that they get to know your voice. You should do this for all of the second day. On the third day, whilst talking to them, open the cage door and offer a little titbit. You must wait until one of them comes to retrieve it - this can take a while so you'll need patience. Keep trying them with the titbit throughout the day until all of them have approached you to take it - they may run away, but they will begin to associate your smell and voice with food rewards which will soon build their confidence. Keep on with the titbit exercise until they're all taking food from your hand easily - as soon as this has been achieved you will be ready to start handling them.

Don't be afraid of your rats biting you - rats are very gentle and they only bite if they're very, very scared or you put your fingers through the bars! They may occasionally nip you but this is usually only seen in dominant males and it won't hurt or draw blood, as it's only supposed to be a warning.

When you pick up your rats, pick them up individually, using both hands to support them and make them feel safe - when they're in your hands, immediately give them something to eat to reassure them that handling is good - they may not like being picked up to start with but they'll soon calm down and accept it - if the first time you pick them up they squeal, they may just be scared and you'll have to treat them very gently. If after days of handling, they're still squealing, they're probably in pain and you should check them out by a vet. You must never grab a rat or pick them up by the tail - grabbing them can terrify them and may prompt them to bite. A rat should be happy to be picked up without fuss.

This whole process should only take about a week, maybe more if the rats are very young or quite nervous. Rats are naturally confident and curious animals so once they realize you mean them no harm, they'll love being handled and will want to climb all over you and give you lots of washes! They particularly love to sit on shoulders! They may be timid to start with, but rats are won over easily and as they're confidence grows they will make you fantastic pets.

You should play with your rats all together and they need at least an hour of out-of-cage play a day, though obviously there is nothing wrong with you cuddling them separately and if you can spare even more time to play then that's fantastic! Rats love all kinds of games - they can paddle about and fish for peas in very shallow water, solve mazes and obstacle courses, shred paper, make dens, rip apart pinatas and play with kongs....the list is endless! They'll also love you to gently wrestle and chase them with your hands, though you should only do that once they're confident with you and know you're not going to attack them! Just use your imagination as rats love anything that makes them think and allows them to do lots of exploring. I've found the best place to play with them is on the sofa - cover it with a waterproof or shower curtain and then some towels and then if they pee they won't wreck it.

Have fun with your new pets!

Answer 9

There is no limit on how much and how long to play with them. They will let you know when they are done playing(my rats do). You are doing everything that your supposed to do. Its good that your letting them come out to you even if it seems like it takes them forever to do so. Alot of times reaching in and grabbing them will further stress out an already leary rat. Your doing fine in my book and with a little more time your furballs will be nibblegooming you everytime they get the chance.

Answer 10

spend at least a hour a day and play with them dont just let them run   here is a fun game they like get like a pillow or something soft and hold your rat in two hands and toss them on to the pillow or soft object they will love this game they run back to you after  you toss  them good luck have fun with them