Lazy Male rats?

Question

I have 2 male rats (suposed brothers) just about a year old now. I take them out of their cage for around 3 hours a day, just to hang out on the couch with me. They aren't very playful, and usually chill under the blankets, or hang out on the top/sides of the couch. They don't seem very playful, but I dont know if its just because Im not stimulating them enough? I've even put small toy balls in their cage, which they seem to have no care about...they just like to 'sit on their bums' as it were.

They just seem very lazy. Is this normal? Should I be stimulating them more?

Answer 1

Male rats are known for being pretty lazy.  They much rather just lay around and sleep.  

One way to try and stimulate them is with food.  I give my rats frozen peas and they will freak out trying to get them.  I've also seen ideas where you play bobbing for apples, but use frozen peas in a small shallow dish filled with water.  

My girls like to chase toothbrushes.  I think it's the noise of one on the carpet....

You can check out these rat websites for more ideas.

http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk/home/

http://ratguide.com/

Good luck!

Answer 2

you can TRY to stimulate them more but a lot of male rats just happen to be lazy lazy creatures.  

A few things you can try are, changing the enviorment such as take them outside to explore (supervised! and possibly on a leash)  take them to a room they haven't seen yet.  Lots of toys.  Try teaching them tricks, simple things like comming to the sound of a bell....ring the bell, give a treat, ring a bell, give a treat...move away ring a bell, see if he follows, give a treat.

Fishing for peas was my rats favorite game.  A little tub of luke warm water and some frozen peas, show the rat the peas, put them in the water and see if he fishes for them.

Rats that get used to just being blobs will be harder to stimulate......next time you get a new rat be more interactive with them and you may find a more active life for the rat