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Anonymous
I need some help :(

I read about how many people enjoy rats and how they're cuddly and come to you and such. After a few months of reading about them I got two of my own from Petsmart a few days ago, aware that they wouldn't be very well socialized.

But they're really scared of me. They hate being picked up, one even bit me one time I tried. They hate being held or pet, and when I approach the cage their first instinct is to hide. I open the cage door and try to let them come to me, but they don't seem to want to. Sometimes they do, but only to get out and not really to be with me. I'm feeling kind of discouraged. Is this normal for new rats? How can I get them to the point where they'lll actually enjoy my presence? Will picking them up as much as possible get them accustomed to me? Is it just an eventual process? I feel like I'm being a jerk when I pick them up and they really don't seem to like it, but I don't know how else I can get them used to me. I've got one of them on my shoulder now but she's pretty much just hiding in my hair.

Any tips?
>> Anonymous
my rat hid in my hair at first.... just get it used to being on and around you. Let her hide in your hair, and pet and talk to her at random times while she's on you. Getting them socialized might take months. People at rat breeding places to sell to pet stores and pet stores themselves aren't very good with animals, so it's no surprise it's acting up.

My rat is VERY skittish, but isn't exactly afraid of me. He came from a bad owner (we are assuming... he was found on a college campus). He doesn't come to me when its time to be picked up, but he doesn't get upset. He flails a bit, but it's just because he's like OMG I'M BEING PICKED UP. Once he's in my arms and in my hair, he's fine.

Treat them by MAKING them come to the front of the cage. Get them associated to sounds (like clicking or whistling) to know it's time to come to the front of the cage, and give them treats. And once they get used to coming to the front of the cage for treats, it might be easier for them to come to the front for pickup time.
>> Anonymous
Ah yes, I generally try to avoid petco/petsmart. :<
It may take a long long time before your rats may get use to you, however, I don't believe it's impossible.
You may have to start of slowly, letting them get use to your hand and you. You could first start off by putting your hand into the cage with some yogurt or baby food on your fingers, see if you can convince them to lick it off of you. Do a lot of hand feeding. (just a forewarning it may take awhile to do this because some rats are shy when trying new things) But, if this is the case, you can give this 'treat' in their normal food so they can get use to the food first, then move off to hand feeding them.
Hopefully, after awhile, they will start to trust your hand more you and you can move off to touching them and holding them constantly until they are use to that. Then you can go further from there. One of my rats was very very shy when adopted her. It took nearly half a year for her to start acting friendly (and that with the influence of two other friendly rats!)

I do hope your rodents come around though. They are very rewarding pets.
>> Anonymous
>>328099
>>328098
Thanks. Will the hand feeding make them more apt to bite me when I put my hand in the cage, since they'll think every time there will be a treat?
>> Anonymous
well, rat bites aren't too bad... If he starts to bite you, don't yank your hand away. Keep it there and blow in his face.

You're gonna have to brace yourself for bites until they learn that biting is bad.
>> Anonymous
Why is it that people can't seem to understand that new animals need to settle in?

You need to give time for kittens to settle in, puppies to settle in, rats to settle in. You took it from its accustomed habitat and plunked it into a new house, with new smells, new people, a new cage. They are scared and more likely to bite you. They're not going to run to the front of the cage because they're currently in the stage of 'holy shit wtf'

Give them about a week to settle in. They will start being curious and social with you. Don't ignore them, but talk to them softly.
>> Anonymous
I'd say that's pretty normal for new rats. They need to get used to you, and if they haven't been socialized, then it will take longer.

Like I tell everyone with new rats... put them somewhere they can't get into trouble but can be around you, like on your bed. Just sit with them and let them crawl on you, be around you... give them little treats when they come up to you. It could take days or weeks for them to start coming to you on their own. When they seem a little more confident, start carrying them around on your shoulder. After a while, they'll be fine.

My two girls still hate being taken out the cage and struggle every time, and I've had them for a year and a half. But once they're out, they're fine.
>> Anonymous
I never tried this but, I often hear the underwear trick works on animals. I think it is where you put the underwear you have been wearing all day into the area that the animal sleeps. This gets them familiar with at least your smell.