Thanks for the info. Also can they have like carrots and you said little bits of cheese. What kind of household things can you use to put on the bottom of the cage? I am using a wire cage and im pretty sure it has a wire bottom and its in a tray. I also read somewhere that you could always like cut the bottom out of it and just set it in the tray its self. Sorry for bombarding you with questions but i want to make sure i am doing every thing right. :)
@krystalhiebert Carrot is good, cheese isn't great because rats are actually lactose intolerant so the dairy can make them sick. Also, some types of cheese have mold for extra flavor (eg. Brie and blue vein) but the mold is very bad for rats.
Yes you can take out the wire bottom, but often the tray can slide out, so you just have to make sure that there's no way your rats can escape. I use linoleum floor tiles to cover the wire of my cage. Just stick it on. Easy to clean too. :)
Thank You very much for this video. I enjoyed it. I am looking into getting a rat within the next few days and I would like to get a female because i had a female growing up and she was very friendly, somewhat cuddly and didnt smell. Is it a MUST to get 2 rats when you are first buying them rather than one? Thanks again for this video and your others.
@krystalhiebert I would never recommend getting just one rat. No matter how much time you spend with your rat, there will be time during the night or while you're at work when your rat is by itself. Rats are very intelligent and they're also pack animals and so a lot of their mental stimulation comes from having a companion. They really need another rat to play with and cuddle up to sleep with on cold nights. :) So yes, it really is a must, keeping a rat alone is quite cruel, IMHO. :)
@CodyBarnes00 Yes cooked pasta and tuna. And it's surprising that they won't eat an egg... 3 weeks old is definitely old enough to be eating solids... :L Maybe try them with something a bit softer to get them started. Baby food or mashed banana or avocado and once they're eating that, try again with small chucks of boiled egg.
Ok..lol..And CoCo wont hurt the babies??-I mean he didn't hurt Mia,so i figure he wouldn't hurt the babies!!-And wht fruits can you feed rats/babies??
@CodyBarnes00 I can't guarantee that he won't hurt the babies which is why I suggested a slow introduction process on neutral territory - That is the least risky way to introduce rats. For babies, you want to be giving them a high protein intake to help them grow. Avocado is good for being an easy food to eat as well as high in protein. Scrambled egg and tuna are also good. Your rats also might enjoy canned baby food.
@TheYoghurt42 Yeah...The babies will be getting Honey Dew & Cantaloupe & Celery...Are those good nutrition foods for them??-In December Im breeding Mia again,then getting her Spayed in January...Ill be giving them eggs too..Bc I want my baby boy hamster to grow up big & fat lol...
@CodyBarnes00 I'd go for more hearty things, don't worry about being healthy at this age, lots of calories is good for their growth! I'd recommend more pasta, baby food, potato, avocado, chicken, tuna, beans, eggs and cereals. They have more of the good nutrients that the babies will need to grow! :)
@CodyBarnes00 He will not change the behavior of the baby you are keeping. Make sure you handle the baby often and it will turn out to be a little cuddle bug. ^.^
Yes.Coco has drawn blood everytime he's bit me!!-Sometimes he'll just nip and break skin,but other times its a deep bloody bite..The babies are running around and their eyes are open,but im still kinsa leary about putting them with Coco right now bc there like a Penny compared too Coco...
@CodyBarnes00 Ouch! I didn't realize how bad his biting was! I'd definitely recommend getting him neutered before attempting any kind of socialization as he is clearly either deeply afraid of humans or he has huge hormone issues. Getting him neutered will almost certainly reduce his aggression and lessen his biting but I think he will take a lot of time to build his trust. I have never experienced a rat that bites severely before, so I don't have much advice, but neutering in a great first step.
Ok..CoCo only bites human's..He never-ever bit Mia...As soon as I put CoCo In with Mia he was licking her ears,and bathing her..!!-But other than that he's mean....One time when I tried to touch him He Squeaked really loud...But i dnt no wht 2 do!!
@CodyBarnes00 1/2 Him licking Mia could be what's known as power-grooming - It's how rats assert their dominance. Often the dominant rat will flip the other onto their back and groom their stomach to show dominance. This is normal and doesn't mean that Coco was aggressive towards Mia, but he wasn't necessarily friendly towards her either. And if Coco squeaks when you come towards him, he could quite possibly be biting out of fear. Does his coat fluff up when you come towards him?
@CodyBarnes00 2/2 Also, do you know anything about his previous home? Was he handled regularly? Is it possible that he was not raised with much handling or that he was handled roughly?
@TheYoghurt42 I got CoCo from a pet store...He was ok At first but the next day he started biting & would never let me hold him..He likes Mia he's always by her he sleeps with her...The reason i got Mia is because I thought CoCo was lonely...His fur doesn't fluff up but he gets on his Hind legs and follows my finger then tries to bite me....But Mia & CoCo Got along really well...Should i put the baby boy rats with CoCo When their 4 weeks old? They have there eyes open already..
@CodyBarnes00 1/2 Most pet shops don't handle their rats very much or at all and so sometimes you do end up getting rats like Coco that aren't easy to handle. Had Coco ever drawn blood when he's bitten you, or does he more just grab your finger with his teeth but not puncture? I would do as I said and introduce him to the babies on neutral territory such as a bathtub and see how they go. He might groom them/flip them on their backs and they will squeak. That's okay.
@CodyBarnes00 2/2 As long as he does not draw blood, let him do what he's going to do. Let them out in the bathtub together (with food to eat to help make it a positive experience) every day until he stops reacting to the babies. That could be just 2 or 3 days or could be 3 weeks+. Then, after cleaning his cage very thoroughly, put the babies in there and monitor them closely.
If he never showed any aggression towards Mia, then I'd say his issues with people are fear-based, not aggression-based.
I really enjoyed this video lol..I do have a question. * If a boy rat continuously Bites you OR wants to bite you,Is that a sign of just pure dislike,or sickness..I've had him for a while Since Last December & ever since then he's bit,or wants to bite me.I did get a female rat She's nice VERY active,and They got along but then She got pregnant and had 10 little babies,which are now 2 weeks,and 2 days old..CoCo ( male ) Was calmer with Mia ( girl ) around but still wanted to bite.Do you know Why?
@CodyBarnes00 1/2 Your boy rat continuously biting is most likely a sign of hormonal aggression. The only way to fix the problem is to get him neutered. Letting him have a cage mate will help his well-being in general, but please get him neutered before moving him back in with Mia as her having two litters close together isn't good for her health or the health of her bubs.
@CodyBarnes00 2/2 If you don't want to get Coco neutered, you could let him live with the males from he and Mia's litter once they're 4 weeks old. But you said a cage mate didn't completely cure his biting, so I'd still recommend getting him neutered. Good luck with Coco and your bubs!
@TheYoghurt42 Thanks for the info..So do you think once Mia's babies are 4-5 weeks old the boys can be put with CoCo? Will he hurt them,thats my biggest worry...But he is very Aggressive I never held him ever since I got him,cause he'll bite HARD...But thanks for that information,it was very helpful (:
@CodyBarnes00 I'd be very careful about it, introduce them slowly on neutral territory (a bathtub is good) to make sure he isn't going to hurt them. Is he aggressive with other rats or just with humans? If you've seen him biting (drawing blood) other rats then I wouldn't put the babies in with him until a few weeks after he's been neutered.
Thanks for the info. Also can they have like carrots and you said little bits of cheese. What kind of household things can you use to put on the bottom of the cage? I am using a wire cage and im pretty sure it has a wire bottom and its in a tray. I also read somewhere that you could always like cut the bottom out of it and just set it in the tray its self. Sorry for bombarding you with questions but i want to make sure i am doing every thing right. :)
krystalhiebert 3 months ago
@krystalhiebert Carrot is good, cheese isn't great because rats are actually lactose intolerant so the dairy can make them sick. Also, some types of cheese have mold for extra flavor (eg. Brie and blue vein) but the mold is very bad for rats.
Yes you can take out the wire bottom, but often the tray can slide out, so you just have to make sure that there's no way your rats can escape. I use linoleum floor tiles to cover the wire of my cage. Just stick it on. Easy to clean too. :)
TheYoghurt42 3 months ago
Thank You very much for this video. I enjoyed it. I am looking into getting a rat within the next few days and I would like to get a female because i had a female growing up and she was very friendly, somewhat cuddly and didnt smell. Is it a MUST to get 2 rats when you are first buying them rather than one? Thanks again for this video and your others.
krystalhiebert 3 months ago
@krystalhiebert I would never recommend getting just one rat. No matter how much time you spend with your rat, there will be time during the night or while you're at work when your rat is by itself. Rats are very intelligent and they're also pack animals and so a lot of their mental stimulation comes from having a companion. They really need another rat to play with and cuddle up to sleep with on cold nights. :) So yes, it really is a must, keeping a rat alone is quite cruel, IMHO. :)
TheYoghurt42 3 months ago
Ok...Cooked Pasta & Cooked Tuna???-The babies wont take Eggs..
CodyBarnes00 5 months ago
@CodyBarnes00 Yes cooked pasta and tuna. And it's surprising that they won't eat an egg... 3 weeks old is definitely old enough to be eating solids... :L Maybe try them with something a bit softer to get them started. Baby food or mashed banana or avocado and once they're eating that, try again with small chucks of boiled egg.
TheYoghurt42 5 months ago
Ok..lol..And CoCo wont hurt the babies??-I mean he didn't hurt Mia,so i figure he wouldn't hurt the babies!!-And wht fruits can you feed rats/babies??
CodyBarnes00 5 months ago
@CodyBarnes00 I can't guarantee that he won't hurt the babies which is why I suggested a slow introduction process on neutral territory - That is the least risky way to introduce rats. For babies, you want to be giving them a high protein intake to help them grow. Avocado is good for being an easy food to eat as well as high in protein. Scrambled egg and tuna are also good. Your rats also might enjoy canned baby food.
TheYoghurt42 5 months ago
@TheYoghurt42 Yeah...The babies will be getting Honey Dew & Cantaloupe & Celery...Are those good nutrition foods for them??-In December Im breeding Mia again,then getting her Spayed in January...Ill be giving them eggs too..Bc I want my baby boy hamster to grow up big & fat lol...
CodyBarnes00 5 months ago
@CodyBarnes00 I'd go for more hearty things, don't worry about being healthy at this age, lots of calories is good for their growth! I'd recommend more pasta, baby food, potato, avocado, chicken, tuna, beans, eggs and cereals. They have more of the good nutrients that the babies will need to grow! :)
TheYoghurt42 5 months ago
Yes he bites hard...But Since i have baby rats And im keeping one will it turn it too bite me??-There 3 weeks old already???
CodyBarnes00 5 months ago
@CodyBarnes00 He will not change the behavior of the baby you are keeping. Make sure you handle the baby often and it will turn out to be a little cuddle bug. ^.^
TheYoghurt42 5 months ago
Yes.Coco has drawn blood everytime he's bit me!!-Sometimes he'll just nip and break skin,but other times its a deep bloody bite..The babies are running around and their eyes are open,but im still kinsa leary about putting them with Coco right now bc there like a Penny compared too Coco...
CodyBarnes00 5 months ago
@CodyBarnes00 Ouch! I didn't realize how bad his biting was! I'd definitely recommend getting him neutered before attempting any kind of socialization as he is clearly either deeply afraid of humans or he has huge hormone issues. Getting him neutered will almost certainly reduce his aggression and lessen his biting but I think he will take a lot of time to build his trust. I have never experienced a rat that bites severely before, so I don't have much advice, but neutering in a great first step.
TheYoghurt42 5 months ago
Ok..CoCo only bites human's..He never-ever bit Mia...As soon as I put CoCo In with Mia he was licking her ears,and bathing her..!!-But other than that he's mean....One time when I tried to touch him He Squeaked really loud...But i dnt no wht 2 do!!
CodyBarnes00 6 months ago
@CodyBarnes00 1/2 Him licking Mia could be what's known as power-grooming - It's how rats assert their dominance. Often the dominant rat will flip the other onto their back and groom their stomach to show dominance. This is normal and doesn't mean that Coco was aggressive towards Mia, but he wasn't necessarily friendly towards her either. And if Coco squeaks when you come towards him, he could quite possibly be biting out of fear. Does his coat fluff up when you come towards him?
TheYoghurt42 6 months ago
@CodyBarnes00 2/2 Also, do you know anything about his previous home? Was he handled regularly? Is it possible that he was not raised with much handling or that he was handled roughly?
TheYoghurt42 6 months ago
@TheYoghurt42 I got CoCo from a pet store...He was ok At first but the next day he started biting & would never let me hold him..He likes Mia he's always by her he sleeps with her...The reason i got Mia is because I thought CoCo was lonely...His fur doesn't fluff up but he gets on his Hind legs and follows my finger then tries to bite me....But Mia & CoCo Got along really well...Should i put the baby boy rats with CoCo When their 4 weeks old? They have there eyes open already..
CodyBarnes00 6 months ago
@CodyBarnes00 1/2 Most pet shops don't handle their rats very much or at all and so sometimes you do end up getting rats like Coco that aren't easy to handle. Had Coco ever drawn blood when he's bitten you, or does he more just grab your finger with his teeth but not puncture? I would do as I said and introduce him to the babies on neutral territory such as a bathtub and see how they go. He might groom them/flip them on their backs and they will squeak. That's okay.
TheYoghurt42 5 months ago
@CodyBarnes00 2/2 As long as he does not draw blood, let him do what he's going to do. Let them out in the bathtub together (with food to eat to help make it a positive experience) every day until he stops reacting to the babies. That could be just 2 or 3 days or could be 3 weeks+. Then, after cleaning his cage very thoroughly, put the babies in there and monitor them closely.
If he never showed any aggression towards Mia, then I'd say his issues with people are fear-based, not aggression-based.
TheYoghurt42 5 months ago
I really enjoyed this video lol..I do have a question. * If a boy rat continuously Bites you OR wants to bite you,Is that a sign of just pure dislike,or sickness..I've had him for a while Since Last December & ever since then he's bit,or wants to bite me.I did get a female rat She's nice VERY active,and They got along but then She got pregnant and had 10 little babies,which are now 2 weeks,and 2 days old..CoCo ( male ) Was calmer with Mia ( girl ) around but still wanted to bite.Do you know Why?
CodyBarnes00 6 months ago
@CodyBarnes00 1/2 Your boy rat continuously biting is most likely a sign of hormonal aggression. The only way to fix the problem is to get him neutered. Letting him have a cage mate will help his well-being in general, but please get him neutered before moving him back in with Mia as her having two litters close together isn't good for her health or the health of her bubs.
TheYoghurt42 6 months ago
@CodyBarnes00 2/2 If you don't want to get Coco neutered, you could let him live with the males from he and Mia's litter once they're 4 weeks old. But you said a cage mate didn't completely cure his biting, so I'd still recommend getting him neutered. Good luck with Coco and your bubs!
TheYoghurt42 6 months ago
@TheYoghurt42 Thanks for the info..So do you think once Mia's babies are 4-5 weeks old the boys can be put with CoCo? Will he hurt them,thats my biggest worry...But he is very Aggressive I never held him ever since I got him,cause he'll bite HARD...But thanks for that information,it was very helpful (:
CodyBarnes00 6 months ago
@CodyBarnes00 I'd be very careful about it, introduce them slowly on neutral territory (a bathtub is good) to make sure he isn't going to hurt them. Is he aggressive with other rats or just with humans? If you've seen him biting (drawing blood) other rats then I wouldn't put the babies in with him until a few weeks after he's been neutered.
TheYoghurt42 6 months ago