Yay Update

[Jay_Bunny]

Earlier today I put Frontline spray on all three rats, dabbing it on their backs, bellies and legs with a q-tip. Tonight I went in to see them and I can't find any mites! I could not find a single mite on all three rats.

So what should be the next step? I'm going to clean out their cage tomorrow really well. Should I spray the new bedding down a bit just in case?

I am really starting to love these little guys. Whenever I open the cage, Nibble and Monk come running up, putting their little paws on my fingers and Monk tends to crawl up into my hand. Nibble I have to pick up but both love to come out and crawl around. Still working on Kasper. Any suggestions on how to get her to be less frightened?

[littleindiangirl]

Excellent news! I would lightly treat their substrate, and around the lip of the cage just to stop any wandering mites from getting anywhere. (I'm paranoid about that sort of thing)

Rats are highly motivated by treats. Yogurt drops, yogurt covered raisins, anything they really love. When you go to say hello and play with them, make them come for a treat. They will start to learn you give them goodies when they come to say hi.

I find another great motivator for getting shy babies to trust you is to play with them for as long as they have the energy. I take away any hides and tickle and chase them with my hand. If you play with their siblings, they will want to join in the fun.

Even if they dont want you to touch them, they will start getting so curious about all the ruckus. This has worked many times for me to get those shy rats to trust me. We do it every night for a few weeks, and before you know it they will be begging to come out and play.

Once they have control of themselves better, I start to carry them around in my hoodie pockets and walking around the house with them, just to get them used to us.

[frankykeno]

Like Connie said, rats are food motivated. Find a treat that rat really, really likes and only offer it from your hand. Eventually the rat will equate you with special foods and come to you willingly. Heck I have adult breeder rats here that are up on their hind legs, dancing around and bruxing madly when they see Mike or I in the rat room. They must think we are the Gods of the Good Treats or something LOL.

[Jay_Bunny]

What is bruxing?

We will treat the new bedding today during the cage clean. Thankyou all of you who helped me with the mite problem. It is such a relief to see my little babies ok again. We are taking Monk to the vet today (our ferret has an appointment)) to show them the frontline spray really works.

[littleindiangirl]

They brux and grind their teeth when they are excited about something. They wiggle their ears when they are excited or in heat. Their eyes will boggle when they do some very hard bruxing, lol, just the funniest stuff rats do.

[Jay_Bunny]

Monk was grinding his teeth the first night we brought him home. He was in my hands. Do they do it when they are scared, kind of like cats purr when they are scared?

[littleindiangirl]

I've noticed some of mine do it when they are nervous or in a stressful situation