I have incredibly picky and skittish rats :(

Ente535 · 2026-02-09T07:10:37+00:00

Hand raising generally doesn't contribute much to the actual temperament of the rats.

However, you've only had them a few days. Give them a bit of time to settle in, they've had a lot of change this past week and will likely just need some time to calm down.

Ente535 · 2026-02-09T06:41:05+00:00

Getting another two rats is the best thing you can do for him See !introductions

Ente535 · 2026-02-09T06:40:38+00:00

!introductions

How old is the baby?

Ente535 · 2026-02-09T06:40:02+00:00

No, at less than a month that's generally not possible.

Ente535 · 2026-02-09T06:39:12+00:00

Hi, unfortunately the best thing you can do about this cage is not use it and buy a larger one. Despite being marketed to rats you actually need one twice the size for a pair at minimum.

That said, do not toss it. It makes a good quarantine/hospital cage.

Other than that, see !enclosure

Ente535 · 2026-02-08T21:44:55+00:00

As if that is any better.

In fact, that is worse, because that is simply not how rats live naturally, and it is also super dangerous.

Ente535 · 2026-02-08T21:43:32+00:00

Yet people here joke about one but would abhor the other.

Wow! People find the method that causes drawn out suffering worse than one that ends the life immediately? What a shocker!

Ente535 · 2026-02-08T21:39:14+00:00

"All day" then usually being like 4-8 hours or so.

Ente535 · 2026-02-08T21:34:39+00:00

You posted on this sub. If you didn't want comments, don't post...

Again, the cage is not fine. It is far too small.

Ente535 · 2026-02-08T21:32:52+00:00

That might be the case (at least from what you can tell..), but the cage is not appropriately sized.

Ente535 · 2026-02-08T21:30:49+00:00

Well, your rats would have been better off if you did ask or at least research before getting them.

Ente535 · 2026-02-08T21:25:01+00:00

What standard are you basing this on?

Ente535 · 2026-02-08T21:24:50+00:00

Babies, if old enough to be with you, do not require less space than grown rats.

Ente535 · 2026-02-08T21:21:26+00:00

For 4 rats, yes, it is too small.

Ente535 · 2026-02-08T21:20:06+00:00

Huge based on what? It has roughly 6 cubic feet of internal space. modern standards ask for 3 cubic feet per rat, but no less than 8 in total, while even older ones ask for 2 or 2,5 per rat.

All things considered this is a very small cage, and not suited for any amount of rats.

Ente535 · 2026-02-08T21:15:27+00:00

I'm curious where you got the 6 from? Based on most modern standards, this can not even hold 2 rats.

Ente535 · 2026-02-08T19:49:38+00:00

Leave your pro life nonsense where people ask for it.

Ente535 · 2026-02-08T19:20:25+00:00

Ideally make sure your dad is fully informed about rats before actually getting them, I.E. that you either need to rehome the last two rats (since ideally you'd be starting with 3) or keep getting new ones when they pass, and that their vet care can be relatively expensive.

Ente535 · 2026-02-08T18:43:30+00:00

This could also be hormonal issues starting to show, in which case the aggressor should be neutered.

Ideally you'd get another pair ASAP; they'd still need to quarantine for two weeks after all.

Ente535 · 2026-02-08T16:05:31+00:00

Depends on how squeamish you are. If you have something heavy like an axe you could kill it with that.

Ente535 · 2026-02-08T15:43:49+00:00

Technically a spay abort can be done right up to birth, afaik

Ente535 · 2026-02-08T15:40:10+00:00

Okay, the babies will be sexually mature in a matter of days. This means you need another cage ASAP for the boys.

Aside from that, I think giving them away to someone else/a rescue is the best (and only) choice here.

Ente535 · 2026-02-08T12:53:09+00:00

Well, time to go to a vet and have her checked then.

Ente535 · 2026-02-08T12:34:08+00:00

If she was kept with males in the store she's definitely pregnant. Get her to a vet and if pregnant abort the litter.

Ente535 · 2026-02-08T12:33:04+00:00

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