First time owning rats! Help needed!

[CottonCandyRats]

Hello! This is my first time owning rats, I have done all the research and have two beautiful boys from the best breeder in my state!!! I have had them for four days, I let the 48 hour period pass and tried to give them treats. After one kept taking treat from my hand I tried to pick him up but he ran away. I did not try to pick him up again, but now he is very very scared of me. His brother has been hiding all of the four days so I have not got a chance to give him treats yet. They are both very scared, and I don't want them to be! Is this typical behavior for rats who have been socialized sense birth? Does anyone have any tips to get them to trust me other than trying to hand feed them treats? Both of them spend most of the time hiding behind the litter tray, but I don't want to move it in case it would frighten them. This is also not very likely, but I am possibly worried that the more skittish baby might be a dwarf. This is not likely because I think the breeder would have noticed but he is very small and there was another dwarf in his litter. I am worried because my house is loud so I don't think I would be able to properly take care of him. Any help would be so great!!!!

 

[Kye]

Hello! This is my first time owning rats, I have done all the research and have two beautiful boys from the best breeder in my state!!! I have had them for four days, I let the 48 hour period pass and tried to give them treats. After one kept taking treat from my hand I tried to pick him up but he ran away. I did not try to pick him up again, but now he is very very scared of me. His brother has been hiding all of the four days so I have not got a chance to give him treats yet. They are both very scared, and I don't want them to be! Is this typical behavior for rats who have been socialized sense birth? Does anyone have any tips to get them to trust me other than trying to hand feed them treats? Both of them spend most of the time hiding behind the litter tray, but I don't want to move it in case it would frighten them. This is also not very likely, but I am possibly worried that the more skittish baby might be a dwarf. This is not likely because I think the breeder would have noticed but he is very small and there was another dwarf in his litter. I am worried because my house is loud so I don't think I would be able to properly take care of him. Any help would be so great!!!!

Keep up the treats if they don't take them set them near the boys. The breeder may have said they've been handled but some lie about things like this.... Don't try to rush them and sit down near them and just talk to them in a nice calm voice so they get used to you. It will take time but its worth it in the end

 

[maddiescoobs]

Congrats on your new babies! I’m sorry it’s taking a little while for them to get used to you. Sometimes transitions are hard and every rat is different. Something I’ve found very helpful besides just sitting near them like Kye said and talking to them a lot is even if they won’t take treats from your hands still give them the treats and scent them by holding them in your hand and then leave them in their cage or their bowl so you are still the bringer of yummy stuff even if they don’t trust you enough to take them from your hand! Also if you have a cage where you could sit outside it and leave the door open and give them a chance to come out to you on their own normally that works better than just trying to grab them and pick them up! It’s all about building trust and having them associate you with good things! Remember until you gain their trust you’re very Big and scary! Good luck!