A
Angelrattie
Guest
I think by now it's safe to say that my rats are tame. They come to the front of the cage to see me, they take food from me, and climb on my legs during free range/taming. But one aspect of this taming thing that I'm struggling with is getting my rats used to handling. I don't really know what to do right now.
I recently have been taking my three girls out into a small play pen and have been trying to tame them using the methods of Shadow the Rat. They seem to be comfortable climbing on me and taking snacks, last session they jumped onto my arm without a lure and stood on their hind legs as if to climb onto my shoulder.
I feel like they are pretty comfortable with me right now, but will not tolerate me touching them at all. They come up to the front of the cage when I call them and will let me pet them a little when they are licking off a treat of eating. Whenever I try to lure them onto my hand they will try to stay as far in the cage as possible. And if I try to gently put my hand underneath them they pull away. I feel like they are just using me for treats now.
I don't know what to do now. How do I get them used to handling? I don't want to have to wait thirty minutes just to capture them in a box to transport them.
Also, does anyone know a motivating liquid treat that is safe for rats? My girls didn't seem very motivated the second time around with simply apple baby food. The first time we did our taming session I used meat baby food and I got one of my shy girls to be picked up a little bit while licking my finger. I don't know if I'll be using meat baby food again. It was kind of a waste of money. They didn't even come close to finishing the jar and I had to toss it.
I recently have been taking my three girls out into a small play pen and have been trying to tame them using the methods of Shadow the Rat. They seem to be comfortable climbing on me and taking snacks, last session they jumped onto my arm without a lure and stood on their hind legs as if to climb onto my shoulder.
I feel like they are pretty comfortable with me right now, but will not tolerate me touching them at all. They come up to the front of the cage when I call them and will let me pet them a little when they are licking off a treat of eating. Whenever I try to lure them onto my hand they will try to stay as far in the cage as possible. And if I try to gently put my hand underneath them they pull away. I feel like they are just using me for treats now.
I don't know what to do now. How do I get them used to handling? I don't want to have to wait thirty minutes just to capture them in a box to transport them.
Also, does anyone know a motivating liquid treat that is safe for rats? My girls didn't seem very motivated the second time around with simply apple baby food. The first time we did our taming session I used meat baby food and I got one of my shy girls to be picked up a little bit while licking my finger. I don't know if I'll be using meat baby food again. It was kind of a waste of money. They didn't even come close to finishing the jar and I had to toss it.