RatsForever
Well-Known Member
Before Christmas I adopted a lone intact male rat, Darwin, from the SPCA who was knocking on death's door. Darwin was seized from a home with other pets by the animal control officer. The SPCA first feared he would not be adoptable because he was very anti-social but because I've adopted other anti-social rats in the past, I decided to take him in. Health-wise Darwin has now made a full recovery with just minor myco - he's currently on Baytril. I had absolutely no trouble introducing him to other rats and not once has he ever made an attempt to bite me. The problem is that Darwin is absolutely terrified of me despite trying every single rat trick in the book to assure him that I am not evil. I've had rats in the past who were biters and/or were terrified of me but eventually they came around with patience and socialization. With Darwin, there is no coming around. He will snatch food (sometimes he grabs the food so quickly I get a nip but no blood) from me and that's about as close as he will get to me. If I do manage to pick him up (he runs away and and hides at every opportunity) his first reaction is to poop and pee on me. He won't even let me touch him without running away. You would think that I had abused the poor little guy. I've looked at other similar posts on this forum and others and read some information on the Internet about socializing (even the "forced socialization" with the towel) and trust training rats and I've tried many great ideas to no avail. He is still terrified of me.
Is this normal? Should I just except the fact that he just doesn't like people? I can completely understand - there are days when I don't like people either. :giggle: Should I discontinue with socialization and let him be?
Thank you.
Is this normal? Should I just except the fact that he just doesn't like people? I can completely understand - there are days when I don't like people either. :giggle: Should I discontinue with socialization and let him be?
Thank you.