Shy baby rat or Sick baby rat

Question
I am new to the world of rat owner. I was just recently given two baby girl rats from a litter of 25 from which i had personally chosen. The two girls are from the same litter and they do everything together.
just for clarification their names are Gretchen and Louise. Im guessing they are around 5 or 6 weeks, I dont really remember what I was told.

Alright, Louise is very active at times and she eats regularly and just about anything I give her.. and often times I see her cuddling and cleaning Gretchen! And louise comes to her hind legs when reach into the Aquarium. Shes also cleans me and talks in my ear.. Louise isnt the one im worried about..

Gretchen, I rarely see her eat. I rarely see her drink.. Although she is not boney, weezy, sneezy, no unusual rapid heart beat. She loves bananas and thats about it, or at least from what i see her eat. She often secludes herself in the corner and doesnt run around as often as Louise does. SOMETIMES shes very skiddish when i reach in.

I treat them equally. everyday after work I let them nap on me for and hour or two and then I get woken up by their burst of energy. At this point after playing with both of them I put them in their cage, they run around for a minute or two and pass out again.. But Gretchen never gets up unless I take her out, then shes back up two my shoulders sleeping (or more like resting because her eyes arent closed) yet again.

From reading and hopefully understanding the relationship I have with them.. Do you think I have anything to worry about Gretchen. Or could she just be sort of homesick since shes no longer around 25 fellow baby rats. My other thought was she was still getting used to me and is taking longer since Louise has already warmed up to me and will eat out of my hand.

I would really hate to see her become depressed/ stressed. I had a freinds rat die from depression...

One more thing! They are residing in a good size aquarium .. I have a cat. Due to my cat not really caring about the rats (weird!) should I upgrade to a wire mesh cage... hoping this will homely gretchen up!


oh yeah ive had the rats for 3 days

worried mother.

Answer
Hi Worried Mother

I think its all just a matter of the baby getting used to everything.

I would keep them in a tank unless the wire spacing is very close together so they cant squeeze through the bars and the cat cant get his or her claws in there.  Trust me, the cat WILL care about the rats eventually, so I would keep them in a room where the door is shut all the time and not allow the cat near them.
Please see my website for tons of info on rat care, from proper diet and cages to how to set up a play area for them that is safe (check out the getting started page)  here is the URL. let me know what you think


http://www.freewebs.com/crittercity/index.htm