new pet rat

Question
QUESTION: I just got a new pet rat a couple days ago after not having had rats since I
was younger. I call her Tat Tat. She's around 16 weeks old and from Petco,
so she's used to being around many other rats.
My question is in two parts...
First off about bonding. She's escaped once and I got her back in with much
stress. Whenever I've tried to hold her she's flown out off my arms, being so
very small and ninja like, and I've had to hunt her down again. It saddens me
that she's so scared of me, but I understand. I just don't want to frighten her,
what can I do? Are these first few days my only window at creating a bond
with her or should I give her time to get used to being here with me now?
And my second question is should she be alone? What are the pros and
cons off bringing in a friend?
thank you!



ANSWER: Hi Rachel

For starters, you need to check out my website. I have two topics for you that suit your needs. The first page is about trust training her and how to get her used to you gradually. The second is setting up a play area that she cannot escape from yet will feel safe in it during your time spent bonding. The enclosure is inexpensive to make using cardboard and you can spread it around as big as you want forming a circle or square and make a playpen. Make it high enough so she cant jump over and keep her cage inside so she can come out on her own gradually while your there coaxing her.
The trick is to take is slow. Do not attempt to pick her up for now. Let her sniff your hand while it lays flat in the cage but do not grab at her and chase her around any more. this only frightens her more and is considered a set back each time she freaks out and gets away. The tricks are on my page on how to get her to trust you. You have plenty of time, your not losing time just because it isnt happening right this second. In fact, most pet store rats are unsocialized because they come from a breeding mill that breeds dozens of rats and there is no way that the breeder can possibly socialize the babies properly and get them people friendly. They need to be handled from birth and every single day after that, esp once their eyes are opened. This is why many pet store rats are so freaked out by people. They were never really handled.
As for a friend, yes, she needs another female and I would do it sooner than later. Go right back to the same place you got her from and she should even still remember the others from her litter.  She should still not be put right in with her and left alone and it should be done gradually unless they seem to take to one another right off.
She is still young enough that she  will want to play and chase the other rat and this is all very normal.  Solo rats are not real happy rats. Imagine if you were the only human being on the planet and had nobody to interact with. you would be a bit neurotic to say the least. Solo rats are clingy and insecure and although we like the attention, its not good for the little rat to be insecure. She will not have any interaction and play time with her own species, nobody to eat with, or share a nest with to cuddle with and sleep with. She wont have anyone to groom her or for her to groom, although once she is used to you, she may lick and groom you, which is normal no matter if she is a solo rat or lives with 4 others.  Just be sure your getting a FEMALE!

Here are the pages to my website. please read over them and let me know what you think.

Here is the link about setting up a play area to keep her safe from escape when your trying to bond with her:

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

Here is the link on trust training shy rats:

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

Hope this helps!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thank you so much for your advice. I got Tat a friend from the same little,
named her Delilah, and they made fast friends. D is a good big sister,
protecting Tat from, well, me I guess. I thought since D was less inhibited
she'd be a good role model.  But so far they both keep their distance from
me. When I set up a play pen area they hardly even poke their noses out
from one of their hiding spots. I know everything takes time, I just worry that
time only cements this rift between pets and groveling owner.
Also when I set up the "play area" their cage is moved to the floor door open.
But sometimes when the cage is on its table and I'm in my room I like to also
leave the door open... Is this too confusing? Should it remain closed at all
times durring this "training process"?
I'm glad they have eachother  

Answer
Hi

To make you feel better, there is really no special "window of opportunity" when bonding with rats. They could te 2 years old and still be trained to trust their keeper.  It does take time, esp if your rats are super shy. I know it seems like it is taking forever, but trust me, it will work out eventually. It always does :)

At this time, I would not let them  have a chance to get out of their cage if they can escape. Rats can leap a good 3 feet, and a scared rat, even further, so there is no telling if they do come out of the cage while its on your table, if something spooks them, they may take a flying leap off the table and hide somewhere that may be a huge process to get them out of hiding sometimes for hours.  Once one of my baby boys was spooked and he jumped out of my hands, taking a leap 5 feet across, and he hid under my sons bed for hours and hours. We couldnt find him anywhere, and finally we found him cowering inside an empty video game box (he was that tiny!!!) It only made him more scared of me and the outside of his cage and messed up any progress we had made as far as him being used to me and his surroundings.  Since rats are naturally curious about their owner, we of course became budz later on and as an adult he was my lap rat who would rather sleep on me than play.
That said, I would only encourage them to play out in their designated area.  What you can do is this:  rats LOVE food, yummy tasty fun stuff! Arm yourself with some baby food: applesauce or sweet potatoes are a big hit with rats.  Do they come out of the cage and into their play area at all and find a place to hide in the play area?  Either way, make friends with them through their taste buds and this method will also make them trust you and associate you with yummy stuff.

Sit inside the play area with yourself, a spoon and the baby food. Put some baby food on the spoon and show it to them, luring them out a bit, and let them lick some.  After that is gone *use a little at a time so you can keep doing it without giving them too much* lure them out in the open, let them lick some more but dont touch or pet them during this time. Eventually they will stay out. You can also dab some on your fingers and let them lick it that way after a few times using the spoon and this way they will learn to trust your hands too.

Do you give them treats when they come out of the cage?

I am glad you bought her a friend. This will help her feel more secure if anything and when rats bond, its a life long bond too.