Two questions

Question
I ahve two questions actually.  The first is, I have recently purchased 2 female dumbo rats from a local breeder.  I have attempted to handle each of them everyday, but they are very shy and don't seem to enjoy being held.  Is this normal?  They are still young, about the size of a large gerbil.  Also, one of them I have noticed seems to walk around wit hher back leg tucked under her as if it's broken.  I can handle her without her sqeaking and it doesn't seem to bother her.  Do you think she may have broken it and if she did, what should I do?  I don't know how long it's been there, I just noticed it today.  She is able to run up and down the ladders in the cage just fine and seems otherwise healthy.  Also, while I'm thinking about it, id it normal for them to "playfight"?  They are completely inseparable, so I am thinking thats what it is rather than them really trying to hurt each other.  Thank you so much for your time.

Answer
Hi Hollie

It is pretty normal for baby rats to dislike being held. THey usually want down to go nib around into everything and anything. However, coming from a breeder, I am shocked they are shy. They should have been handled since birth and should not run and hide from you. However being they are new to your home, its not unusual for rats to be cautious about their new surroundings. They will need a secure and safe plact to play and I have devoted several pages on my website about training shy rats and how to set up a rat approved play area complete with a homemade cardboard "wall" to keep the rats inside their own play pen. Also, her leg: she probably twisted it. Is there any swelling? You should call the breeder and let her know....be sure she wasnt sold to you this way and if so, find out what may have occured and let me know. ALso the play fighting? This is totally normal. Rats love to wrestle and chase each other. No blood, no foul so they say. It is normal though so dont worry.

Anyhow, here are the links to my website. I have been getting alot of questions about taming shy rats etc...and I began to sound like a broken record repeating the same stories and giving the same instructions on how to do this or that so instead of always writing a mini novel again and again I just decided to add it as a page to my website, word for word what I have said to people here and what I would tell you now.

Here is the url:

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

Also, on the menu on the right hand side, look for Training shy or biting rats too, and this will explain how to approach them and how to get them used to you etc..

Hope this helps.

Sandra