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Bathing Russians

22 16:46:48

Question
We have two Russian girls.. adorable.  Harriet is about 2 years old and she really dislikes her baths. Really .. she is always trying to get out but without success of course.  Is she getting too stressed?  Dandelion is about 5 years and she loves them. Elimination too!  I bathe them about twice a week for about 10 minutes.  Im bringing their soak time longer but worried about Harriet though.  She hisses when I put her in and seems grumpy until I get her out.  Never eliminating either - in the water.  The water is warm up to their necks.  Should I be concerned.  I house them in a 50 gallon rubbermaid and tends to be low humidity so I definately need them to bathe.  Input please about little Harriet.  She is a spitfire.  When we let her out she just races! Dandelion is a the mellow girl.  I would like to know your thoughts.
Thanks .. we have had them for about two months now.  By the way after her bath the next day she hides and doesnt eat that entire day!  Any thoughts - will she grow into it/ out of it!

Answer
If Harriet is drinking, eating, and defecating OK I would not worry about it a ton.

You can try to offer some humid spots in the cage- most experts think that these guys need humid places, like burrows. I would get some stuff like Mosser lee brand long fibered Sphagnum moss (not peat moss or sphagnum peat), soak a few big handfuls, then pile it in the tank. If Harriet (or the other one) pile into it, then do it in a hidey hole area as well.

If this works, I'd cut back on baths. Whether I cut back on baths or not, I would also work to make them less stressful.

I'd try a different tub (if this one is clear, use one that is not or vice versa), try keeping the bathtub in the tank and staying away to redice stress, etc.

Good luck!