"Tame" wild rats have a run
Vložit
- čas přidán 24. 08. 2024
- My experiment with hand-raised wild rats continues. They regard the inside of my shirt and jumper as an adventure park, and if I don't hold the sleeves tightly closed, they'll be up there in a flash. They climb all over me, but I suspect they think I'm a piece of furniture rather than their carer.They still startle when they realise that I move!
Oh well - perhaps it's a maturity thing (for both them and me - my wife is wondering when I'll grow up)
I've taken the wheel out (they are too big for it anyway) and bought them a bigger cage
The cage was designed for mice and was the only one which I had with gaps between the bars they couldn't get through
Just a tip - that wheel is really dangerous. Rats should have a solid track, not spokes, coz they can get their tails and feet caught and injured. Also that one's too small, it can cause spinal issues due to the way they have to curve while running. "Wodent Wheels" are the only ASPCA approved wheels and they're awesome, my girls love theirs :)
Twisty and Blondie
One had a twist in his tail when he was a baby, and one had paler fur
The twist has straightened and the fur has darkened, so I do have some trouble telling them apart. They respond just as well to "ratty", ie not at all.
Yes, they are both males. I rescued 4 babies from our compost bin. One died within a day or two, another (female) two weeks later.
I've got a bigger cage for them, but at the moment they can squeeze through the bars, so this will have to do until they're a bit bigger
They're sooo cute!
From the way these small animals are treated, it shouldn't even be considered fine to trap them in cages, let them go. I have two hamsters, and every time I see them in their cage, I feel happy to see them, but also guilty. I don't think I'll have any more cage animals after this, it makes me feel too cruel.
I can only see feeling guilty if you don't treat them right. If you give them what they need (toys, big cage, daily playtime, etc.) you'll have a very happy pet.
that cage is far too small!
It was the cage I had them in when they were babies
Once they were grown I just used it for carrying them around the house
Their home cage was much bigger
I own 12 wild rats and have large cages!
Hello Simon, I think they are Australian native bush rats. That's what it says when I googled them.
I live on the Gold Coast in the hinterland and I caught a young one today. I have a humane trap and caught some adult ones in the house and took them a couple of ks down the road to a nice leafy creek to live.
Now I have caught a fairly young one and it's so cute but I think he will get beat up by the bigger ones down at the creek. So I am going to keep him/her in a fish tank until it gets bigger.
I feel so sorry for it as it is probably missing its family and feeling lonely. You are lucky you have two of them.
How are they going, do you still have them?
Hi Jasmine, I checked them out too when they started to grow. According to the museum, native bush rats have tails shorter than their bodies and smaller ears. Check this site and see if you agree: museumvictoria.com.au/discoverycentre/discovery-centre-news/2007-archive/is-this-a-native-or-an-introduced-rat/
Hi Simon ;-)
Yes, mine looks like the first on the site and is the same grey colour. And I noticed yours have white bellies, mine does as well. ;-)
Do you still have yours?
No, I'm afraid not
This video tells the story: czcams.com/video/E7HNGnPE3Gc/video.html
Even years later, I still miss them
I just watched it. It's sad, and I can hear your sadness in your voice.
I hope the brothers met up again outside and had lots of fun together. They might have girlfriends and babies of their own as well.
Maybe you could get 2 baby domesticated rats now and they would get tamer than the wild ones.
The juvenile I caught today slept during the day then at about 6 pm came out from under the hollow log I put in the tank and ate the grapes and carrot I put in the cage. Then it proceeded to climb and run around in the cage trying to find a way out.
It crawled onto the metal flyscreen roof and walked around upside down for ages. It was so active and determined to find a way out. I could see it looked awake and not like its sleepy self when I caught it this morning and so it didn't look as young and helpless. I ended up feeling very sorry for it and felt it wanted to be free and meeting up with it's family and friends.
So I took the cage outside and set it free. I didn't want to stress it out any further.
I love rats and these wild ones around here are fantastic. It says they last longer than the domesticated ones as well.
Oh well, it was good while it lasted. If I ever find some babies I will keep them. The closed eye ones are supposed to be the best babies as they bond with you better and think you are their family when they open their eyes. ;-)
This is a beautiful video.
there so cute 😊
They are so adorable! Are both males?
They should recognize you as one of their kind, their social intelligence is pretty big.
And...well, you should get them a BIGGER cage.
I caught a wild rat and now i want to tame it. but am afraid that if it spread any diseases to people,
"Rat" doesnt mean automaticaly diseases. People love this stereotype unfortunately... They dont spread more deseases than people themselves...
Most diseases transmitted by rats are cured by now, if not, they're treatable and probably not life-threatening.
you captured the poor creature against his will lol
I found a baby rat but it's poorly and don't really know if is had poison or its hurt
Rat pups are so dinky.
Can you please help 2 of my rats ran away one even was very tame could you please give me advice on what to do.
Other than set a cage trap out for them with some food that they like, there's not much you can do.
If they are wild rats that you've tried to tame, the call of the wild is still strong in them
Once they taste the wild life, they're wild forever
If they want their freedom try to be happy for them, even if it hurts!
They are tame rats one is very lazy other is startled easily i guess ill try getting a trap cuz i have one more rat and i dont want her to feel lonely you know where i can buy a rat trap im from eu and just heard one of them
This is what I use (from ebay):
www.ebay.com.au/itm/Humane-Rat-Trap-Cage-Animal-Pest-Rodent-Mice-Mouse-Control-Live-Bait-Catch-NEW-/252504238864?hash=item3aca6ceb10:g:FwkAAOSw9NdXtSgZ
Well ive set kindoff my own trap i have put allot of food in the cage have my other rat with me this will be a total failure or itll work im not too sure if it does if it doesnt ill buy the trap or rent
I have cought the more tame one i set my alarm at 2 am so my other rat i had with me wouldt run away and i found the tame one that ran away in her cage ill probs set a wild trap for my other rat tho
They are mice also
They are NOT MICE!!
Do they have names by any chance?
I hope that wasn't the cage they were kept in. far too small