Sitemaps

Normal rat behavior2007-11-24 22:13:13

I just got two small/medium female rats today. I have the cage set up with a water bottle, food, a mineral chew, an igloo and a smallish braided cloth rope. [I'm planning on getting more toys in the following week, but at the moment, that's all my budget would allow.]

They both came from the same 'tank' and seem to like eachother.

One of them [Lark] keeps coming out of the igloo [that both of the rats were sleeping in] and sitting/laying in the corner under an empty dish that hangs on the cage.

Could this be just because she's hot in the igloo, or might there be something else?

Weird question, I know, but I just got them today and want them to be happy. Should I turn my fan on low and blow it near the cage or something?

Also, the same rat, Lark, has been sneezing since we got home. I've read that it's normal for them to be sneezy when the first come, but how long will this last? I want to know the difference between coming-home-sniffles and myco. The other rat [Fang] is fine.

Answers:

If your igloo is what I think is,

http://www.shop.com/0-p20580484-k36-g1-~...

yes, rats can get hot inside these types of huts. Rats prefer cooler temperatures then other small animals that we keep as pets, and yes I would think that she was coming out, "just for a breath of fresh air". The more rats that squeeze into an igloo the hotter it gets in there. That doesn't mean you should get rid of the igloo. It just means that Lark likes a different kind of bed right now as she is adjusting to her new home.