Is this normal young rat behavior?

[SouthPaw]

So I've got a question regarding my 5 week old rats. I can't decide what to think of their behavior right now.

They're very friendly and don't mind being held, picked up, and scritched everywhere. That's mostly outside their cage... when they're in the cage they kind of like to play "catch me if you can" and run away from me. But when they're out they're totally cool with me. They are complete shoulder rats and will spend long periods of time perched up there nestled in my hair. They will curl up in my lap or in the crook of my elbow and take naps. So I am inclined to believe they at least kind of like me.

But, they don't explore like, at all. For example, right now all 5 of them (3 are mine, 2 I'm just keeping till they go to their new home this week) have been out on my bed for 2 hours. I have an empty box on the bed and they've all been jammed in there the whole time sleeping. One of them spent the first hour sleeping on me until I put him in the box with everyone else so that I could get up. Otherwise none of them are even making an attempt to leave the box and explore.

Even in their cage the most I really see them do is go eat and drink. During the night they will climb and wrestle some but for the most part they just SLEEP!

I don't really have a problem with this. I admit it's really freaking adorable right now that three of them are totally zonked out on their backs. It's just really weird to me that they don't explore. Are they just too terrified? I can't figure out if they're just afraid to explore the environment, or if they really just are this lazy and don't care to.

[Marybelle]

I think it's fairly normal at that age.  They're very young, and wandering (in an instinctual sense) could mean trouble!  Mom puts them in a nest, and that's where they stay.  It shouldn't be overly long before they start exploring, but at 5 weeks, I think you're right on the edge of that.

[RattiesSix]

I say count yourself lucky, also. They sound extremely well socialized and comfortable, especially sleeping on their backs even when they're out of the cage! I had some rats who never became accustomed to napping on me.

[BigBen]

Personally, I'm not so sure that everything's all right.  It would be a very good idea if you could post some pictures of the ratties--especially of them sleeping on their backs--so we can be sure that they are well and happy.  You never know--better safe than sorry, I always say, and people on GM are very good about looking at pictures; it's definitely not an imposition.  No need to go crazy with the camera, either; a mere forty or fifty pics ought to be enough for us to be able to make a useful determination. . . . 

[SouthPaw]

Phew! Thanks for easing my mind. I was hoping this was the answer I'd receive 

Just 2 nap pictures  Complete with copious amounts of green!

[Marybelle]

*thud*

[Rzrwyre]

Personally it sounds pretty normal to me, but I'm no expert!  Mine in the cage ALWAYS seemed to play "chase" or "run away" from the hand and outside, who knows!  Wait, are they boys?  Boys tend to be much chiller than girls, depending on the one, of course!     - Raaz.

[msommers]

I  the snoozing blue in the first picture. You can almost see snoring...ZZZZZZ.

[SouthPaw]

Personally it sounds pretty normal to me, but I'm no expert!  Mine in the cage ALWAYS seemed to play "chase" or "run away" from the hand and outside, who knows!  Wait, are they boys?  Boys tend to be much chiller than girls, depending on the one, of course!     - Raaz.

They are boys, yes! I just wasn't expecting them to be lazy as babies lol. I do love their adorable sleepiness though, I could stare at them all day!

Finnick is the blue boy... he really is the king of on-the-back, totally content sleeping. 

They do seem to be coming out of their shells a little more. So maybe it's just a matter of time before they really explode with personality. 

[Violet976]

I'm undecided. I think I'm gonna need a few more pictures to tell for sure. 

[Rave]

I can't believe you posted this, because the babies (I have the two babies that SouthPaw was holding) had their first floor time last night and they did.not.move. the whole time they were out. I put a towel down and they snuggled into it and fell asleep 

My three girls came to me as adult rescues and went crazy running around and exploring during their first floor time! I was worried the babies we broken :p, good to know it just means they were well socialized!

And some pics of my two:

Nameless:




And Arya (maybe):


Deciding she needs to go visit the big girls:

[SouthPaw]

I put a towel down and they snuggled into it and fell asleep 

LOL see they are so good at that! The world is just a giant nap area to them. 

I'm just gonna enjoy it while it lasts.  I suppose it would be natural for animals like rats to be really cautious about exploring out in the open until they learn it's okay.

More sleeping.

[ceopet]

Personally, I'm not so sure that everything's all right.  It would be a very good idea if you could post some pictures of the ratties--especially of them sleeping on their backs--so we can be sure that they are well and happy.  You never know--better safe than sorry, I always say, and people on GM are very good about looking at pictures; it's definitely not an imposition.  No need to go crazy with the camera, either; a mere forty or fifty pics ought to be enough for us to be able to make a useful determination. . . . 

Your comments like this always crack me up BigBen 

SouthPaw we still need more pics. These babies are toooooo cute!

I also agree it's fairly normal. Just wait though They'll be driving you nuts at about eight weeks of age or so. Young rats are such little hellions.

[SouthPaw]

Well they are already leaps and bounds more adventurous than they were when I started this thread  Still have a preference for cuddling (dear God I hope that doesn't change!)  but much more eager to check things out, and not so quick to hide or easy to startle. Today I was vacuuming out their cage while they were still inside, and instead of running away from the vacuum, they all ran at it...  I was even able to put their tube back in their cage, which I had to take out because the first couple days, they were just hiding in it and wouldn't come out (and I couldn't get them out myself).

I will have to get new pics and make a new thread! 

[BigBen]

<thud!>  That pic with Finnick on his back sleeping is just WAY too cute!  <head explodes>

More?  Please?  Pretty please?  Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeez?