a small question about rat behaviour

justinO · 05-04-04, 10:39 PM

Just was watching some of our rats tonight, and some just sit there and move their heads back and forth as if in a trance. we have one that will sit there and do it for hours on end.

just wondering if anyone knows why they do this?

cheers,

Justin & Jessy

annieb_mice · 05-04-04, 10:52 PM

Sounds like they are extremely bored. Rats are intelligent animals and need something to stimulate them. This is a VERY common trait in zoo animals.
I would suggest putting some "toys" in their bins. I generally throw in shredded paper, paper roll tubes <toilet paper, ect>, empty milk cartons, boiled eggs <still in shell with a bit of the shell removed so they can have the fun of peeling the eggs themselves>. Be creative. Unlike mice, rats really need to have something to do, or they will go stir crazy.
Good luck.
Annie B. <:3 )~~

sapphire_moon · 05-05-04, 05:01 AM

I have actually heard something way different than that!

But you are probably right on the one that does it for hours.

I have heard that rats have poor eye sight and do this to put things in focus. I don't know if it's true or not.

Vanan · 05-05-04, 10:54 AM

I've also heard about the poor eyesight thing and them focusing their sight by swaying their heads like that. Albinos seem to do it more often than others too.

marisa · 05-05-04, 11:01 AM

I don't see how boredom would cause this. Normally rats kept by reptile owners are breeders, not pets, and rarely see a "toy" their entire life.

I have also heard about the eyesight thing although for the life of me I can't remember where.

Marisa

sapphire_moon · 05-05-04, 11:13 AM

I have 6 albino rats,and all of them do it atleast 5 times daily, where as the 3 rats that have black/all black rarely do it, if at all.

Rats that are kept in large groups should rarely get bored, especially with constantly being pregnant/nursing.

I always hear that the best "toy" for a rat, is another rat to play with.

annieb_mice · 05-05-04, 11:33 AM

Guess I just spoil my rats... LOL! I forgot about the eyesight problem. I don't have albino rats, I don't like them so don't breed them. Any that I do get are killed off and never bred. My rats are all feeder breeders and while they do enjoy playing with each other, I also provide "toys" for them as well. I really didn't think having a "toy" to play with could have such a difference, but when I started introducing the "toys," the rats in that cage seemed to have healthier babies. I don't know if that makes sense. The babies seemed to be a bit fatter and plumper than the ones without the toys... so I decided to give EVERYONE toys and the difference from before was noticeable, even to someone who didn't know rats <a friend of mine commented about them.>
Yes.... these are feeders and will all be fed off at one point. But at least they are well taken care until they are killed off.
Besides... I'm really just a big ol' softie when it comes to my animals... LOL! They get spoiled something awful!
Take care
Annie B. <:3 )~~

V.hb · 05-05-04, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by marisa
I don't see how boredom would cause this. Normally rats kept by reptile owners are breeders, not pets, and rarely see a "toy" their entire life.

Rats are extremely intellegent. They don't need toys to know what stimulation is... Toys are just beneficial to keep them more mentally active.. Even introducing a new object for them to check out works... I sometimes even do this with my Varanids, as they will spend alot of time investigating new items in their enclosure. I suppose wether or not its healthy is up to them, but to me it looks like they enjoy it.

marisa · 05-05-04, 11:43 AM

What I meant was thousands of reptile owners keep breeder rats without any toys, and most have not mentioned this problem.

Its obvious they are intelligent.

Marisa

Auskan · 05-05-04, 11:45 AM

AnnieB, I'm with you on this one. I give my rats lots of things to play with too. For starters, they have a 4' high cage that contains ladders and hammocks and a wheel and all that. And then I give them new objects to explore all the time (which doesn't have to cost anything, btw. I give them things like an empty can with both ends cut off, or a cork from a wine bottle etc etc). I know they are feeder breeders, but I believe in providing the best quality of life possible in return for what they are saving me in reptile food.

V.hb · 05-05-04, 11:51 AM

Marisa maybe not to many people care to look at their "feeders" as intelligent animals.. I guarentee many people see this, just dont really know what its about.

annieb_mice · 05-05-04, 12:00 PM

When I said "toys" I didn't mean anything you have to go out and actually buy. LOL! Gods, I love my animals, but I'm NOT about to go and shell out hundreds of dollars on crappy store bought "toys" when all they really need is an empty milk carton, or an empty toilet roll, or... well... pretty much anything that is "new" to them.
All the "toys" they have are "garbage" ... well... what others would consider disposable. They usually get tossed when I clean the cages out as by that time, they are usually either bored with them, or the item is dirty or chewed beyond recognition. Then they get something "new and exciting" to explore.
I guess I'm a cross between a feeder breeder and a pet breeder. I care about how my animals are treated and cared for, but I also realize that at some point, they are all going to be food for someone's snake or whatever. Besides... they sure are a lot of fun to watch when you put a new whatever in their cage and EVERYONE has to come out and check it over and stuff. For those of you who do like putting toys in... get a whole coconut, and cut a hole in the top of it <draining the milk, but leave the meat> and put it. Make sure the hole is big enough for them to actually climb inside. Then watch the fun as they argue over who gets to go inside and see what's there... and is it edible... and OMG! There's FOOD in there! LOL! Well... you'll just have to get one to see what all the fuss is about.. LOL!

Take care
Annie B. <:3 )~~

V.hb · 05-05-04, 12:03 PM

exactly, its mental stimuli.. a freaken white TP roll would do it.

justinO · 05-05-04, 12:04 PM

That's a great idea Annie B. i'll definatly grab a coconut next time i go grocery shopping.

as for them being bored, i think that could be part of it, but the thing that made me ask the question was that it was a feeder that i had just put in with a snake (old w/c ball that only will eat live).. and the rat just sat there in it's little trance.

i'll make sure to add some entertainment to our rats as soon as i finish up the paper towel roll

Cruciform · 05-05-04, 12:27 PM

I saved a few of the mini-pringles containers and the baby mice just love them. They pack themselves into them like a clown-car. One of the babies even chewed a side door just the ride side to get in and out without having to climb over the others. Very cute