Samara
Well-Known Member
I have two male ratties, Copernicus and Coggs. I just upgraded them to their permanent dwelling today because previously Copey was too small and fit through the bars. I adopted him at 2 weeks old grumpy and fixed him up and he's now 5 weeks plus a couple of days and growing strong. His unrelated brother is Coggs; Coggs is a few months old and quite a bit bigger. He was a rescue feeder rat that has just started learning to trust humans. He now takes treats from fingers, accepts ear rubs, but does not like to be anywhere on said human.
I'm looking for suggestions to spruce up their environment. I want to add engaging and mentally stimulating toys and accessories. Right now they have a large parakeet nesting box as a house and they only come out for food and water then scamper back in. This was also the case when they were in the smaller barred caged. Copey is much more willing to come out and see me, ride on me, all those things because he was handled so much by me when he came home. He just really loves being with Coggs!
I don't want to force any more change than necessary on them; the upgraded cage was necessary. I don't like to take them out of their houses unless it's an emergency (which thankfully we haven't had yet), because I respect that the house is their private sanctuary (similar to pulling a rabbit out of his/her enclosure; generally we like to allow them to come out on their own).
I'm hiding treats throughout the cage already; dried treats that won't spoil quickly and also some of their regular food (lab blocks). They do take me up on people food though; they will get a small plate of rat appropriate things: last night they had a small porkchop bone to gnaw on, some cheesy mashed potatoes and spinach. That doesn't stay in long though and I do have to take out anything they pull into their house that could spoil. I tempt them out first though.
Take a look at the pictures and let me know what good ideas might cheer this cage up? They do have a hammock, but it's in the washing machine as we speak because it was in the previous cage and was due for a washing.
The box on the second shelf (the cardboard box) has a few toys in it but they haven't touched it.
Thanks guys!
I'm looking for suggestions to spruce up their environment. I want to add engaging and mentally stimulating toys and accessories. Right now they have a large parakeet nesting box as a house and they only come out for food and water then scamper back in. This was also the case when they were in the smaller barred caged. Copey is much more willing to come out and see me, ride on me, all those things because he was handled so much by me when he came home. He just really loves being with Coggs!
I don't want to force any more change than necessary on them; the upgraded cage was necessary. I don't like to take them out of their houses unless it's an emergency (which thankfully we haven't had yet), because I respect that the house is their private sanctuary (similar to pulling a rabbit out of his/her enclosure; generally we like to allow them to come out on their own).
I'm hiding treats throughout the cage already; dried treats that won't spoil quickly and also some of their regular food (lab blocks). They do take me up on people food though; they will get a small plate of rat appropriate things: last night they had a small porkchop bone to gnaw on, some cheesy mashed potatoes and spinach. That doesn't stay in long though and I do have to take out anything they pull into their house that could spoil. I tempt them out first though.
Take a look at the pictures and let me know what good ideas might cheer this cage up? They do have a hammock, but it's in the washing machine as we speak because it was in the previous cage and was due for a washing.
The box on the second shelf (the cardboard box) has a few toys in it but they haven't touched it.
Thanks guys!