How to Pickup/Hold your Rats:
When you first get your rats it can be a bit of a challenge figuring out how to handle them. They can seem so fragile and while this is partially true, you'd be surprised at how sturdy rats really are. So my best advise when handling your rats is to not hesitate. Hesitation is going to make a skittish rat even more unsure around you and being chased is actually much more tramitizing then being picked up.
There are 4 main ways to pickup your rats:
The Scoop Method:
This is the method I most often see recommended to new rat owners and its for a good reason. By using both hands to scoop up your rat from below you're less likely to scare a scared rat because this method doesn't mimic any sort of predator. So to scoop your rats up, just place once hand to the side of each rat. Then push inwards until the rat is sitting firmly on your hands. And that's it!
The Scruff Method:
This method is not something I recommend unless you have very young rats. Basically for this method you grasp the rat's loose neck skin (their scruff) and pull them upwards. You then want to get their feet supported as soon as possible as especially if you're dealing with adult rats scruffing puts a lot of strain on their body. Its also possible to cut off the rat's airways if you scruff them wrong so be careful when doing this. There's really no reason for an owner to scruff their rats other than preparing them for it happening at the vets, and in that case just be sure to hold their feet to give extra support.
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The Claw Method:
This is the method I most often see experienced rat owners using. I myself tend to use this method because i find it gives me the most control when picking up my rats. To use this method, simply take one hand and wrap your fingers around the rat's chest. Then just lift them up! The key here is to do it quickly and to get the rat's back legs supported as quickly ass possible, as rats aren't a fan of their back legs dangling in the air and it can make them uncomfortable. Because this method mimics a bird grabbing the rat it can take them slightly longer to adjust and learn to relax when being grabbed that way, but I find that once they adjust they don't mind it in the least and my girls will even stand up to help me get a grip on them to pick them up.
The Tail-Base Method:
This method is also something I wouldn't recommend you as a pet owner doing. Basically if you want to restrain or pick up a rat by their tail then you need to firmly grasp the base (where the tail merges with the rump) and lift. If you grasp the tail near the tip you run the risk of "degloving" the rat, which is when the skin slips off the tail bone and leaves the bone exposed. This is a defense mechanism for wild rats to get away from predators, but unfortunately unlike lizards rat tails don't grow back and a rat with a degloved tail need to be taken to the vet for a possible amputation (if the exposed bone rots it can be dangerous to the rat).
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How To Pickup/Hold Your Rats: |
How To Get Your Rats Out Of The Cage: |
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