alexcalibvr:
Hey there, I have a really important question that I’m super nervous about but I need to submit instead of ask so I can show pictures. I have two rats, but one of them does this all the time!!! She lies still and hangs her head over the edge of their platform. My other rat rarely does this (I haven’t seen her do it but I don’t want to rule it out). (Also if you’re wondering what’s on their platform, they like to take all the pellet-like pieces of food out of their bowl and lay them on the floor, I have no idea why). What concerns me is that this not only seems like abnormal behavior, but I also have two mice. I used to have a mouse named Fae, and she never did this until the night Fae got sick and passed away the next day. Fae hung her head over the floor entry tube to the mouse nest when she got sick. After Fae died, the other mouse Pixie began imitating this behavior even though she never got sick. Once I got Pixie a friend, Angel, Angel also began copying this behavior, probably learned from Pixie. I’m less concerned about the mice as I can easily tell if they are sick or not and whenever I come near the cage they perk their heads up. With my rats, however, Fantasia (one in picture) seems very tired when she does this and will lie there for long periods of time (like up to 15 minutes, maybe more), and never for less than five minutes. She WILL lift her head when I come near the cage, but only a bit, and she returns to this pose really frequently. Is there anything I can do? Thank you so much. If you publish this post that’s okay, it might help someone else along the road!
Honestly, I would say it’s nothing to be concerned about. Every single rat I’ve had does this, and it’s just a comfortable pose for them. It’s like us hanging a leg out of bed, or lying on our backs with our legs bent up, or arms across our chests. Every rat finds comfort differently, some lie on their backs, some curl up into a tight ball on their side, some curl up with their heads under the tummies, and some do this! It’s totally normal and nothing to worry yourself with~