I’m making good progress with my little baby rat who I’ve decided to name Marshmallow. He still doesn’t enjoy being picked up too much, but he struggles less and he’s much more comfortable with me touching him. After letting him adjust to his new surrounding for two weeks, I just forced myself on him by putting him on the bed, taking away all his toys (wheel, igloo, towel he likes to hide in), and sitting there while he ran around and got used to my presence. Now he hops all over me and isn’t scared like before. Plus, unless he’s lounging in his spacepod, which he adores, he’ll come running to the front of the cage when I come in the room.
I’ve started checking Craigslist for a potential buddy since he’ll have to go through the proper quarantine for two weeks before I put them in the same room together. All the best available rats seem to be in Wisconsin for some reason. This one guy was getting rid of three cute grey and white Dumbos but he’s an hour away from here. I guess I’ll just keep looking. Hopefully I find something good soon.