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Wild rats are very good swimmers, and some pet rats enjoy a dip every now and then. It's fun and a good way to cool off on a hot day. To find out if your rat likes to swim, start him out on a table or the floor in a safe area with a bowl or tray of shallow water. Float some frozen peas or corn in the water to entice your rat into it. If he ignores the water, or seems afraid of it, it is unlikely he will like to swim. If he seems interested, you can try the next step. Fill the bathtub with room temperature water about two to three inches and set several stable items in the water he can climb out onto if he wants to. Put him on the largest island and see what he does. If he doesn't go in after a while and / or he seems frightened, take him out. If he enjoys the water, you can make it a bit deeper next time. If you have a rat who enjoys swimming, he can swim in any safe pool of non-chlorinated water as long as he has a place where he can easily climb out onto land. Rats are excellent swimmers but they tire easily and if they have no way to get out of the water they will drown.
Remember that not all rats enjoy swimming, and no matter how many times you introduce them to it they may never enjoy it. If your rat is frightened, pooping in the water, thrashing about, and trying to escape, don't force it to swim.
Important Safety Tips
Never allow your rat to swim unsupervised.
Do not let your rat swim in chlorinated water such as a swimming pool.
Always make sure your rat can easily get out of the water.
Keep the water room temperature, or if it is a hot day, moderately cool.
Do not allow your rat to swim in an outside pool, as he may escape and run away.
Do not swim your rat in a pool at the same time as another animal or person. Another rat is all right.
Rats younger than 3 months should not swim in water that is too deep to stand in.
Always remove your rat from the swimming area if he becomes frightened.
Do not allow your rat away from his cage for more than 1 or 2 hours without food or drink. |
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