My Natal Multimammate Mice (African Soft-Furred Rat) behavioural changes with age
Like 2 Dislike 0 Published on 22 Jan 2014
This video was an attempt to show how my multi's behaviour towards being handled changes as they age. My usual interactions with the 'grow outs' is limited to daily feeding and water changes, and holding briefly when they are transferred to a clean tub each week. This video shows that my multi's tame down with minimal handling, and can remain friendly with weekly contact.
I once heard that you should never buy an animal that bites and try to tame it, as is common with rodents and birds, because it means the animal is more likely to repeat the behaviour.
Having bred chickens I have learnt that some animals, no matter how regularly you handle them, treats you give, comfort and love, can still tern into aggressive animals. So though nurturing is important, nature also plays a part. You cannot always predict which chick is going to mature into the cockerel that's never going to stop trying to kick you every time you go to fill up the feeder.
But what you can do is spot certain tell tale characteristics from a very young age, that will alert you to its ultimate aggressive nature.
With multi's you can see from early on that some will make good pets, and others will make great pets, depending on how they interact with their environment and with yourself.
Make sure you handle any pet before you buy it, so you can be sure your choosing pets with good natures. Then once home, don't forget to nurture, and you will have a friendly pet for life :)
The multi's in this video ranged from 3 weeks, to 4-6 weeks, then 8-12 weeks.