NAH wouldn't make him/her frightened of the tube, just wouldn't use it as much as a hidey hole when your about lol.

They are canny wee beasties rats, they're not as daft as they lead you to believe.

If that's the easiest way to get him to come to you then use it, it gives him abit of security and he knows you 'can't get him' very well. don't shake him out or stick your hand in, just cover both ends and lift him out in it. then sit it on your lap or where you can peer in and have a good old chat with favourite nibbles at the end closest to you. he should feel secure than being out unprotected and more at ease at being out of the cage and in your presence.

It can take a few months for a rat to be completely settled in it's new environment and completely relaxed with you. Just persevere and be as patient as possible, keep your movements slow and deliberate, talk to them heaps. let them decide when they've had enough playtime.

It's also a good idea to get their name and basic commands ingrained while your doing this, so always look at a rat when your saying its name, if you can touch it while saying it, always say it's full name, later once it's learnt it you can shorten it (ie nezumi - nez - nezi - they will understand this is still their name). Other commands like playtime, bedtime, bridge (arms out for them to walk along), treats, climb (or up), down, etc whatever you want it to do just repeat the name of the action or whatever each time and they'll soon learn it.

you can even be quite specific, mine know 'nana (banana), apple, papa (papaya) and yogz and only those that like that particular treat will come for it.

oh yeah another thing, remember 'danger from above' is in their minds all the time! so when you want them to come to the cage door but they are too afraid it might be because you are high up and look very large and so 'dangerous', get your face down to their level and try again. Our scaredy rats respond really well to this, they are more likely to come and see us if we kneel infront of the cage for them or go round to where they are in the cage (big tall cage) and speak to them there. Once they get used to you, you towering over them won't be intimidating.

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