> Not as quickly as gerbils do. If released into an open space rats will
> tend to hang back in corners and under cover until they are very sure of
> their surroundings. Gerbils just don't do that. If anything, gerbils do
> the opposite, they explore until something spooks them when they will
> run for the nearest shadow.
I have never had a healthy rat do that. They will glance around (which is quite
smart, gerbils just tend to run ahead no matter if there's a cat there, silly
goofs). So generally, rats are careful at first and then are very active. Gerbils
are a bit too sure that everything is fine, but that just makes them so darn
adorable. Always getting into everything.
Paige
