Learning to enjoy baths.. Or tolerate..

[jenneelk]

Rocko is about 5 months and 10.5 in. He looks so tiny in the picture.
Anyways, he hates baths. Water is 95 measures with my laser soaping thermometer. He always breathes very very deep when he's in there and tries to scramble up my arm the minute I'm close enough.
I only do like 4-5 min since I feel like I'm over stressing him. And when he's dry and back in his cage, if I even come into his view I see hi cower back or flinch like he wants to run away.

So.. To help him learn to like while not over stressing should I do baths more often for his own good in the long run or keep them less often while he's still smaller? Right now we only do them about once every 4 days since he is misted well daily. It's dry out here in California and his humidity is lower on it's own.

Am I making it maybe too deep? It doesn't go over his back.

 

[Taterbug]

I have better luck using a clear Rubbermaid as a tub than the sink or bathtub. It would seem that he doesn't feel as vulnerable as in the tub since he can see through the walls and even stand up and hold on to the wall if he wants. In the sink or tub he clambers at the sides and gets more panicky.

Some folks have luck starting small, by putting a bathing dish in the enclosure so they feel safer in a familiar surroundings. It sounds like he gets really scared by the ordeal, maybe if you can make him feel a little safer he will get used to it.

He might like to have a little support, either a washcloth in the bottom or pieces of furniture, or even you hand or foot to cling too.