my rat won't stop biting

[yefno]

i got a rat two days ago she's still young only a few months old and she chases my fingers and bites them. she hasn't really bit that hard until just a few minutes ago she drew blood. what can i do to make her stop?

[brian]

yefno wrote:

i got a rat two days ago she's still young only a few months old and she chases my fingers and bites them. she hasn't really bit that hard until just a few minutes ago she drew blood. what can i do to make her stop?

Since the rat is quite new to you and it's surroundings it needs time to settle down. Here are some basic tips to curb a rat from developing tendancies of biting people. MOST IMPORTANT DON'T stick your fingers in the cage or feed through the cage at any time! Don't give it a place to hide in it's cage for the first month. This is becuase it might defend it's hiding spot from your fingers with it's teeth, becuase it is scarred and still getting used to things. After about a month it will lose any fear and a nest box can be added. A single rat can be more prone to mental problems and might act weird or aggresive. The place you got the rat should have said to get two. If you bought from a pet store local or chain it is most likely a "feeder" rat. These are mass bred rats from puppy mill type places. They can still be good pets, mine are and example, but they tend to be a little harder to socialize since a breeder of fancy rats will start to socialize the rats from birth. You are probably the first person to touch the rat, so just give it some time. Also if you get another rat make sure it's the same sex. The stores aren't always good at determinig this, I know this from more personal experience also. Just look up onine for how to tell which is which.

[KSF]

yefno wrote:

i got a rat two days ago she's still young only a few months old and she chases my fingers and bites them. she hasn't really bit that hard until just a few minutes ago she drew blood. what can i do to make her stop?

Give it time.

[rat keeper]

i have a large rat and a small rat but the larger rat keeps biting the smaller rat and it screams, also the larger rat bites humans and i am unable to get it out of its cage, i have had them for a few months now and am thinking of introducing another which could match the larger rats size and so it would stop being so agressive, is this a good idea, if not what should i do about it?

[KSF]

rat keeper wrote:

i have a large rat and a small rat but the larger rat keeps biting the smaller rat and it screams, also the larger rat bites humans and i am unable to get it out of its cage, i have had them for a few months now and am thinking of introducing another which could match the larger rats size and so it would stop being so agressive, is this a good idea, if not what should i do about it?

where did you get the larger rat from? Was he supposed to be snake food?

[rat keeper]

no she is from the same pet store as the smaller one and was ment to be a pet. But i am worried that if a new rat is introduced then the larger rat many 'bully' the smaller rat more. also im not sure how the larger rat will react towards a new rat(the new rat will be a baby so it will be quite small)

[Mr_Rattitude]

rat keeper wrote:

no she is from the same pet store as the smaller one and was ment to be a pet. But i am worried that if a new rat is introduced then the larger rat many 'bully' the smaller rat more. also im not sure how the larger rat will react towards a new rat(the new rat will be a baby so it will be quite small)

I would not suggest getting a third rat in your case. Another rat of any size will likely cause even more problems in the habitat. The older, bigger rat is simply asserting itself. The "big" rat is showing the smaller rat that it is the dominant rat, or alpha male, this is normal ... although the continual biting could be a sign of other issues.

Check the bigger rat to make sure he is well, if you are not 100% sure, take him to your vet. If your rat is not ill, then it may just require time and patience to sort this out. You may need to separate your rats for a short period and "introduce" them to each other.

Introductions need to be made in "neutral" areas, usually over at least a few days. Once the rats have accepted each other, you can put them in the same cage, but still keep an eye on them because they still have to sort out who's the boss in the cage.

If you are still getting a third rat, I would strongly recommend you go through this process of introducing your boys (remember all same sex is important). You should also allow for a quarantine period where the rats live in separate cages for an appropriate amount of time first!

I hope this helps, feel free to contact me for more information ... or visit one of my web sites for additional information and contact details.

[rat keeper]

thanks

[Melissa]

I bought a pet rat at the start of this year, and it only started biting after it was a few months old. I haven't touched it since it bit me last (Being at least 4 months ago) and I would really like to try and handle him without him biting me, and getting used to me handling him.
Can anyone help?

[rat keeper]

you can sometimes just get a bad rat(like mine)but usually its for some other reason, you have to handle it more or it wont trust you, try giving it food by hand to build up trust(dont tick the food through the bars, put your hand inside to feed it) after a while of this(1 week or so) try stroking it when its asleep, after about 2 more days try picking it up(making sure that if it escapes your grasp it cant hide behind a cupboard or something) keep picking it up around 3-4 times a day and it should soon be alrite.

[RatBrat11]

Well, my boys have NEVER bit me.
Don't keep poking you fingers through.
Also, don't feed them food they can get snappy.
They should be kept in two or more as well!
Last but not least let him/her out the cage and let it run about and then after a few times of letting 'em out start to go down and put them on you to run about. Then start holding them and don't squeeze but don't let go.

[Mr_Rattitude]

Melissa wrote:

I bought a pet rat at the start of this year, and it only started biting after it was a few months old. I haven't touched it since it bit me last (Being at least 4 months ago) and I would really like to try and handle him without him biting me, and getting used to me handling him.
Can anyone help?

Melissa;
Sometimes rats can get a little "bitey" as they grow up. They are simply testing the waters so to speak. They are working out their own world and what is allowed, like most pets they require time and patience to train and develop more positive behaviors.

If it really has been 4months (or longer?) since you have handled your rat, you will need to definitely take your time re-socializing your little one. You may need to go to the extremes of using a decent pair of gloves to start with ... depending on the rat, and your patience (and tolerance to biting).

Start by getting the gloves (preferably leather) covered with your scent. Turn them inside out and wear them around for a few hours (not necessarily all at once). Then turn them right side out and place them near the cage.

Next, put the gloves on and try to pick up your rat, the gloves being your main protection from "fear biting". After each session leaves the gloves near the cage, not inside.

Continue doing this until your rat is more easily handled, then start with only using one glove on the hand you are using closest to your rat's mouth.

Continue until your rat is comfortable, and you as well, to be handled without gloves. This could take a great deal of time, but it will be well worth your combined efforts.

Good Luck!

[Ratawaycom]

Melissa wrote:

I bought a pet rat at the start of this year, and it only started biting after it was a few months old. I haven't touched it since it bit me last (Being at least 4 months ago) and I would really like to try and handle him without him biting me, and getting used to me handling him.
Can anyone help?

You need a nonpoisonous spray to put on your hands.
I developed and use a product called Rataway.

When I developed the product I did not want to make poison God knows we have plenty of that.

for more information go to rataway
dot com.

You could spray Rataway in a childs face and the child would not be hurt the child in any way.

Or your pet rat. Everything has a right to live.
All I want to do is stop biting & chewing.

[Mr_Rattitude]

Although there are many products available in the marketplace that can act as a deterrent to biting, my personal opinions are:

1) This is not a forum for advertising these products; and,

2) It is best to use positive methods of "training" rather than negative methods. The idea is to create a bond between rat keeper and pet rat, not a fear factor or "distaste" of one or the other.

Mr.R

[Ratawaycom]

how can you train a rat not to bite?

Maybe the person should wash their hands before they
handle the pet rat?

My bird would sleep on my arm and if you move your arm and wake him up he would sometimes bite me.

Ratawaycom

[Tamara]

I have a baby rat that i just got 2 hours ago, and he is a 2 month old boy.I have a girl that is about 5 months old as well but she keeps on biting him.What dose this mean?Can i provent it?

[Mr_Rattitude]

Tamara wrote:

I have a baby rat that i just got 2 hours ago, and he is a 2 month old boy.I have a girl that is about 5 months old as well but she keeps on biting him.What dose this mean?Can i provent it?

Unless you were looking for several more rats, quickly, I hope you keep your male and female in separate cages. The biting could be her deterrent from the boy doing what comes naturally ...

[Mr_Rattitude]

Ratawaycom wrote:

how can you train a rat not to bite?
Maybe the person should wash their hands before they
handle the pet rat?
My bird would sleep on my arm and if you move your arm and wake him up he would sometimes bite me.
Ratawaycom

It's not so much training a rat not to bite, as it is building trust, and creating an enviroment where the rat does not feel threatened or easily surprised.

In most cases if the rat is comfortable in its habitat and it is made aware you are approaching, it will rarely bite. If approached slowly and in full view with an open hand palm up, the rat may eventually learn to simply walk onto your hand and then you can easily pick him, or her, up without any issues.

[sam]

ive had my rat 4 about 5 weeks. he's only about 20 weeks old. everytime we go to touch him he bites us. its not a hard bite, more of a warning bite! i tried to hand feed him with food he cant run away with like yoghurt on a spoon etc , build up the trust but he's having none of it. they say coz he's a young boy rat he may just need to be castrated? any ideas?

[Mr_Rattitude]

sam wrote:

ive had my rat 4 about 5 weeks. he's only about 20 weeks old. everytime we go to touch him he bites us. its not a hard bite, more of a warning bite! i tried to hand feed him with food he cant run away with like yoghurt on a spoon etc , build up the trust but he's having none of it. they say coz he's a young boy rat he may just need to be castrated? any ideas?

First, I am not at all convinced that castration will serve any purpose but to make you boy unable to reproduce. To the best of my knowledge there is no unequivocal proof that castration is a guraranteed method of reducing agression in rats ... I would imagine it's even possible for it to make the situation worse.

Second, you are definitely on the right track with trying to build a trust releationship. Although I would suggest using a "running" treat versus your current treats. Your rat will learn you are trying to be "friends" as it takes the treats from you. More often than not it simply is a matter of time and patience.

His current "biting" is exactly that, a warning ... he is telling you he is unsure, or afraid. Always make sure he is aware of your presence. Talk to him as you approach. Say his name and compliment him. Your tone of voice will go a long way to developing trust as well as your treats being offered. Rats are notorious for having very poor eyesight, you may simply be startling him and he is only being defensive.

Biting has been a recurring topic recently and is often discussed on various rat friendly forums. You may consider joining one of the many forums on the Internet. There are several based in the UK as well as others in the Americas.