Getting my rat use to me?

Question

I just got a female dumbo rat and she handled really good at the petstore and then i took her out of her box once more before i got home and she did really good then also but now i have her home and shes pretty good but she wants to lightly bit me.Not really a hard bite but just a little soft one.Can someone give me advice on how to get her use to me and handle her fine in my hands?

Answer 1

Give the rat time to get used to the new surroundings.  Try putting a dirty sock in the cage so it gets used to your odor.  They try feeding it small snacks slowly at first.  Also try letting it sit in your lap and "explore" the area without escaping into cushions or under furniture.  

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Answer 2

szhe is just taste biting and its totally natural oh and your should probably get another one! read this! :http://www.rmca.org/Resources/apair.txt

Answer 3

She could be playing, especially if she's young.  You can easilly train her not to play-bite by saying "No" in a firm, rather high-pitched tone (like an annoyed rat) and immediately leaving her alone for awhile.  This has usually worked *amazingly* fast with our rats.

Also, I agree with the ppl who say she may be either simply exploring, or confusing your hand with something to eat.  The "no" tactic will work with exploratory nibbling, & if you make sure your hands don't smell like food she won't try to snack on them.

The more you interact with your little friend, the quicker she'll get used to you.  Please adopt another girl as a companion for her-- you'll have twice the fun.

Answer 4

Many people use an empty purse to carry around and allow the rat to come out and see them when they feel comfortable. Light nipping can sometimes be stopped by squeaking when she does it.

Answer 5

The best way to get your rat used to you is to give it treats.  Your rat is probably afraid of her new surroundings, so it will help if you goad her into coming to you vs just grabbing at her.  Start by feeding her by hand with treats like frozen peas, cheerios, grapes, etc. all which are healthy and tasty for rats.  

Once she's used to that, try to get her to eat from the palm of your hand vs from your fingertips.  After that, try to get her to walk out of the cage to your hand to get the food.  It won't be long before she is hopping at the cage door waiting to be played with!

Side note: you really should get another rats.  Rats are highly sociable creatures that should have a friend.  Even if you play with her a lot, she'll still want a buddy to hang out with when you're sleeping or at school/work/etc.  Make sure you read this site about the best way to introduce rats.

http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk/information/...

If you do decide to get another rat, please consider getting her from your local animal shelter.  When shelters get rats, the rat is usually there for many months.  The price is usually similar to a pet store, and the money goes to the shelter to help save more animals vs a corporate pet store.  

Hope that helps!

Answer 6

She might be smelling food or lotion on your hands. wash your hands really good with something that don't smell like fruit or sweet.

Answer 7

This is normal. Try not to handle her too much right away, but letting her sniff the back of your hand and talking to her is great right off the bat. Rats like to taste-bite, it's not aggression or fear or anything, just something they do to get a feel for who you are. Give a little squeak sound when she does this and leave for a little while. Just take it slow and let her sniff first, before you pick her up. Always make sure she has her feet on something solid and never pick her up by the tail. After the first day, handle her lots, so she gets used to it!

BTW, you should go back to the same pet store and get another rat, preferably one from the same cage as her. Rats are very social, and should not live by themselves.

Answer 8

i know exactly what your talking about. i hate to say it but i don't no if thats normal or not because just a couple of days after we got our rat she had 11 babies and when we first got her she would also lightly bit our fingers

Answer 9

When you bring a rat home for the first time, take it out of the cage and  handle it as much as possible. Let it sit on your shoulder, play with it often and give it treats that rats really like. You must be patient and a little inventive about doing fun things with your rat. They are very smart  and love a challenge. You should try making a small agility trail for climbing practice and exercise. Always keep in mind your rats' safety to  prevent it from getting hurt.