Why are my two new rats biting me?

Question

My boyfriend and I got two female 8 week old rats yesterday. They were not from the same litter but when we got them home they were playing together just fine. We left them for about 2.5 hours and came back home to play with them ourselves. We got one out each - mine Carrie was in my arms the whole time where as my boyfriend's - Sneaky - was on the ground. At one stage she got 'lost' when she climbed inside our old printer. We got her out but I can imagine it wasn't a very nice experience for her. Carrie was fine last night and was out playing with us but Sneaky stayed in - we figured she was just in shock. When we finally did coax her out with soft talking she came over to the bars and rather than nibble on my finger she bit it - hard enough to draw blood but it didn't really hurt too much.

This morning Carrie - who was lovely and cuddly yesterday - tried to bite my finger too.

What have we done? How can we fix it? Help!!!

Answer 1

They're new, they need to get use to their home. Try luring them with treat so they can be comfortable staying with you.  

Answer 2

Did you eat something before you brought them out? They probably just smell food and want some too. ( my mice do the same thing).

But your rat is probably just scared and needs time to get over it.

Hope this helps

Answer 3

Your new "pets" are doing what rats do -- try to escape, and bite others. Why don't you get a normal pet?

Answer 4

most likely they are just scared and reacting to their new environment. you should really give small animals about a week after you get them home to start handling them-  sometimes new enviornment, new rat pal, and people all over them is just too much stress for them. leave them alone for a few days, and then re-introduce yourself gradually. let them sniff you and crawl on your hand before you start picking them up and letting them roam around outside their cage. make sure you wash your hands before handling them, they will bite if they smell another animal and feel threatened, or if they smell food on your hands they will try to take a bite!

Answer 5

The rats are just scared. Probably after the one rat got lose, it got scared. and the other rat could tell that the other rat was scared, so it too, became scared. but if you put your fingers up to bars on any animals cage they'll probably bite it. just spend alot of time with them. just being around them, talking to them when they're running around on a couch or something, will get them more comfortable with you. They're babies, and they're scared. Also, food on your finger could be the reason. Or, if you scare them. Try not to make alot of nose, esp. with bags, don't move so quickly while around them, and pet them real slow. But once you spend alott of time with them, and get really close to them, they'll never bite it, and will actually be realllyy loyal.

when it bites, just tap it's nose lightly and say no, in a firm voice. they're just like dogs, even as smart as dogs. just might take them longer to get things. so within time, they'll both learn your they're owner and not to ever hurt you.

plus, if you get really close with them, they'll actually act like dogs. they'll run over and jump on your when you got home from going somewhere, they'll come to they're name, or mayb a whistle, or finger snapping. They'll be the most loyal pets ever.

Answer 6

it's not you. the rat isn't a normal house pet. He's concerned about getting out. Yeah the printer ordeal will have very little to do with it. He's more than likely afraid of you and your husband. things will change...when he bites you, it might be good to not pluck hard, but hit his nose softly..so he knows that what he/she did was negative and that he/she shouldn't do that.

that's only my advice. I wish you luck with it. rats are very adorable.

Answer 7

sounds like they just need to get used to you. in other words, your not one of the rat pack yet.