The Rat Lovers Club! ~MODS PLEASE LOCK!

[OneRowdyNight]

Guys... Remember how I mentioned Apolo's biting problem? Well, she bit my pinkie when I picked her up, then attacked the leather glove when I tried again. I can't do anything with her, she's not aggressive, but bites anything that I put near the cage. She's not like other rats that I've had that sniff a bit, maybe nibble. She takes a huge bite of something, then sniffs it. This is the fourth or fifth really deep bite she's given me, and I don't know what to do with her. I don't want to put her down, but I don't have time to re-socialize her. I really do love her, but I just can't deal with her anymore. Her sister is the sweetest little thing and I'd hate to leave her alone. Apollo can also get out of the cage, so I worry for everyone else... I'm crying right now. I just don't have any idea what I can do. I'm trying to clean their cage, but I cant get her out.

[Sadies]

Guys... Remember how I mentioned Apolo's biting problem? Well, she bit my pinkie when I picked her up, then attacked the leather glove when I tried again. I can't do anything with her, she's not aggressive, but bites anything that I put near the cage. She's not like other rats that I've had that sniff a bit, maybe nibble. She takes a huge bite of something, then sniffs it. This is the fourth or fifth really deep bite she's given me, and I don't know what to do with her. I don't want to put her down, but I don't have time to re-socialize her. I really do love her, but I just can't deal with her anymore. Her sister is the sweetest little thing and I'd hate to leave her alone. Apollo can also get out of the cage, so I worry for everyone else... I'm crying right now. I just don't have any idea what I can do. I'm trying to clean their cage, but I cant get her out.

Don't put her down, I know she bites but putting her down isn't fair. She may think your hand is food. Try stopped feeding her with your hand. As for the gloves, i would advise using guardening gloves that are not leather as leather will smell like dead a imals to her which will stress her out. Before handeling her you could rub your hands in wood chips so they smell more friendly. I know you said you have no time to socalise her but you can do this when you get your rats out. If you don't handle your rats out they will become more wild. Rars are inteligent and you need to let them out their cage more than any other rodent because they will easily get bored and will start showing stereotypical behaviours such as persistant bar chewing which is a sighn of a habbit or sometimes stress.

[Sadies]

OMG! I go to collage at an animal collage who breed animals including rats and there rats are always breeding and i really hate it because it's not really a life and today I wad working with the rats and was offered a female they didn't want. I said my mum won't let me, i felt guilty and wished I had said yes but knew mum would say no.
When i got home i told my mum and she said I should had said yes! So i'm going to ask on monday uf they still don't want her.

I'm realy, really excited :D

[OneRowdyNight]

Don't put her down, I know she bites but putting her down isn't fair. She may think your hand is food. Try stopped feeding her with your hand. As for the gloves, i would advise using guardening gloves that are not leather as leather will smell like dead animals to her which will stress her out. Before handeling her you could rub your hands in wood chips so they smell more friendly. I know you said you have no time to socalise her but you can do this when you get your rats out. If you don't handle your rats out they will become more wild. Rars are inteligent and you need to let them out their cage more than any other rodent because they will easily get bored and will start showing stereotypical behaviours such as persistant bar chewing which is a sighn of a habbit or sometimes stress.

Thans. (: I don't hand feed them, but I don't give them treats through the bars occasionally. I've been stroking her, then dropping a small treat. I've also put my hand near her and if she looks like she's going to bite or is about to chomp, I blow in her face. She's better already. I just hope she can stay that way with a little more handling.

[heartleafed]

I was thinking about it Rowdy. I was thinking about maybe separating her, but that may make it worse. Actually, she might be either stressed or becoming territorial. I know female rodents can get very bad with being territorial if they aren't handled often. My god mother had a rat named Akasha, and she started out being rather friendly, but after her cage mate died, and we didn't have so much time to spend with her she became depressed and stressed out, and she would try to bite you if she saw you getting close to the cage. She was the same way almost until she got her tumor.

Anyhow. If it is a problem of being territorial. Either get a separate cage, or wash hers out really well (given you can get her out), and let her just chill out for a while.

I'm not saying that's exactly what it is, or that's going to solve your problem, but it is an idea.

[TheForumFairy]

Dear newbies,

[Sadies]

Don't put her down, I know she bites but putting her down isn't fair. She may think your hand is food. Try stopped feeding her with your hand. As for the gloves, i would advise using guardening gloves that are not leather as leather will smell like dead animals to her which will stress her out. Before handeling her you could rub your hands in wood chips so they smell more friendly. I know you said you have no time to socalise her but you can do this when you get your rats out. If you don't handle your rats out they will become more wild. Rars are inteligent and you need to let them out their cage more than any other rodent because they will easily get bored and will start showing stereotypical behaviours such as persistant bar chewing which is a sighn of a habbit or sometimes stress.

Thans. (: I don't hand feed them, but I don't give them treats through the bars occasionally. I've been stroking her, then dropping a small treat. I've also put my hand near her and if she looks like she's going to bite or is about to chomp, I blow in her face. She's better already. I just hope she can stay that way with a little more handling.

Your welcome :) I hope she beomes less agrissive for you. :)

[Sadies]

OMG SO HAPPY!!! :I called the collage asking if I can still have the rat that they were going to give me and they saddly said sorry they want to breed her (poor baby) so my mum said I can go to the pet shop and get a rat. So I called the shop and they had two boys. I felt bad for only gettig one so I got to. They are soo...cute. I don't have names for them yet. THey are 10 weeks old and tiny.

[TheForumFairy]

oh noooo NEVER and i mean NEVER adopt from a pet store..they are the same thing as them breeders no respect for the creature

[Sadies]

I don't normaly get pets from pet stores or nreeders. All of my pets are rescues however i know these rats have been in the shop a long time and no-one wanted them because they were males so I got them. I know people who have worked there before and they get the animals out daily and handle them.