Pet rat that nips
I have two rats, one is terrific and I love her. The other I got about a week ago, and she is still quarantined in her own tank, the problem is she is a bit nippy, has not bit hard yet just nips the skin, is there a way to make her stop ? Serious answers only, and she will not be snake food, so don't even suggest it.
Answers:Why do rats bite?
From the website:
http://firstrats.tripod.com/id30.htm...
Quote "Unlike some other rodents, rats do not bite frequently or for trivial things like being waken or just grouchy. Rats are among the least nippy small pets there are. In addition, a rat bite is generally gentler and less likely to hurt as much as a gerbil or hamster bite. Here are the things that could cause a rat to nip, and if you ever are bit, you can assess your rats behavior and do what is needed to correct it.
fear: Rats that have never been held or have been raised in a stressful environment may be very afraid of people. They may run from you and nip if cornered. Other things that may cause such extreme fear are if the rat has been in a fight or they smell a predator. Rats that are handled often and trust people are not likely to bite out of fear.
Another thing that scares rats is gloves, socks, bandaids, and anything else that covers your hands or feet. Rats recognize you by smell and texture, and these things throw them off and trigger attacks. Never wear any of these things when your rats can contact them. Even the most gentle and well-trained rat will bit HARD when confronted with glove beasts and sock monsters.