Rat biting HELP
I got a new rat and put it next to the old one and doing what i was supposed to be doing and introducing them slowly and like i should. But tonight my old rat was running aroud the aquarium topper and i went to take him out he bit my finger and held on but didn't break skin. I gave him 3 pellets of food that day and some treats but when i put him back i gave him more food and he grabbed every piece and took it to his house. I did not touch the rat before i touched him. Why is my rat freaking out?!?!?!?1
Answers:His bite is only because he's working himself into a tizzy. He's over-excited. Take the new boy out of his sight for the night and try again in the morning.
If he was running around in a frenzy, you just got your first clue that he's not ready for his new cage-mate yet. Put the new boy's cage on the other side of the room and watch your older boy's behavior over the next week. He should become nonchalant about the new boy's presents before you take the next step.
Try not to be too impatient. Slow and steady wins the intro. Don't be surprised if this takes a few months. It's not going to happen over night.
spazrats
"my life has gone to the rats"
Male rats are very territorial. He is trying to keep the food to himself.
Also, when two rats compete for the same space, they tend to get mean. Its possible he was trying to defend his territory from you, or he may just be aggravated and bit at the first thing that got too close.