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Why is my rat nipping through the bars2007-11-24 22:19:29

My beautiful 10 month old male rat nips through the bars, all the time. I have never fed him through the bars, and I know nobody in my family has either. He's done it a bit all his life.. but as he's getting older, he's getting worse. These days, I have to distract him to the other side of the cage just to open the door, or he nips me. I've tried saying no (he's learnt no means no, on everything else) and tapping his nose very gently, but he's still not budging at all.

I've tried washing my hands in different smelling things, and also not washing them for a bit before, so they just smell of me, but still no progress.

Was wondering if there's any way I can decrease this behaviour? I don't mind him nibbling me gently, but I'm pretty sure he's going to draw blood one of these days. Outside his cage he's very friendly, and he only nibbles gently, not enough to hurt. Is this possibly a territorial thing?

Any help would be apperciated.. many thanks.

Answers:

yes this problem is quite common. your rat is just excited. Here is how to solve it: Spay a bit of bitter apple spray, or another training spray (i use time out) on your finger or on a glove that you wear while holding him (i reccomend a glove because if you get it on your hands, eating burgers or other hand food is a real bother.) This will work and always has.

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well i have 12 rats and nun bite me ever i guess you can hold him more mayb needs more attention and is not getting used to ppl

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it is a territorial thing my russian tortise paces his cage back and forth and when we asked a vet he said it was common and its just territorial nothing to worry about.

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don't worry, usually all rodents nip at the bars if they have cages. He is probably just bored, so nipping at the cage passes time. Here are a list of toys u could get him. They can go right inside of the cage.