Bite, bite, bite!

thefriggintribe · May 27, 2011

Does anyone have any tips to get a rat to stop nipping all the time?

I am at my wits end with this boy. He has made a game out of biting everything including my feet, elbows, & fingers. I tried peeping which has helped with every other rat.

:gaah:

SQ · May 27, 2011

pmed you

jorats · May 28, 2011

SQ if you have a good tip, can you share with the rest of us cause honestly, I have no idea how to stop a nipper and I've had my share of them. I just made sure to keep my eye on the nippers and ran for cover each time they headed for a soft spot. lol

thefriggintribe · May 28, 2011

I think he knows he is doing something bad because he gives me this "Did that hurt?" look before he does it again.

purinpurin · May 28, 2011

LOL! "Did that hurt?" XD

Indy started out as a nipper. I got a terrible bite on my pinky, but as soon as he did that, I put him in my home-made cage (a large rubbermaid tub with holes), and let him cool down for a few hours alone. The next time I held him, I put some bitter apple spray on my hands, and when he went in for the kill, he jumped back like I'd shot him or something before he could clamp his jaws! XD He never bit me again.

He still kinda scrapes at my skin with his teeth and play-nips, but when it looks like he's getting too excited, I put him in the home-made cage for a "time out". Not sure if he knows it's a punishment, but it seems to be working, haha.