Bitten After Moving Something in Cage

[rae_liz916]

My baby boy Apollo isn't necessarily friendly just yet, but he's never been aggressive until today.
The boys knocked over everything on their top shelf to the very bottom. I was putting the fleece back when Apollo snuck up and bit me. I've been nibbled before, this was definitely a bite. Almost drew blood.
Was he upset because he meant for the cage to be like that? I also noticed he started putting everything I moved back to how it was right after.
So should I just let their cage be a disaster?
That was so bizarre...

Thanks peeps!

 

[lilspaz68]

How old is he?

 

[rae_liz916]

About 10 weeks.

 

[lilspaz68]

About 10 weeks.

Does he get out of the cage often?

 

[rae_liz916]

Yeah, every day. He lets me pick him up and hold him too. He doesn't enjoy it, but he's not scared anymore. That's why this was so surprising, he's made so much progress with trusting me.

 

[lilspaz68]

Yeah, every day. He lets me pick him up and hold him too. He doesn't enjoy it, but he's not scared anymore. That's why this was so surprising, he's made so much progress with trusting me.

I just wonder if he's possibly cage territorial. Just be careful moving things around when he's nearby...watch his body language. Leave things if he's too close, and fix them later once they are out. In time trust will build up, and this behaviour should stop.

one more question...a slashy bite? Dive out from under cover, a slashy bite, then dive back. Or was it a chomp down and stay to chomp more...

How did he act after the bite?

 

[rae_liz916]

Yeah that's what it seemed like.

He was in his tunnel where I didn't see him, jumped up and bit me, I pulled away and said OW and he just kinda stood there. Then he started trying to push the fleece off again like it was before.
He seemed stressed.

 

[jorats]

He might be worried with an intruder in his home. How long have you had him?
When you do need to go into the cage, offer him a treat. Make sure he's awake and aware that you are going in there. If he does it again, invite him out for a sit on your shoulders while you work in the cage.

 

[rae_liz916]

Nah, he knows me and we get along pretty good. I've had my boys almost 2 months now.
He only loves me cuz I'm the treat lady right now lol, but he's never been aggressive.
That's why I'm wondering if it's just because I moved his stuff? He only bit me after he saw me doing that. I don't wanna stress him out, but it'll be hard to clean their cage if this continues.

 

[jorats]

Rats will bite for fear, aggressiveness or territorial... certainly not because you moved something in the cage. But the fact that you entered his home would be territorial. That's why it's best to offer him a treat before going in or ask him to come out on your shoulder before you clean the cage.

 

[rae_liz916]

Oh okay. Thought maybe he had it set up how he wanted it and I was ruining it hehe.
That's so strange he's never cared before, but I'll start that in case it gets worse. Thanks

 

[jorats]

He might snap out of that behaviour...rats learn and adapt and hopefully this was just a silly phase of his.