Finger biter

[ayln]

So my two neutered rescue rats have been around for almost a week now and they're pretty much tame and socialized but still a little shy around me. They'll take food from my hand and even my palm and sometimes will climb onto my hand but neither of them like to be picked up just yet. The older one, Dumbledore, is much worse at being pet and picked up. He's fairly aggressive compared to Harry while in cage and he's the first to come out and explore, but will run away (faster) when I try to pet him.

Harry is very polite and takes food nicely. Dumbledore, however, will take the food and then my finger. Neither of them bite through the cage bars but Dumbledore is definitely more bitey in general and will bite gently at first and then start biting harder. How can I train him not to bite my finger when he's taking food from me, or should I just avoid giving him food with fingers altogether?

 

[jorats]

For now, offer him food from the palm of your hand. See if he gets the message with that. After a few weeks of the palm, try your fingers again.