Help! I've got a biter

[Riot!]

okay so a week or two ago I adopted a baby to be a buddy for my little Odin
well Petey started out scared to death of me I've slowly gotten him so he'll take treats from my hand come to the cage door doesn't hide when I'm in the room anymore
only problem is he will bite me any chance he gets
I can't even touch him without getting a bite
when I'm trying to pick up Odin or give him his meds Petey will come up and bite me
I've been trying squeaking like another rat every time he does it but it hasn't helped at all
I really don't know what to do about him
I can't even fill the food bowl let alone try and pick him up
I'm lost here I've never dealt with something like this

 

[hopefloats]

How old is he? How is he out of the cage?

 

[Riot!]

hes about 6 and a half weeks almost 7
i cant even get him out of the cage

 

[dspch911]

Oh wow! Are you talking chomp - blood producing bites from such a little thing? Oven mitt on one hand to distract him perhaps? I have no idea - perhaps a time out cage, but I don't know how you would get him in it.

 

[hopefloats]

I would start with trust training. treats from your finger or a spoon. I only had one biter that young Isis, She would attack my fingers when i put her back in the cage or took her out. She out grew it after a few weeks. I have always found that letting them lick it off my finger lets them learn what you can bite and what you cant.

 

[SterlingRats0408]

I start with yogurt or something lickable on a popsicle stick and they will bite it a few times butb don't let go. Do the squeak and once he lets go take it away so ge gets no reward. Then offer it again a few moments later. It will happen a few times but he will learn he doesn't get the treat that way. Then when you feel confident use your finger and do the same

 

[dspch911]

What makes such little ratties bite like that?

 

[lilspaz68]

Can you get us a video of him interacting with you? It will help us figure out a plan for you. Does he bite in-cage or out of cage as well?

 

[SQ]

When he bites does it draw blood?

 

[Riot!]

I'll try and get a video tonight when I get off work
He'll take treats from my hand and they get yogurt on a spoon he'll take that too
If I put my hand in the cage at all he'll come out and take a pick chomp outta it I can't even try and get him out of the cage
It's getting so I can't even get his cage mate out without taking a bite

 

[Steph]

Sounds like he's being very territorial of his cage.
No experience to give you much advice. But I'm betting if you manage to get him out he won't bite outside the cage.
Maybe encourage him to come out on his own. Or wear gloves just to get him out.
Also betting a good neuter will stop this behavior.
But I'm a noob so these are only thoughts I've gathered from reading around here and other animals....
If there was a way to assert dominance over a rat that would help.... But I don't know how to begin going about that....

 

[jorats]

He is far too young for any dominance issues, this is fear based. I would start trust training with him. This site:http://www.joinrats.com has some wonderful articles on earning trust, all positive reinforcement. I encourage you to read all about it and then you will know how best to proceed with your little scaredy rat.