Mouthing

[TheRatGirl]

Both of my girls were born on July 2 of this year, so they are young, but not itty bitty. They are also not litter mates; they just oddly share a birthday. I am in the stage where I am giving them treats and letting them sniff or climb on my hand. They are both mouthing my hands a lot. No one is using pressure or hurting me, but do you think it is ok to allow this to go on? I don't want it to turn into painful biting, as we all know they have legendary bite force!
My boys I had never did this mouthing thing and were adults when I got them, so I don't have experience with this behavior. Any other advice on bonding is very welcome! Thanks! :thumbup:

 

[GrayLightNewDay]

I think most rats mouth a lot. They don't have good eye sight, so they use their mouths to feel and test things.

 

[TheRatGirl]

One of them seems pretty focused on pulling off a finger nail. What should I do about that?

 

[dspch911]

They like finger/toe nails. Wait until your playing on the floor barefoot with them - they will attempt a pedicure :giggle:

 

[TheRatGirl]

They like finger/toe nails. Wait until your playing on the floor barefoot with them - they will attempt a pedicure :giggle:

Oh goodness! They will be repulsed by my feet. The last time I went for a pedicure, I swear the lady looked at my feet then looked at me, then back at my feet like she was going to have to use lime-away or something HAHA! My feet callus very easily : :sad3:

 

[jorats]

Rats are so curious... ever show a rat a bandaid on your finger. Watch out! lol
It's really all innocent. But if you are uncomfortable with the test nibbles, you could say an EEK firmly each time they do it to tell them that you don't like that.

 

[TheRatGirl]

They actually seem to have given up on the mouthing my hand