Rat that bites ONLY ME

[dell126]

I have a pink eyed himi rat named Science who's biting ME is escalating (she bit me hard and almost drew blood today). She was a feeder rat that was hand raised by a friend who we took at 10-12 weeks old. She only bites me. I let her smell my hand before trying to pick her up and it always turns into her clamping down. I have to have my 3 year old or my 9 year old pick her up because she just loves them to pieces. They reach in and grab her and she licks and grooms away on them. My other rat Marceline gives me no problems. I feed, water and clean up after them. I don't get why she keeps biting me. Her mom is the same way. She bites my friend who feeds and takes care of her but everyone else she loves on. Any ideas? Because if she breaks skin I cannot and will not keep her because of the kids even though she is good with them for now it is not a risk I want to take.:thumbdwn:
PS- Science is 11 months old and Marceline is 10 months old.

 

[hopefloats]

My girl Isis would only bite my daughter. So it isnt uncommon. we have had some rats here that would bite me every chance they got yet my youngest could walk right up and pick them up. I have heard that if you are on some meds they can smell that on you and it can affect them. My oldest daughter is epileptic and on AED's for her seizures so I just assumed that it could be true. Can you let her climb into something to get her out of the cage? alot of the time with females it is cage aggression out of the cage they are fine. Does she bite outside the cage as well?

 

[dell126]

Hopefloats,
I won't touch her anymore. My fingers are covered with scars from a super aggressive teddy bear hamster I had as a child so I am so scared to get bit for real. I even put my hand near the cage and her mouth opens and she is snapping at the bars. I am on a ton of vitamins but only one med that I take via IV infusion every 28 days. I keep trying with the smelling but as soon as she gets near me her mouth starts to open and I quickly retreat.:tearful:

 

[hopefloats]

Your kids probably have no fear, like other animals they feed off that. Well some do not all. I wouldnt try to touch and aggressive girl in the cage, but you should try to spend time with her outside of it and see how she is. dont let fear win. You also cannot judge a girl by her actions in the cage being aggressive in the cage is normal but outside of it not so much. Try her on the couch with a spoon and some tasty baby food on it see how she does. That will keep your fingers save and allow you both to trust each other again.

 

[jorats]

Next time, if you try again, don't present your hand for her to smell. With rats, they don't need to "meet" you before you touch them, in fact, they might be thinking you are presenting them with a treat. I know a couple of mine would chomp down first and ask questions later, all the while thinking, but i thought there was a treat there. Next, time you want to pick her up, scoop her up with both hands going under her, never over top. I would do a lot of hand socializing with her. I would scoop her up pet her, cuddle her, give her a treat and place her back down. Scoop her up again, give another treat, put her back down. and so on...

 

[Joanne]

I'm sorry you are having this problem - it makes it that much worse for you because of your history.
I agree, you need to train this girl to associate you with wonderful things (food). Positive reinforcement as a training philosophy works really well.
Perhaps start by just talking to her kindly (it's really only the tone of voice that matters) and then leaving her a treat. Try and put it in the cage quickly and before she can get close to your hands. Then after a while talk to her and then hand her a treat. To give her the treat without risking a bite, make it a larger treat (ie a whole grape, not a small piece), and push it towards her, so much so that she has to back up a bit to take it. Pushing the treat into her prevents her from grabbing it quickly. Do NOT pull the treat away from her as then she will lunge and bite to grab it.
If all your interactions are positive ones, she will soon look forward to you coming to visit her and will be waiting for you in a different way.
I also agree with seeing how she is outside of the cage. If it is just cage aggression, then you may be able to work on bonding with her outside of the cage.
Positive reinforcement will hopefully change her mind about you, and make her happy to see you coming. Don't let fear rule your life.