stress=biting?

[handmeafish]

We got a surrenderd female at work last week. Wednesday she was a total sweety, but today when I went to say hello, she bit me hard and held on. I held my hand out for her to smell me and with in seconds she took a chunck out of my finger.
I'm thinking that she was reacting to stress. Someone who is just brilliant put her right infront of the adoption cats. One of the cats was just sitting and staring at her all day long. I moved her as far away as I could, and I put a towel over part of the cage so she can't see the cats, but I dunno if that is enough.
What else can I do to help her feel less stressed?

 

[jorats]

I'd say this is what her personality will be while being in that "home". It takes about a week to two weeks to settle down and show their true colours. This may or may not change if she gets adopted out. But anything could alter her behaviour back to the better or worse like moving her cage, getting a new cage buddy, being adopted out. At this time, she needs lots and lots of socializing and trust training.

 

[hopefloats]

Isis bites my daughter when she smells like a cat, hates them. Mally is just a biter and does it because she enjoys it. Pika bites us if we smell like the black rats I would make sure your hands don't smell like other animals before going at her. She could just be stressed i am sure, mine always act goofy in strange places, like the vet. They seem to take comfort in having a good box to hide in, or doing the covering the cage like you did. I know the adjustment for some rats are hard on them, I have some go into shell shock over a big cage, sat there like a deer in headlights.

If i was closer, i would love her. I dont know why i accept the biter rats LOL but i do.

 

[Joanne]

I would say the same - don't smell like cat. My rats don't care about the dogs, but if I handle my cats before I go and see them, they are freaked out. The scent of a cat is enough to stress a rat out. Same room --> stressed.

 

[handmeafish]

She bit me again... this time she really got me. I am worried she might be deemed ubadoptable because of this. I have posted on cl and goose moose looking for someone who might be able to take her in... I think she just needs out of the store asap. There is no where that isn't going to smell like something that might eat her. If any one knows someone in north eastern colorado or the denver metro area who could take her, please let me kno. I would take her, but I don't have a place to keep her that I know is escape/entrance proof and seamus is the master of breaking out.
I think she is on the older side, so I don't know that spaying is an option.

 

[Moon]

Pregnancy can cause biting also.

 

[handmeafish]

She got adopted while I was gone, so hopefully she wasn't pregnant... she was tiny though.

 

[Joanne]

I hope she went to an experienced home and that they don't bring her back in a few days...

 

[handmeafish]

Me too. I'm a little worried, but I think she'll be better off out side of the store... I'm hoping that one of the many people i attempted to contact came and got her, and not just some stranger