We've got a biter!

[bokaholic]

Hello folks. I've stopped by here today to ask for some help..

Travis and I have had two rattie boys for about a year now. They've been living comfortably in our ferrets old cage and I got to wanting a critter nation. Well, I did find a ferret nation locally. When we were driving home it dawned on us that it was overkill for two rats, and we drove to the Nebraska Humane Society. Upon entering the small animal section we saw a cage of babies, and a cage up top with an old, fat, cute ol' lab rat. Travis held him after signing some papers and we decided to take him home. So we took him home and I put together the FN. Put Fry and Bender in the bottom section, and Wernstrom on top. We didn't pester him much. Left his cage minimalistic. Food, water, and a little wooden house. I offered him some shoestring carrots in which he first denied but soon after accepted and now he really likes them. A few days went by and I got him to slowly come out and toward the edge of the cage for a carrot stick. I don't think he can see well, as he never seems to respond to movement. Only sound and smell..

Well, the other day the hubby came home from work and attempted to give him a pet, since he had previously held him.. Long story short is Wernstrom chomped right through his finger! There was lots of bleeding involved and pain. Poor guy has had many rats, but had never been bit before.

My question is this. How do I help him learn that biting is bad? I don't expect him to let me pick him up and cuddle him like I get to do with Fry. But I don't want to worry about someone touching him and him biting like that again.

Even getting it down to a nibble would be better! lol

Any help is appreciated. Thanks guys.

*goes back to reading past posts!*

- Angel

 

[lilspaz68]

Could you give us more information on the sequence of events around the bite

1) Was he sleeping or possibly unaware when travis bit him? he does sound like his vision is very poor and he might startle easily

2) Did he charge and chomp or after he bit did he huff and puff and his fur got puffed up?

3) How did he act afterwards?

 

[jorats]

Also, how long has he been living with you.
How does he react with having the other boys nearby?

 

[bokaholic]

Could you give us more information on the sequence of events around the bite

1) Was he sleeping or possibly unaware when travis bit him? he does sound like his vision is very poor and he might startle easily

2) Did he charge and chomp or after he bit did he huff and puff and his fur got puffed up?

3) How did he act afterwards?

Thanks for suck a quick reply, guys. And yes, I could. Here we go.

1) He was not sleeping, or eating. He was just being a blob (that's what I call an overweight rat laying there, well, being a blob) next to his wooden house. Though Travis takes complete blame. He said 'he was warning me, but I was being pushy!'. I think Travis opened the cage and started petting him. Wernstrom puffed up and did that little 'flinchy' thing rats/mice/hamsters tend to do when touched and offended. He scooted a little, Travis petted (lightly, was not hard) and I looked up from my computer desk and noticed he was slightly cornered between the Ferret Nation ramp and the pettings. That is when he bit. Poor Wernstrom, and poor Travis. Travis felt terrible. He was just trying to give him love and Wernstrom wanted no part in it.

2) Well, it happened rather fast. o.o; Travis got bit threw the fingernail of his index finger, and all I saw was blood gushing into his hands as he ran off to the kitchen. I glanced at Wernstrom and he was still in the same spot. I got up, closed the cage and made sure Wernstrom wasn't freaking out or anything. He was OK so I went to tend to the hubby. Who was in the kitchen over the sink bleeding all over. *LOL* I haddn't had anything to eat that day and I was just about ready to pass out!! but I digress.

3) He kinda just stuck to the same spot and then when we came back from the kitchen he was hiding in his house. It's hard to say to be honest as I was taking care of the hubby. I saw Wernstrom was OK (well, physically OK at least.. :I ) And tended to the hubs, who was a little less OK. I've never seen him in that kind of pain before. Yikes.

 

[bokaholic]

Also, how long has he been living with you.
How does he react with having the other boys nearby?

Travis or the rattie.. Joking.

Wernstrom was adopted 5 days ago now, I think. Aside from talking with him. Feeding him healthy snacks to go along with his diet (he's a bit chunky and unhealthy) and cleaning his cage. I haven't done much handling. Especially after the biting happened. I don't want to get bit. I've been bit before. Drawn blood even.. but I've never seen that much blood from a bite. Nor have a seen a grown man express that much pain from a bite. D: It makes me a little nervous to handle him! But I still -WANT- to.. if that makes sense. He's part of the family. We love our family.

The first 4 days I had Wernstrom in the top section of the Ferret Nation, and Fry and Bender in the bottom section. (My dogs love the ratties and 'nose' at them, even through the cage and I didn't want their noses to get bit..) The section to open the two cages together was sealed off. Yesterday I unsealed that (the bars still separate the boys. They can see and smell each other) just so maybe they could start getting used to each other. (If I am being stupid, don't be shy. LET ME KNOW! I really don't want to mess up!)

I was going to attempt the tub/bed thing. but upon having no Kevlar gloves I don't want to go scooping up Wernstrom and plopping him somewhere he may not really want to be at the moment. I've just been waiting for him to get less fluff and relax. Which he's acting more normal than he was a few days ago. His eyes are wide and he doesn't hide as much. He comes out when I am near the cage (probably just cause he wants snacks).

The boys (Fry and bender) are OK with it being open. Fry could careless (he's soooo easy going) and Bender rubs on the bars (marking, I'm sure) and puffs about when Wernstrom and his noses are close. I could attempt to take video and show if you'd like. Unless you know what I'm talking about. x)

 

[jorats]

No video needed, I know exactly what you are talking about. Very normal and probably why Wernstrom bit daddy. He's still very new to you and his home and he's reacting to any threat to that.
Rats will react "manly" when they smell other rats around. Until they can meet, then they can start to work out their differences. Wernstrom might be this way until he meets his roommates. But still no reason to rush things.
You did well, I would allow them to see each other through the bars as well. The more they can smell each other and see movement, the more they will get used to it.
As for going into the cage with Wernstrom, I would be very careful from now on. I wouldn't use gloves because he clearly gave warning signs which were ignored by daddy. So this rat is just feeling very stressed. When it's time to clean the cage, you need to ask Wernstrom to come out of the cage before you enter it. So present him a box with a yummy inside, let him climb in, remove him and clean cage and put him back when done. When you need to go in for food and water, offer Wernstrom a treat, a big enough treat so that he needs to keep eating it until you are done. A nice slice of banana will do fine for this. No more petting him in the cage, only out of the cage and only on his head, no other part of his body for now. When the romp gets touched, it's always a sign of dominance and he will react accordingly. The minute he's puffy, don't touch him, just stay near him and talk and offer treats like cheerios, peas and other healthy snacks. Keep this up for a week...then I'd start intros in the tub.

 

[bokaholic]

No video needed, I know exactly what you are talking about. Very normal and probably why Wernstrom bit daddy. He's still very new to you and his home and he's reacting to any threat to that.
Rats will react "manly" when they smell other rats around. Until they can meet, then they can start to work out their differences. Wernstrom might be this way until he meets his roommates. But still no reason to rush things.
You did well, I would allow them to see each other through the bars as well. The more they can smell each other and see movement, the more they will get used to it.
As for going into the cage with Wernstrom, I would be very careful from now on. I wouldn't use gloves because he clearly gave warning signs which were ignored by daddy. So this rat is just feeling very stressed. When it's time to clean the cage, you need to ask Wernstrom to come out of the cage before you enter it. So present him a box with a yummy inside, let him climb in, remove him and clean cage and put him back when done. When you need to go in for food and water, offer Wernstrom a treat, a big enough treat so that he needs to keep eating it until you are done. A nice slice of banana will do fine for this. No more petting him in the cage, only out of the cage and only on his head, no other part of his body for now. When the romp gets touched, it's always a sign of dominance and he will react accordingly. The minute he's puffy, don't touch him, just stay near him and talk and offer treats like cheerios, peas and other healthy snacks. Keep this up for a week...then I'd start intros in the tub.

Ahhh, amazing advice. :hugs: Thank you so much. I will do just that. I just wasn't sure how to tell a rat 'no, no, no. Don't you bite little mister!' while shaking you finger are him in a scolding manner. *shakefinger*

I need to call my vet today to see if she does rats. (We just moved to the area.) And if she does; see how much spaying and neutering would cost me. (I have no females as of yet) We have such a large cage. We would love to adopt/rescue a couple more ratties. But that wouldn't be until well after Wernstrom is more comfortable of course. I would love to have the entire Futurama crew living in my home. ;D lol. I need to go to the store soon and stock up on tasty snacks for the boys. I also need to find a good priced lab block for them. I hear there's amazing blocks out there. I just forget the name and I'm afraid of the price! lol --- I digress..

Thank you again, so much for your help. I have SUCH a great respect for you and your rattie family. :cloud9: Keep educating people. I don't want as many ratties as you.. but I would like to responsibly rescue a few. I always see beautiful, tame, sweet ratties going as snake food on craigslist. :/ (There was a blue rex dumbo boy and a Himalayan girly I didn't reply to fast enough the other day.. I was very sad)

If all goes well and I get good and knowledgeable. perhaps I can have some female ratties in the house too.

ok, enough ranting! Terribly sorry. :x

- Angel

 

[jorats]

Ranting is allowed here.

As for blocks, look for Harlan Teklad or Oxbow Regal rat. The Harlan is really not that expensive. It can be bought online.