New Rats and how they are behaving

[nitaant]

I got two females, bout 4 months old.

One of them right from the beginning was very scared and would just freeze and look at me. The other one was alot more adjusted, she took food from my hands - apples, berries and stuff.

They didn't like being picked up and would grab the bars in the cage for dear life. They seemed reasonable comfortable all in all around humans, but not adjusted personally.

I kept giving them food and petting them in their cages. I recently got a new cage that is much more spacious. They love it and the fleece pouches in it.

Now they both have become much more adjusted, inquiring and coming upto me when i put my hand in the cage.

They sniff my fingers alot still, and nibble too much. Yesterday one of them sniffed my finger for awhile, then held it between its hands like food and took a bite and drew blood. They still can't seem to differentiate between fingers and food.

Any suggestions?

[jarchi]

Rats have poor eyesight, so if you smell like food, they might just nibble to see if you are. Make sure you clean your hands before handling them (and after handing them food!) with a cleanser that does not smell fruity or like food. Perhaps giving them fruit from your hand is encouraging them to think that your hand suggests food. Maybe just leave the food out on the table or wherever--- they will still know it's from you. It's more important that they enjoy you than refer to you as the food giver.