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I finally brought home my ratties on Nov. 15. It was love at first sight! Three bucks...a 5 wk old hairless named Squiggy, a 2 mth old Dumbo Rex Dalmation named Opie, and a 3 mth old Dumbo Hooded Mink named Andy. Handsome and sweet!
Recently I have noticed Andy seems a bit more aggressive than the others. I took that as he was the Alpha and probably more hormonal. What I didn't realize is that he was looking at me...or my hands as being another rat to contend with. I was careful not to just reach in and grab them unless I had to. I was aware little nips were not aggressive signs. And I understood they might wrestle with my hand to play with.
Andy however started 'pursuing' my hands every time I put them in the cage to clean up poops or move things around. He would wrestle or tug at my paper towel. I took it as playing. But the last few times he started putting his teeth into my hand a little harder and just hold it there. I thought he was just rough housing me so I just tried not to encourage him.
Then last night I took him out for some playtime on the couch. It had been several days since I had taken him out on the couch. We usually interact in front of the open cage with the boys running in and out and around my arms. So he was pretty pumped up about exploring. Lots of teeth chattering and wanting to go places he shouldn't. I kept putting him back or blocking him with my hand. When he would come up next to me I would pet him but then he would start grabbing me with his teeth again and I would squeak to let him know to stop. And he wouldn't do so right away. After about 5 minutes of this kind of activity I was again petting him when he grabbed my hand and chomped down hard and deep while grabbing my hand and kicking it with his back legs. I was stunned at first and didn't even realize he had bit me because it was so sharp and deep. Instead of flinging or slapping him I kept my control and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck to take him off my hand and to keep him from biting me. then I quickly put him back in his cage and tried not to show aggression towards him.
My hand bled like crazy. My poor 12 yr old son was sitting next to me the whole time and was just shocked. I tried to keep calm for him meanwhile my hand was just pouring out blood. My husband was also pretty shocked. After a minute or so of bleeding I poured some hydrogen peroxide on it and then triple antibiotic ointment. But I was more worried about what to do next with Andy. I went back to the cage later and he wasn't aggressive with me, In fact, he looked a little sheepish as if he knew he did something wrong...but maybe I'm reading into it.
This morning he was the same...but he was terribly curious about the smell coming from my hand and the bandage. I must admit I felt tense around him. I petted him and spoke softly to him and let him sniff me and climb on my arm but I was cautious. So I think I will be relinquishing him back to his breeder. Though I could neuter him, I'm not sure that will solve his attitude towards me that he is my Alpha. Plus now I worry he may get too aggressive towards my hairless or even my kids. He may be better adopted out with another male closer to his size and age. My breeder knows about the incident and is trying to help me as well.
I think I may fair better with socializing the two smaller ones, Squiggy and Opie. I have been giving Opie some meds for some soft poops and even though he doesn't like it and struggles with me he has not tried to bite me. As a sidenote...I did see a remarkable change in his poop once I started given him some special rat food mix I bought online. even my vet said it must have good fiber in it and is helping firm him poop up. But he will still need his meds for another week but at least we are seeing an improvement. Another interesting tidbit about Opie is I originally brought him to the vet when I heard this funky sneezing he was doing. Almost like a cough-sneeze or a spasm. It was at this visit we noticed he was also having soft poops. So his lungs were fine but he had high bacteria levels in his gut. I recorded the sneeze and showed it to my vet who said she had seen that in some other animals and it was more like an allergy reaction or a backwards sneeze. He hasn't done it since the vet visit so perhaps he is adjusting to the new smells etc in his environment. Any suggestions on controlling odor of bucks aside from the obvious...I use fleece bedding and a litter pan and have a room air filter. But thought someone else might have another suggestion.
I would appreciate any advice, similar situations etc on Andy's aggression...for I am torn about returning him but I am also nervous of more aggressive behavior. My hand appears to be ok. It isn't bleeding anymore and feels sore but not painful. Doesn't have any pus or swelling. I had a tetanus shot within the last 10 years. So I am not sure if there is anything else I should be concerned about or watch for with my bite. Any advice on that too would be helpful.
Thanks in advance for any insight!
Recently I have noticed Andy seems a bit more aggressive than the others. I took that as he was the Alpha and probably more hormonal. What I didn't realize is that he was looking at me...or my hands as being another rat to contend with. I was careful not to just reach in and grab them unless I had to. I was aware little nips were not aggressive signs. And I understood they might wrestle with my hand to play with.
Andy however started 'pursuing' my hands every time I put them in the cage to clean up poops or move things around. He would wrestle or tug at my paper towel. I took it as playing. But the last few times he started putting his teeth into my hand a little harder and just hold it there. I thought he was just rough housing me so I just tried not to encourage him.
Then last night I took him out for some playtime on the couch. It had been several days since I had taken him out on the couch. We usually interact in front of the open cage with the boys running in and out and around my arms. So he was pretty pumped up about exploring. Lots of teeth chattering and wanting to go places he shouldn't. I kept putting him back or blocking him with my hand. When he would come up next to me I would pet him but then he would start grabbing me with his teeth again and I would squeak to let him know to stop. And he wouldn't do so right away. After about 5 minutes of this kind of activity I was again petting him when he grabbed my hand and chomped down hard and deep while grabbing my hand and kicking it with his back legs. I was stunned at first and didn't even realize he had bit me because it was so sharp and deep. Instead of flinging or slapping him I kept my control and grabbed him by the scruff of his neck to take him off my hand and to keep him from biting me. then I quickly put him back in his cage and tried not to show aggression towards him.
My hand bled like crazy. My poor 12 yr old son was sitting next to me the whole time and was just shocked. I tried to keep calm for him meanwhile my hand was just pouring out blood. My husband was also pretty shocked. After a minute or so of bleeding I poured some hydrogen peroxide on it and then triple antibiotic ointment. But I was more worried about what to do next with Andy. I went back to the cage later and he wasn't aggressive with me, In fact, he looked a little sheepish as if he knew he did something wrong...but maybe I'm reading into it.
This morning he was the same...but he was terribly curious about the smell coming from my hand and the bandage. I must admit I felt tense around him. I petted him and spoke softly to him and let him sniff me and climb on my arm but I was cautious. So I think I will be relinquishing him back to his breeder. Though I could neuter him, I'm not sure that will solve his attitude towards me that he is my Alpha. Plus now I worry he may get too aggressive towards my hairless or even my kids. He may be better adopted out with another male closer to his size and age. My breeder knows about the incident and is trying to help me as well.
I think I may fair better with socializing the two smaller ones, Squiggy and Opie. I have been giving Opie some meds for some soft poops and even though he doesn't like it and struggles with me he has not tried to bite me. As a sidenote...I did see a remarkable change in his poop once I started given him some special rat food mix I bought online. even my vet said it must have good fiber in it and is helping firm him poop up. But he will still need his meds for another week but at least we are seeing an improvement. Another interesting tidbit about Opie is I originally brought him to the vet when I heard this funky sneezing he was doing. Almost like a cough-sneeze or a spasm. It was at this visit we noticed he was also having soft poops. So his lungs were fine but he had high bacteria levels in his gut. I recorded the sneeze and showed it to my vet who said she had seen that in some other animals and it was more like an allergy reaction or a backwards sneeze. He hasn't done it since the vet visit so perhaps he is adjusting to the new smells etc in his environment. Any suggestions on controlling odor of bucks aside from the obvious...I use fleece bedding and a litter pan and have a room air filter. But thought someone else might have another suggestion.
I would appreciate any advice, similar situations etc on Andy's aggression...for I am torn about returning him but I am also nervous of more aggressive behavior. My hand appears to be ok. It isn't bleeding anymore and feels sore but not painful. Doesn't have any pus or swelling. I had a tetanus shot within the last 10 years. So I am not sure if there is anything else I should be concerned about or watch for with my bite. Any advice on that too would be helpful.
Thanks in advance for any insight!