I just adopted a male rat from a local pet store. I have two girlies already who are really young, but I felt sorry for this little (well big) guy that was on his own, so I adopted him and bought a new cage for him to be in ( I dont want any ratty babies 
). When I got him from the store he was very friendly to the staff (they handled him every day) but now he is at home here and in his cage after I let him settle he seems to want to try and bit me whenever I put my hand in. At first it was just a little soft grab with his teeth, which I just thought of as kind of an exploratory bite to see if it was food or not, but just now I had my hand in there petting him and he went for a little nibble and I let him, and then 2 seconds after then he went for me! He bit me really badly on the knuckle and I have a deep wound there now - wont stop bleeding .
Anyway, is this just down to being in a new cage and different smells around which means that he is scared and protective? Becuase he was fine at the store and was being cuddled by the staff before I took him. Anyway, any ideas/answers would help, since I dont want another deep bite on my knuckle hehe.
P.S. I bought him today and had left him for a few hours to get used to his cage, so I wouldnt have thought that he would have got defensive over his cage already... Plus he is 1 year old and an adoptee, so I dont really know his history - for all I know he could have been badly handled with his last owners...
). When I got him from the store he was very friendly to the staff (they handled him every day) but now he is at home here and in his cage after I let him settle he seems to want to try and bit me whenever I put my hand in. At first it was just a little soft grab with his teeth, which I just thought of as kind of an exploratory bite to see if it was food or not, but just now I had my hand in there petting him and he went for a little nibble and I let him, and then 2 seconds after then he went for me! He bit me really badly on the knuckle and I have a deep wound there now - wont stop bleeding .Anyway, is this just down to being in a new cage and different smells around which means that he is scared and protective? Becuase he was fine at the store and was being cuddled by the staff before I took him. Anyway, any ideas/answers would help, since I dont want another deep bite on my knuckle hehe.
P.S. I bought him today and had left him for a few hours to get used to his cage, so I wouldnt have thought that he would have got defensive over his cage already... Plus he is 1 year old and an adoptee, so I dont really know his history - for all I know he could have been badly handled with his last owners...
