[Katie_Renee]

So my new little girl belle is doing good, not more sniffles and she is happy and eat CONSTANTLY, but man, she does NOT want to be played with ever! She will run up to the sides of the cage when I approach and gets all excited....But when I reach in to hold her she kinda backs away alot and gently nips the ends of my fingers....sopmetimes I can't even tell she is biting me but she totally is....

I don't understand this behaivior? Why isn't she warming up to me?

 

[rat_ratscal]

well does she have a buddy or is she in QT? because ive heard getting a friend helps alot. maybe when she sees a huge hand coming towards her she gets scared, so put your hand in the cage slowly and let her smell it, when she bites say firmly but not meanly NO BITING! if your rat is like mine that bite will turn right into a lick

 

[reachthestars]

What it comes down to at this point is forced socialisation. When you get her out of the cage, don't pick her up from above, but lift her from under her belly. You have to do this without chasing her around. If she starts to nibble as soon as you feel it say "OUCH!" really loudly. It will startle her, and she will stop. You'll want to be wearing a nice big hoodie, and put her right in the front pouch. Let her hang out there for 45 minutes to an hour each day. While she's there pet her through the fabric and talk to her. As she starts to get more comfortable you can reach right in and pet her. She'll start to get the idea that humans are fun .

Does she have a buddy? If not I would highly recommend it. Rats are intelligent and social creatures, and need constant interactiong with their own species.

 

[ratrover]

i have never had that problem because i have always had 2 rats so yea i would recommend 2

 

[Phobie]

I had Addo alone at first (and coincidentally he is alone now due to Edgar's illness etc), and he never bit hard. He didn't MIND being handled from the start but wasn't a massive fan of it. He would nibble my fingers, to the point where it hurt a little (I don't think he meant to)

Someone here mentioned sqeaking when he did it, so I tried it. Every nibble that was too hard (meaning not grooming) got a short sharp, quite loud squeak, which made him practically sit to attention!

I would recommend this method if your ratty is causing pain when nibbling.

 

[Katie_Renee]

Yea she has a friend and they get along marvolously. Punkin, her cage mate, is super friendly and loves to just hang out on my shoulder and be spoiled but Belle just is....different I guess.


I'll try the loud noises and stuff and I'll see what it does!

 

[Phobie]

Not too loud , just as if you were educating a child with a sharp "NO".. but a squeak!