Possible Aggression?

The Rat Shack Forum

Help Support The Rat Shack Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Nataly

New Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2019
Messages
4
Location
Hollister California
Hi again, so a couple of days ago (Monday?) I was feeding Jack from my hand but I had to go do something and started to pull my hand away slowly and he started to act frantic. He shoved as much food in his mouth as he could and started shrieking. I was startled since I’ve never heard him shriek like that and pulled away fast and closed my hand. Big mistake. He pounced on my fist shrieking, biting, and scratching. He actually drew blood in 4 different places, all were bites.

I’ve been trying to get him used to me having food in my closed fiat for the past few days since the incident and only opening it when he’s gentle but today he did something similar again.

I had the food in my palm and he was eating while I watched Netflix and I shifted to get comfortable and he did the same thing as before, shrieking, biting, scratching, and eventually he shoved as much food as possible and ran to his cage. I tried to stay as still as possible this time and left my hand open during the “incident.”When he returned he was back to normal.
I don’t know what’s wrong, is there anything I can do besides not feeding him from my palm to stop this behavior? He’s never freaked when I hand him his kibble or treats with my fingers before.
 
Ack.. I wish I could help but I've never dealt with this or heard anything like it . One thing you could do (and probably should do) is get him neutered if he isn't already.. That normally helps with aggressive behavior..
 
I agree. He needs to be neutered. He is a teenager now, and will continue to have weird behavior, before he settles down. Was his fur puffed up? Does he have a friend? I'd stop feeding him from your hand for now. It could be that he didn't like the way your hand smelled, or his hormones. But for now, I wouldn't feed him from your hand, and make sure you wash them before you handle him.
 
Yeah he probably does have to be neutered, he’s been marking more than usual.
But no, his fur wasn’t puffy, I’ve never seen it naturally puffy. It’s usually only puffy if I ruffle it for his daily check ups. He didn’t even puff up when 20 odd people syringe fed him water and put in eye drops. (He wasn’t my pet yet)
 
Umm small update on Jack, he’s worse. I don’t know what to do. I’m saving up to get him neutered but I don’t know what to do until then. I’ve stopped hand feeding and hand wrestling and now I can’t even put my hands on the floor cause he’ll start nibbling them. At first they were small grooming nibbles but recently he’s been doing it and it hurts. Or if I try to stop him from going up my pant legs he’ll chase my hand and bite it. I’ve started tucking my pant legs into my socks but he figured out how to untuck them. Sometimes when I try to pick him up he’ll twist every which way and bite. I feel like he’s not giving me warnings though because he won’t puff up or freeze or act different.
 
You did the right thing by stopping hand feeding and hand wrestling. My first thought could be that he's mistaking your hand for play and hasn't learned how to bite "nicely." Just like puppies, rats have to learn that we don't have fur to protect our skin and a play bite could actually draw blood on us. My babies learn day one that I'll squeak when they put even a slightest bit of too much pressure. Unfortunately, it sounds like this is full-on aggression. For now, try to get him neutered and then look into getting him friends. Lone rats can become inexplicably aggressive, presumably because they're frustrated and lonely.
For now give him his food in food bowls and don't wrestle with him. The shrieking and desperation to get food indicates he feels starved for whatever reason and that he must take all the food from your hand before it's gone forever. Being treated as he was as a baby could finally be catching up to him.
 
I have a biter and I leave him alone but he does come and see the food without biting . I had many rats as loners because they were males and could not get along .He is gettind better slowly but they have lots of playroom and the cage is always open. Gives him the chance to come and sniff me out when he builds the courage .He came twice so far gave 2 snips without biting and went back to his cage . I also have a cat toy which he likes to run after helps him burn that agression out . Good luck with your little grouchy buddy .
 
He's extremely hormonal. A neuter will do him some good but in the meantime, don't put your hand on his back, if you want to pet him, only his head. If you want to pick him up, scoop him up with both hands, never put your hand over his body. If you want him out of the cage so you can clean it, offer him a box to climb in, give a treat and place him elsewhere when cleaning. He might get over it as he age. Does he live alone?
 
[QUOTE="Does he live alone?[/QUOTE]
Sadly, yes he does. My only option right now is buying and I don’t want to do that.
And thank you for the tips about not touching his back, I’ve been trying to avoid doing that and it seems like it’s helping.
I would also like to mention that the bites aren’t bad like the ones other threads describe.
1929AFF5-0A5B-40C8-A178-5212E531E8F7.jpeg
This is the worst one, the others are usually just a little red bump that disappears in a couple of hours. And I did provoke this one because I saw little white things on his back and I held him longer than I should have to check it out.
 
Now 1 month later I am still experiencing issues and my biter is still unchanged when approaching him . I started to try out another training method , I approach him witb my oven mitten which does not seem to annoy him and when he comes to bite the mitten I squeak like an OOUCH. Trying to teach him that bites hurt . Hope it works .
There is another issue though , he is extremely dominant and it affects his brother who is docile and his attitude changed being less sociable . I can pet his brother but still not take him . It seems Bobby biter is peeing his territory everywhere to stop his brothers hapiness . This is my furst with these types of charater .
I will know next time when I go rat shopping because this is crappy . :( I never had such savage rats that dont seem ti like humans .
 
News again on Bobby Biter ,bit me real bad again . I am at a discouraged point and he is now in penance in his part of the cage . This ia not cool ! After having many rats and none as like Bobby , I really
Do not know what to do ! He is totally ruining my rat experience and also ruining my other rat who does not bite as it is making him nervous . I do not believe that even neuteri g will help and I am speechless and do jot know what to do . I do kot want to have 2 years to endure this and also endure having to leave him in his cage because my rats have always had my couches to live on and sleep and were always free . I really dont know what to do . ...... I am sad ... never had this go on before .. out of solutions ,I tried lots he would even come for treats but come to sme me and snap! What do I do? Marlow is sweet , but thanks to Bobby does not come to us normally .
 
Please don't blame Bobby for how he's acting! I think it's hormones, and he can't help it. Much like a teenager who is going through puberty, and can be little A-holes (sorry, I have 3, and they can be), it's because of the surge in hormones. I'm pretty sure if he gets a neuter, in about 3 weeks to a month, he'll calm down, and may even be those most loving rat you've ever had. Please don't punish him for what he can't help, and PLEASE don't give up on him! I know it can be frustrating and heartbreaking, but please don't give up!
 
Please don't blame Bobby for how he's acting! I think it's hormones, and he can't help it. Much like a teenager who is going through puberty, and can be little A-holes (sorry, I have 3, and they can be), it's because of the surge in hormones. I'm pretty sure if he gets a neuter, in about 3 weeks to a month, he'll calm down, and may even be those most loving rat you've ever had. Please don't punish him for what he can't help, and PLEASE don't give up on him! I know it can be frustrating and heartbreaking, but please don't give up!
Hello Dana I adore rats and I am trying so hard to love him away. I have a 5mm bite on my finger and mever had one like him that ia why I ask for help . He is already at 4 months and I believe it is too late to chpp the little grapea
 
Definitely neuter time. don't blame your boy, blame the breeders who didn't worry about aggression in his genetics (whether a feeder or a pet it doesn't matter).

Here's the tips on dealing with a hormonal male, as Jo said, never touch his rump or back as this is a spot where another male will attack him first so he will whirl to attack himself without thinking. Offer him the back of your hand first to sniff, as its much harder to get a grip on if he tries to bite.
A hormonal male will have glittering eyes, a low hunched posture, chattering teeth, will mark and rub more on things, possibly have damp flanks from scratching and activating the scent glads to mark their territory. Never let them crawl over your hand, arm, leg or foot. If they get nasty do NOT push them away as it makes them much much worse, just remove yourself from the situation and let him settle down. If you need to pick him up and you're frightened of being bitten use a towel over him. I'll post pics of hormonal rats for you in a moment.

neutering can be wondrous...remove those horrible overwhelming rages and your sweet boy will slowly come back :) I always neuter with a really hormonal male as they aren't happy rats like this either.

IF you do get bitten, here's my tips. Slashy bites hurt but usually aren't as deep, these are more fear related. Chomps are much deeper more painful, and sometimes a hormonal male will hang on...blow hard up their nose and they should let go. Grab kleenex or paper towel to stop the blood from dripping everywhere. I usually then put a tourniquet on with a rubber band if possible. Then I take ibuprofen ASAP as this will help with pain, swelling and will quicken your healing a lot. Once the crazy bleeding has stopped I clean and bandage it properly. If you want to wash it out while its bleeding go ahead.

Pics of hormonal males to help you SEE when he starts getting out of hand.

Silly Oscar.

jan28Oscar2.jpg~original


Nate pre-neuter

dec28Nate.jpg


dec28Nate3.jpg


Post neuter, sweet, gentle and loving his girls and boys group

Feb214Natehappyagain.jpg


Feb514SullyMaisieNateandPip.jpg
 
Back
Top