barefootin_along
New Member
A month ago we adopted 2 male rats that are about 10 months old, have always been caged together, and are supposedly brothers. They were obviously very poorly socialized and the larger of the 2 was so vicious toward his cagemate that they were immediately separated. The smaller is very skittish but we're working with him daily & I hope to house him with our other 2 males (very docile) eventually.
However, the dominant adopted rat has bitten me (drawing blood & leaving massive bruising) 7 times already! He is blind in his left eye and all bites have been aggressive attacks toward my left arm because I believe he cannot see it well and perceives it as a threat when he's on my lap. But I also believe the bites are sometimes retaliatory because I take him down off the top of his "brother's" cage when they fight through the bars.
I would like to properly socialize him, but currently he is totally off limits to the kids. I hate to discriminate because of his partial blindness and have him euthanized, but wonder how to win his trust and stop being attacked? I let him out to play daily, but am basically afraid to pet him or even move my arms when he climbs on me. I handle putting him back in cage & removing from unacceptable behavior by picking him up with my hands wrapped in a towel.
Can he still be socialized? Any advice? I want to give him a good life, but am tired of being attacked. And he will likely always be caged alone.
Thanks for any advice.
However, the dominant adopted rat has bitten me (drawing blood & leaving massive bruising) 7 times already! He is blind in his left eye and all bites have been aggressive attacks toward my left arm because I believe he cannot see it well and perceives it as a threat when he's on my lap. But I also believe the bites are sometimes retaliatory because I take him down off the top of his "brother's" cage when they fight through the bars.
I would like to properly socialize him, but currently he is totally off limits to the kids. I hate to discriminate because of his partial blindness and have him euthanized, but wonder how to win his trust and stop being attacked? I let him out to play daily, but am basically afraid to pet him or even move my arms when he climbs on me. I handle putting him back in cage & removing from unacceptable behavior by picking him up with my hands wrapped in a towel.
Can he still be socialized? Any advice? I want to give him a good life, but am tired of being attacked. And he will likely always be caged alone.
Thanks for any advice.