I got two new rats, Meisha and Iris, at the end of May this year. We had a rough start when getting to know each other: Meisha had gotten sick shortly after I got them, but she's completely fine now; and Iris was super skittish for a while, often resulting in her hiding from me during playtimes. Their general shyness has gone away for the most part, and they have been exploring the room with confidence.
However, I have noticed that Meisha has been acting more shy when it comes to leaving the cage instead of her usual adventurous self, to the point where she just hides in my shirt for a few minutes before finally leaving to explore. Iris is more adventurous now, and can't wait to run around. When she gets into my shirt during playtimes, she usually climbs up on something for me to get close so she can climb on my shoulder and go back in her cage so she can eat or drink. Today, instead of doing that, she got into my shirt and outright attacked and bit me. Due to this, I don't intend to let them back into my shirt. Since I got multiple bites and some blood was drawn, do I need to get a tetanus shot?
I have noticed them get a bit aggressive with each other at times, but so far they haven't wounded each other. Could this contribute to Meisha's newer timid behavior? Iris has been acting a bit more aggressive at times, to the point where she'll nip at my fingers and toes. Could this be hormonal? What can I do to try to help bring down the aggression? Would lowering the cage to the floor during playtimes help?
However, I have noticed that Meisha has been acting more shy when it comes to leaving the cage instead of her usual adventurous self, to the point where she just hides in my shirt for a few minutes before finally leaving to explore. Iris is more adventurous now, and can't wait to run around. When she gets into my shirt during playtimes, she usually climbs up on something for me to get close so she can climb on my shoulder and go back in her cage so she can eat or drink. Today, instead of doing that, she got into my shirt and outright attacked and bit me. Due to this, I don't intend to let them back into my shirt. Since I got multiple bites and some blood was drawn, do I need to get a tetanus shot?
I have noticed them get a bit aggressive with each other at times, but so far they haven't wounded each other. Could this contribute to Meisha's newer timid behavior? Iris has been acting a bit more aggressive at times, to the point where she'll nip at my fingers and toes. Could this be hormonal? What can I do to try to help bring down the aggression? Would lowering the cage to the floor during playtimes help?