Dangerous lone rat, what do I do???

[DapperRat]

Hey all. Let me give a little background. It all started when i saw a post from the animal shelter about a 3-4 month old rat that needed to get a good home. So I went there and the lady there someone said they found it on the street (like no way, that rat is as slippery as fresh cut linoleum.) But I liked home anyway. so I adopted him hoping to socialize him. So we wait the two weeks for quarantine, and after the two weeks we put him up with my sisters rats, he was great at first but after a while he just clamed up stayed in the corner not moving. So we took him out and tried again later but same thing. So I took my most docile friendly rat to help and I put them both on my lap, nothing when wrong until the other rat SCRACHED my friendly rat and drew a considerable amount of blood. It healed up to quick and became an abscess but we took care of that and hes all better now but he still hasn't let me off the hook on that one. Anyway that was five or six months ago. But last night, I was letting my rats run around so I put cardboard around my dangerous rats cage. But my other rat climed atop a chair next to the cardboard but it was too late by the time I saw it the dangerous rat SCRACHED him in the finger. The blood clotted after a bit and we disinfected it. Hes in his carrier now and better hes using his hand now and the scratch looks good I'm giving him amoxicillin.(we have doxy if that's better) but today it looks good and hes using his paw (it still hurts it looks like). But I'm worried about this dangerous rat I dont know what to do with him. He just sits there alone in his cage. I try to do what I can with him but he just wants I'm his cage. It's too late to socialise him. And he like his cage. Somebody recommended to put him down but that's expensive and hes healthy and aperrantly happy in his cage. Hes friendly with humans. I dont know what to do. Any info helps. If anyone wants to take him. I live in southwestern Oregon, if anyone wants to buy him PM me. Thanks for any info

 

[DapperRat]

Sorry if this is the wrong place to post I dont know where to post this.

 

[Morrigan]

Hm. Well, I once had a rat who didn't like other rats and I just kept him in a separate cage and hung out with him. He was extremely social with me though, and he was one of my dearest rats...

I think other people might give you better info, since there's other people on the site with more experience with behavioural issues and socialization, but it sounds like he'd be happy with someone as a solo rat.

 

[lilspaz68]

Your dangerous rat sounds incredibly fearful with other rats. The wounds (you said scratch but did you mean bite?) sound defensive not aggressive. You said he's friendly with humans, so does that mean he gets Out time? I think in his case you need to work with him, get him to trust you first before attempting intros. Then go slowly and carefully. Where did these introductions take place? Rats often will bite toes of other rats who climb on their cage..it's pretty normal

 

[DapperRat]

Great, thanks. I actually mean he scratched. Like I saw him swipe at him. Hes kind of neurotic though. I try to hold him as much as i can. But he just seems kind of annoyed. My dangerous rat, He is usually the aggrivator when they get hurt.

 

[SQ]

He does sound frightened ….. Lilspaz68 is extremely experienced in rescuing and socializing rats
As Lilspaz68 wrote, it is normal for rats to defend their territory and bite toes etc of any rats climbing on their cage

Please check out how to intro rats on joinrats.com and here https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/introducing-new-rats.34842/#post-491257

He does not sound dangerous to me either
and it is not too late to socialize him …. see joinrats.com for ideas and videos
If he does not act aggressively towards you, you can put on a tight shirt with a loose shirt over it, put him on you between the two shirts and sit down to read or watch tv etc ….this will help him to feel safe while he gets used to you and your smell …. when you take him out 30 minutes is a good amount of time as he adrenalin will drop by them so he will be less afraid the next time

Wish I was closer as I would give him a good home if you truly wanted to rehome him

btw please see the Reference Thread as it has a lot of good information
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/reference-thread-read-only.35894/​