Fear over holding rats

[Maddumpling]

I'm asking this because I've notice people save a lot of money by breeding their rodents. But were you ever scared of holding the rat and like getting bit and all? I hate rats period. I dont like holding them by tongs or anything, which is one of the reasons I like F/t. I don't mind feeding frozen rodents and all but I know that my collection will grow and I will have to breed my own rats to save money. BUT I DON'T LIKE HOLDING RATS. For rat breeders out there, were you guys ever scared or didn't like holding rats at first or you didn't mind?

[rperry03]

Buy a weaned rat or "crawler" and handle it. I never=ever like rats but they are very cool and are way better pets than any gerbil, hamster, etc! I find it very difficult to feed my snakes

[TKByrnes21783]

I always wear thick leather gardening gloves when handling my rats. Had one turn and bite down on my glove. Could feel the pressure through the glove! I like it when I get a nasty rat! It always goes to my most vicious feeder! She doesnt just strike the rat. She plows through it!!!

[meowmeowkazoo]

I've never been afraid of rats.

As far as domestic rodents go, I trust rats more than any other species. In general, rats are far less prone to biting than hamster, gerbils, or mice to name a few. They do scratch, but they don't often bite.

However, rat bites hurt pretty bad, so I can understand fear of getting bitten. Gloves are a pretty easy solution.

[aldebono]

I am very cautious around them until I feel like I know how aggressive they are in certain situations. I have been NAILED by a rat on the tip of my finger, she was immediately fed out. I also have a rat that will have a forever home here and comes out every night to hang out with us.

They all have their different personalities and are quite good pets but equally good feeders.

I agree, get a ittle widdle one and your fear will melt.

I love my rats

[wolfy-hound]

I'm cautious about rats, because I have gotten a couple bites. But in general, rats don't bite often unless you're hurting them. I would never handle a live rat with tongs.

I just handled all the new breeder rats and these are BIG rats, completely unknown to me prior to sunday. Even though the boys all seem to hate being picked up in what I would think is the "kinder gentler" manner of holding the body rather than by the base of the tail... all the boys raise a stink and squeak! So the boys tend to be picked up by the base of the tail, while almost all the girls let me pick them up by scooping them up like a puppy or kitten. I just put my hand around them or scoop underneath them and pick these huge ratties up, and they almost all allowed it.

Rats can be AWESOME pets. They are inquistive and curious and smart and usually quite friendly. They just also happen to be feeders. The few times I've been nipped were when I stuck my hand in and one sniffed me then just nipped, I'm assuming because they smelled food on me. Almost always on the knuckle too. Just teeny nips. The bad bites were almost all when handling a panicing or aggressive rat. Moms with pinks can get nippy, understandably.

I would get a baby and handle it some. As you continue to handle live babies, into smalls, etc. You'll probably get very used to it. You can just grab rats by the base of the tail(never the end) and pick them up quickly and smoothly to move them to a different bin or holding container. Using heavy gloves might give you confidence, but I find they just make me clumsy.

Good luck!

[Maddumpling]

i dont know about gloves. And I'll tell you why. I had a pastel ball python that would not eat f/t. So i gave it a live, but I think he was off feed and he wouldnt eat the rat. So I got some gloves and right when I tried grabbing the rat, it WENT BERSERK AND RAN EVERYWHERE. IT SCARED THE CRAP OUT OF ME. Luckily my dad wasn't really afraid of rats and just grabbed the thing with tongs and put it back in the bag. Of course I didnt keep it and I fed it to a live and f/t eater.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

Never had any issues, have I been bite yeah probably twice but than again (I have been bit by far worse than rats in the past )

Bitters don't make it long around here as there is a ZERO tolerance policy, you bite you become snake food.

When you breed rats it about selectively breeding, not only for production but also for temperament.

The two incident in my case we very early own when my colony was getting started and now I never have this type of issue, I can pick them up, or check on days old pinkies it does not matter. (Of course it could still happen but like everything else you need to watch out for it)

[aldebono]

You were dealing with an already panicked rat at the time. If you put a cat in a bag, you will get the EXACT same reaction, but with a little more laughter from the humans.

I always respect my rats and with the ones who will allow it, grab them with one hand around the body just under the arm pits. They still don't care for it because their feet are off the ground and they do not feel secure. If they are scared, they get picked up by the very base of the tail and have a short, smooth flight back into the bin.

[KLMuller]

Go to a pet store that has high priced pet rats and buy a male and female that are socialized. The dumbo type rats in my experience have been far more docile than any other type that I have worked with.
I have been nipped a few times, not painful I have only gotten a bad bite that drew blood once. That was from an escapee that I chased around the room for an hour so I probably deserved it.

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