How to handle an aggressive rat?

[tweets_4611]

So a while back Kasi and I tried our hand at breeding rats for food. It took a while to find some healthy rats, but once we did, we rotated the males, and ended up with some soon-to-be momma rats. We ended up having to get rid of all but just one of the female rats. She was pretty shy, but sweet once she calmed down. When she had her babies she did pretty well too. I was kinda petting her inside her take a few days later and she turned and bit me. The next day she bit Kasi.

I had assumed she was just stressed and didn't want to be messed with, but I still didn't want her bitting us. But, after that, she wouldn't quit bitting. She didn't get either one of us again, but she sure tries to! It's gotten to the point where to get the babies out, or even just to get to the food bowl to refill it, I have to put something between me and her, otherwise she comes after my hand. She even latched on and started bitting the box I put between us the other day. There is only one baby left (we fed off the rest) and after we get rid of him we are going to get rid of momma. We can't really keep the rats here, and there were a lot more difficulties than we had thought there would be, which is why we had to get rid of the others.

Problem is....I can't get her out of the cage. I'm pretty sure I'm going to lose an entire hand if I pick her up, and I don't know what to do with her to get rid of her. She's too big to feed off, and I can't see selling her...she'd eat anyone we sold her to. I really wouldn't mind putting her down I don't guess...I don't want to be mean to her, I just can't keep her, and she's mean as all get out. I've had several people give ideas on how to put her down, but most of them aren't humane, and I wouldn't be able to do it. I guess I'm just wondering if there is a way to tame her, so I'll be able to give her to someone as a breeder, or maybe to a pet store? Or is the best idea to just put her down?

[Nate]

some rat breeders will feed off larger rats to larger snakes. See if anyone in your area needs a big rat

[littleindiangirl]

I have a female that just tolerates us. She was really shy too, much more than any other rat I've seen, and she will try to bite any chance she gets. It gets really tricky trying to get her for any reason. The best thing I do is give her a huge treat, usher her out of the cage towards me with my arm or something, and pick her up with both hands while she has the treat. She has never bitten me this way, but she will if I just stick my hand in the cage. Yours doesnt even seem to handle you being anywhere near her pups. Is this the first litter? Did she only change after she had the pups? I recommend gloves! Really though, if it bothers you so much, I don't see her being a good "pet rat" if you were considering giving her away. But first, when her pups are weaned, see if her attitude changes, and if it is possible that you can give her a new home. Some mothers are protective. There are different types of bites. The "taste" , the "accidental" bite, (I thought you were food, which can hurt like heck) then the "GO AWAY I HATE YOU" bite. (which really sucks, ow)


Otherwise, you may be looking at a CO2 tank if her aggression continues and isnt going subdued at all.

[tweets_4611]

She never seemed to mind us handleing her babies. It didn't matter what we were doing in the cage she'd come after us. Yes, she did change after she had her babies, but there was only one left and Kasi fed it off today. When we had the other female, she would "taste" us. She also liked to try and trim my nails. This girl isn't nibbleing, she is all out coming after us. I've given her treats and then reached in the cage and she will drop the treat and launch herself across the cage, which I why I started just putting something between me and her in the cage.

I wasn't thinking of giving her to someone as a pet....that would be mean! I was thinking of trying to find someone that could feed her. There isn't really a very big herp society here in Stillwater, but I know of a few people that might be able to take her. I was just wondering if there was a way to kinda "re-tame" her, or if I come across another rat with this kind of aggression, to just get rid of them.

[frankykeno]

Shannon, as much as I love and respect rats I draw a very firm line on aggression in our colony. It's one thing to be a tad nippy, or be defensive on a nest of babies but a rat that shows serious and real aggression, goes out of it's way to bite me or other rats.....well no nice way to say it...it gets culled.

I don't keep or breed nasty rats and I won't feed them off live either.