Rat Bite!

I can generally tell a female's mood, and after talking to her and seeing her in a relaxed mood, I'll gently pick her up behind her shoulders and put her in a separate container, and THEN I move the babies in with her. And the same way when I put her back. I don't pick adults up by their tails. Little babies I can't catch easily I might grab by the tail.

how come you dont pick them up by their tails?

Because I don't think it's comfortable for them, and my breeders are also my pets, so I try to handle them as kindly (in my mind) as I can.

ah. i see. thank you for the info.

thank you.

raymond

I will occasionally tail grab a female but I have a secure container right there so it's a very fast lift-transfer where she isn't in a head down position for more than 2 seconds. I do this only with a few of my momma rats that tend to be less easy to manage when they have a nursing litter. I never tail lift a heavily pregnant female though as it allows the full weight of her litter to shift suddenly (I doubt this is good for them or the growing babies inside).

When I pick out certain rats that will become my future breeders I start handling them a lot as they mature. This means that most of my adult breeders consider me a buddy and babies or not will stand up to greet me when I show up. Since they've learned to equate me with food, water, attention and so forth all their lives, they make much easier adult rats to care for. Especially with some of my really big breeder male rats, I want a manageable animal that won't chew me up. :)

I do cull out aggressive rats. That would be rats that for no reason attack me, other rats or their own young. Before I do cull, I make sure the rat didn't have a reason or is stressed or sick. If it's just truly a very bad tempered animal, it's done. Since temperment tends to be genetic in rats and I want easy natured breeders and feeders, it's something I just have to do occasionally.

thank you for the advice. i will keep that in mind. i will be really careful around nursing moms. those teeth can really do some damage. lol.

thank you.

raymond

Oh heck yes they can, Ray. Anytime I've ever been nailed by a rat it always seems to be right on a knuckle too! Darn but that does hurt!

Do remember with rat bites to wash the area thoroughly under running hot water and with soap, then use a topical anti-biotic/first aid type cream. Rat bites can be deep and can go nasty so you want to attend to that right away.

yes, that's what i did. i washed it with soap and put some alcohol on it and covered it.

thank you very much for your time.

thank you.

raymond

I got bit by my first rat mother. Now if any female is nursing and I need to get around babies or clean the cage, I just pick her up by her tail for a second and move her.

I just got bit by my mouse... OUCH! Id hate to be bit by a huge rat:O