Handling rats

Rats are actually pretty easy to handle, I pick up the ones I have with my bare hands. They rarely ever bite, I've handled mine enough to the point they never bite me, or even try. Don't be afraid to handle some rats, they aren't so bad. Now mice on the other hand can nip, completely different worlds. :P

I've noticed over the years that many times the runts that have to struggle to get fed turn into biters when left to groq out into maturity.

I've had tons of rats in the past couple of years, and usually I can pick the up from above. If they run and hide or freak out when I pick them up like that, I go by the tail, but I've never had to do that with breeders.