Does anyone have this issue?

[wuffielover]

Lol, part of my thumb is numb from a rat bite I got a few days ago. Reached in a cage with a momma rat to check on the babies and she NAILED me- I wasn't expecting it because this was one that was friendly before she gave birth. Stupid hormones!! She hit me right on the lower knuckle of my right thumb and GROUND her teeth. I made quite an impressive pool of blood on the floor, enough to make me lightheaded before the bleeding stopped, and did some nerve damage. I'd rather be bitten by 10 ball pythons than a pissed-off rat!

Other than that, though, a lot of friendly rats will do this 'testing' no-pressure bite, or nibble you a little- I don't worry about it much.

[bad-one]

Yeah.. I've been leaped at by a mom giving birth (I was peeking into the tub). She managed to give me some scrapes, and now I know who's babies to leave alone.

I'm just lucky a full grown adult hasn't fully nailed me.

I made quite an impressive pool of blood on the floor

You aren't the only one! I wonder how my mom would feel if she had seen the blood trickling down my hand and dripping off.. I don't think she'd ever touch my animals again!

[littleindiangirl]

I've been bitten right through by a male thinking I had a treat for him. He got me twice! Damn little bugger almost got fed off that day, but I kept him because it was my fault for not thinking before I went to handle him.

When they put their mouth on you, they are testing you to see if you are something edible instead of just trying to rip your finger off LOL. When they stop before they bite down hard, obviously they have learned.

[WingedWolfPsion]

Rats that nip are given a second chance--rats that actually BITE are immediately turned into food. I rarely have any rats bite. I do think that aggression is largely genetic.

[Twisted Reptiles]

Rats that nip are given a second chance--rats that actually BITE are immediately turned into food. I rarely have any rats bite. I do think that aggression is largely genetic.

Agreed, biters = immediate food.

I've weeded out all of my aggressive rats. Pregnant or not, nursing or not, I have no fear of reaching into any of my tubs. Its nice to not have to worry about psycho rat lunging completely across the tub to rip a hunk off your hand.

And yeah, I'll take a BP bite over a rat bite any day of the week.