No, rats don't musk, but if she has internal parasites(probably both do if from a pet store) her feces will smell very strongly and be very unpleasant(sometimes firm or sometimes diarrhea, it can depend on alot of things).


I've had good luck with skittish rats by placing them in my shirt(with a towel in case they pee) for a few hours. Forced, gentle handling can get them to come around and start trusting you. Also, if she's with other rats that are very easy going and older(might be a good idea to get another female, so you'll have a trio, just in case one passes, the remaining won't be friend-less), she'll pick up their calm, sensible nature and hopefully calm down.

I have a little black hoodie female in with about 5 other girls, and when I first got her, she was very skittish and untrusting. After about a month or two of gentle forced handling and being with the other girls who could care less how I hold them(on their back, scruff of the neck, they don't care one bit and just give kisses), she came out of her shell and is a great little girl now.

It just takes some time and it may help to get them a calm, older friend(6 months old plus) so hey can feel secure.

Also, when I get new babies in(after a month of quarantine in a different city, LOL, and no I'm not kidding) I set their cage up so they are alone and only have a hammock, water bottle, their food mix, some lab blocks, and a hangy toy(or whatever kind of ferret jingly ball or other toy I have around), and that's it. It gets them used to me first, instead of secluding themselves away while they are with other rats. Helps them calm down a bit.