New pet rat bite

[RattyTerror]

Hi, I’ve recently adopted two baby female rats. I’ve left them to settle & not handled them but as they were secondhand and came with their cage, toys etc. I was cleaning around their cage with a baby wipe. One of them leapt out of its hammock and bit me, drawing blood. I’ve cleaned the wound, put germolene on and then put a plaster on but it’s quite achey. How do you treat bites? Have I done enough?

We keep rats, their bites do sting! Personally I just clean and but a plaster on.

@Stompythedinosaur it’s still quite achey but I’m glad it sounds normal. I thought I’d got a disease (slight overreaction 😄) glad I don’t have to go to the doctors.

Pet rats are very clean by nature. The bite may hurt but do not worry, they are not plague-riddled scruffy dirty things a lot of people think about them as. If they are biting then they need handling and trust building, unless it was a startled defence and they are not generally bitey ones.

I’ve had the girls a while now and it turns out she was going for the baby wipe and my hand was in the way! Haven’t had any issues since and I’ve recently bought more rats

My sister once went to A&E with a pet rat bite that she couldn't stop bleeding. She stupidly tried to break up a fight with her hands and the rat managed to bite through the skin between between her thumb and index finger. The doctor just checked it wasn't from a wild rat and then cleaned it. Nothing more needed

@RattyTerror. Rats are addictive aren't they? If I'd not developed allergies I'm sure I'd be in double digits by now :)

I agree. I can't have any at the moment, but I'd be inundated with rats and several other animals by now circumstances permitting.

They are very addictive! Hoping to introduce the newbies this week so hopefully introductions will go well!

There are 2 options why they bite you:
1st they don't come from a good breeder ir a rat mill like pets at home gets them from, so not well bred and are biters/agressive naturally. This means, it will happen again. My suggestion in this case are A - pts or B - minimum handle them C - wear bite proof clothes when handling them.
2nd you have provoked them, they felt frightened (what I think).

You have to gain their trust like with any other animal. Remember, they are in a new environment and you are a stranger.
Next, don't use wet wipes or normal cleaning spray. Yse only things that are suitable for rats! They have a sensetive responsibility system and a wet wipe for humans can course irretation or a reaction like nipping or biting or hiding etc.

It is always good to inform yourself properly befor and while having a pet. 😊

@LiluKasp I’ve had the rat for a few months now and she’s been fine since. She likes chasing tissues/baby wipes so I don’t think she meant to bite me when I first got her! It was just bad luck. I wipe the bars down with unscented baby wipes every week because they seem to get very grubby! It was recommended by a lot of people on a rat group on Facebook so I’m happy to keep using them. I love my ratties, they’ve been a lifeline during lockdown!

That is good to hear. Try to use wet wipes for pets, cage cleaning. "safe" should have some. I notice that on fb rat groups, people give often wrong advice (meaning it well though). Only because pet owners say they use it, it doesn't mean it's suitable for rats. Breeders shakw their heads quite often because of incorrect information. 😊