My pet rat bites!

Question
Hi Sandra,

I recently got a very sweet, very young male rat I named Indiana Jones.  He is about 2 months old and unneutered.  He seems very calm and friendly if a little shy yet.  Since I've gotten him, he likes to be petted and played with - but he bites me on the lip whenever he gets near.  I am very frustrated with this as he has never bitten me on the hand, anywhere else but my mouth.  He seems to bite when I have eaten something.  I don't know if it happens to be that he thinks I am 'food' (though he has never bitten my hand after I've eaten, just my lip).  My boyfriend plays with him a lot and Indy has never bitten him before, so I'm not sure why this is happening, I'm just very frustrated since my last rat never did bite!

Answer
THe answer is right in front of you.  He bites your lip, and he seems to bite it more after you have eaten.

Think about it for a minute. WHat do you think he is trying to do?

He smells the food you have eaten and rats have a keen sense of smell. He thinks your lip will be food or something to eat.

Try brushing your teeth and washing your face with soap before holding him and I can almost promise that he wont do it again.