Single shy male rat

Question
I just got a new male rat, 4 weeks old, on August 1st.  He's shy and doesn't like being removed from his cage. He bit me at least 6 times, but they were only quick warning nips on my fingers (they scared me, but didn't draw blood). The only place he enjoys being is my shoulder and his cage. If my hand comes anywhere near him, he winces and sometimes nips. I was wondering if I got him a friend, would he possibly change this behavior? He's still young, and right now, he's alone.

Answer
Hi Carly


It may help alot to get him a friend. I would get another male right around his age. Can you hurry back to the same place you got him from and buy his cagemate?

Also, I have alot of experience training shy rats and rats that bite.
Instead of answering you here, please go to this URL on my site.

http://www.freewebs.com/crittercity/trainingshyorbitingrats.htm

Everything I would tell you is all right there on why he is acting this way (he is terrified of you and needs to learn to trust you) and how to get him to trust you and stop biting.  

For now, do NOT try to pick him up out of his cage until you read the site. Before you know it, he will come out on his own right to you. You also need a safe play area for him and his potential new cagemate and I have great ideas that are nearly FREE on how to construct a playpen for the rats and this way you can sit in there with him and let him come out of his cage on his own for play time.
You can find that info on my site under GETTING STARTED.

Please get back to me soon as you read over the page and if you have any more questions that I may not have covered there let me know.

Also, check out the page on proper diets as well.  Many rat owners are told at the pet store that their seed mixes are all they need but this is the worst thing they can eat.  Pine and cedar and corn cob litter are also told to use for rats which can cause deadly respiratory infections due to the phenol oils in the litter. Not sure if you were aware of this but just in case you werent...

Anyhow, good luck and remember to let me know how it goes and for sure let me know if you need anything else!