aggression in a newly adopted rat girl

Question
I posted this question to a collegue of yours here, Janell, who did give me good suggestions but also pointed me to ask you this particular question. Thank you in advance for whatever advice you may have for me! :)

Hi, I own quite a mischief right now, and recently adopted a trio of rats from a friend's mother who could no longer take care of them as she was going into a retirement home. I trusted completely their quarentine, since they got their rat supplies from me and did not go to pet stores, so I brought them straight home. No health problems after two weeks, but Sora is a behavioral problem. I have changed their cage just after they got to my home to see if that affected the problem, but it only changed the fact that now Sora can not bite me if she is IN the cage and I am not, going from 1" wire to 1/2" wire.

Her last owner would not hold her much because she often bit while in the cage. I am able to pick her up from above, but don't go near if she is facing me as she has gone after my hand before when it was sitting still within the cage! She also will lunge at me whenever I am NEAR the cage, even though the wire is 1/2" and she can in no way get to me. The other two are perfect angels, but not Sora.

Sora looks to be 8-12 months old (maybe a LITTLE more), while Sasha seems around 12-15 months or so and Mahoney is likely around 6-7 months (could have escaped the last cage, but chose not too since she likes her roomies). They live peacefully, and one of my other girls has bonded totally with Sasha so I put her in their cage too - no fighting other than the normal mini squables and dominace shows.

What can I do to help change Sora's behavior? I want her to trust me. I'm not comfortable giving her treats from my hand presently because I have VERY thin skin where even a nip often makes me bleed, and things take FOREVER to heal - meaning antibiotics sometimes for rat bites to prevent infection. Is there a type of glove I could maybe wear? Is there a method to change her attitde?

Once she's out of the cage, she's fine (so far at least), but in the cage she's a little meanie! I MAYBE could deal with this on my own, but I also have a two year old who I don't want any chance of being bit when walking by (she won't stick fingers in the cage at least!), which might tramatize her away from rats for a long time. I want to have a good relaible method I can attempt on Sora that will work faster than my own personally bumbling though this!

Thank you for any suggestions you may be able to give me. :) I've appreciated your help in taking care of my boy Blaze with his URI (he's SOOO much better even after less than 36 hours of antibiotics! I'm really happy, and so is he!), so I look forward to your opinion on this particular problem.

Krystie

Answer
Hi Krystie

She has cage aggression for sure and it stems from her being insecure with her surroundings.
How is she outside of her cage around you?

You said you just got the rats not long ago, but how long ago was it, estimate is fine.

I know some people suggest no gloves, but in this case, I do. Why? Because this will give you more confidence to put your hand in the cage and your fear and negative energy is what she is picking up on. She also probably noted fear from her previous owner. Her goal obviously is to keep you from her cage by biting and she won with her previous owner and she is winning with you too and she knows this. Use the gloves only when you must have your hand in the cage to change food or bedding etc..but NOT to make friends with her wearing them. The gloves are your crutch only so you can reach in and do what you need to do without being scared of her coming out of hiding to bite with that 10 pounds of bite rats have in their jaws.  We use rose pruning gloves at the clinic when handling birds, sugar gliders or other scared critters that may bite. THey are also good for cats when they are freaking out clawing and biting.  
Again these are your security blanket only but not for you to let her smell you and give her treats in the cage etc...
THe treats in the cage are going to stop. She feels she is getting rid of YOU by biting you plus still getting a yummy treat too, so she is having her way all the way around.
Treats are reserved for out of the cage ONLY.  
Rats learn by  repeating the same scenerio day after day so you must now change your routine with her.  I am not sure what you do for play time: Do they come out and roam the house or do they play on a bed or in a play area? I always suggest a designated play area with toys that are for the rats to play with, from boxes and bags to balls and old socks in a box to dig through.  
Now, once she is out and about, does she come up and bite you or is she fine?  
Once I can evaluate if this is aggression outside the cage too, I will know more on how to work with her. So far though I suggest gloves only for tasks and while wearing them do not attempt to pet her or give her the chance to bite you.

Let me know those few things so we can go from there. I truly think with more time and patience she will be ok, but right now she has been allowed to get the upper hand and she is going to use it to her advantage.