Rescued a Pet Rat today---now what??

Question
Hi, my children (Ages 9 and 11) have wanted a pet rat for a while. Today at the pet store we found a large male that had been someone's previous pet, and they didn't want it anymore.  It is really cute, and we wanted to help him, so we brought him home.  The people at the pet store said he was fine, etc. and urged us to pick him up, etc.  We did try, but he seems frightened and runs to the rear of the cage when we try to pet or pick him up.  He eventually bit my daughter but did not break the skin. Now everyone is terrified and wants to take him back.  I don't want to give up on the little guy just yet!  I have told them to back off, and instead have offered him a couple of treats, which he took from my hand with no problems.  What should we do from here?  I myself am rather afraid of being bitten.  I think he needs time to adjust to his new place, but how long does he need?  Any tips?

Thanks!

Answer
First off; good for you for adopting an older rattie! Rats are brilliant pets for children and I personally adore them (obviously, otherwise I wouldn't be an 'expert' here!).

I don't blame you for being afraid of being bitten. When they bite and mean it, it hurts. No doubt about it. He's probably pretty wigged out because here he is being shuffled from home to home. Give him a chance to relax, have everyone basically 'ignore' him other than to stop by the cage, open it and give him a treat as they pass by. Make him come closer and closer to the door each time you offer him a treat and use that treat only when you're working with him (make sure it's not something he's offered in his food or without having to deal with a person to get). Eventually, pet him and then give him the treat -- and continue until you're able to pet him all over before giving him the treat or pet him while he's eating. Eventually you can leave the cage door open and ask him to come out of his cage to take the treat -- and who knows, in a few days he may loosen up and show you his true cuddley colors. This method of trust training won over a frightened feeder rat someone threw into my back yard a couple years ago - he went from paranoid and biting to the biggest lap rat you'll ever see. The fact that he bit your daughter but didn't bite hard enough to break skin is a good thing -- he was warning you but really didn't want to hurt you!

Don't be terrified - he's more scared of you than you are of him.

I'd love to hear updates - for now, start with that, and we can go from there.

Good luck! Let me know how it goes!!