Pet Forum / Mammals / Rats / November 2004

I've got 2 rats who seem to be itching a lot.  Also, both of them seem
really jumpy and aggressive all of a sudden.  Both have bit me, one a while
back, and one just Sunday night (from which I got a nasty infection and go
back to the doctor this afternoon).  Could they have bugs that are causing
them to act this way?  I have searched their fur and can find nothing,
although I understand some mites are too small to see.  I will call the vet
later, but this group seems to know more collectively about rats than any
vet I can find in this area.

Grover (the Sunday night biter) was one of the most docile and gentle of the
rats, he was the low man on the totem pole, until I moved Calvin (the other
biter) to another cage.  Now Grover is the boss of the cage and acting just
like Calvin used to - the flinching, the jumpiness, and the aggression
toward the other rats.  Could it just be a power transition making him act
all squirrelly?  I couldn't believe he bit me the other night, and now I'm
scared to pick him up again.

Thanks for any advice you can offer me.
carrie