I got a new rat from the pet shop yesterday, and he bite my dad at first, and he picked him up again later and he was totally fine, he was sat on his shoulder and everything, but today he bite him again and he cant pick him up what do i do help?

Ok, I have rescued 6 rats from feeder tanks and they have NEVER been biters, so NO, pet shop rats are NOT always going to be aggressive. Try having your dad wash his hands good before picking him up so there is no food smell on his hands or wear thick tough gloves so that if the rat bites and there is no reaction, they will learn that it isn't working and stop doing it. It really is best to have pairs or more and it won't change how they bond to you, but always get the same gender. Also try having your dad put something in the cage that smells like him (something he doesn't mind having destroyed) , maybe something the rat could cuddle in and he will get used to the scent and associate the smell with comfort. I know everybody is saying to leave them alone for a couple days, but what has worked for me with all of my rats is holding them for a long time before even putting them in the new cage. I would just pet them and talk to them for a couple hours at least and then put them in the cage and stay with them while they explored. That way you have become something familiar to them in the middle of the new surroundings. I've always had a great bond with my rats and I think spending that much time with them in the beginning went a long way towards that.

Experience

It seems like everyone has been doing things too fast for him. Rats from pet shops are usually handled less than rats bought straight from a breeder - therefore your rat might not be so used to human interaction. pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com

When you first buy a new rat you should leave it on its own for a whole day to let it get used to its new surroundings, sounds, smells etc . This will help your rat to settle in and relax a bit before you start to handle him.

The next day you should start very gradually, first stick your hand in the cage but don't touch the rat, let him smell your fingers and get used to your scent first, so that when you go to pet him, he will recognise you from your smell as someone familiar.

You should have started very slowly and gradually, at first only gently stroking the rat.

No wonder he bit your dad, he was whisked away to a new home and handled in all the wrong ways (putting a brand new rat straight on your shoulder for example). Your rat was probably just scared and confused and thats why he bit.

Give him time to settle in and get to know the family, I'm sure he will eventually love all of you and won't give you any trouble with bites as rats are usually very frendly if you do everything the right way with them.

Get everyone to handle him, with gloves on preferably, regularly. pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com
Ensure you do this all the time until he stops trying to bite, he is only a new pet and is not yet used to being handled so much, only remove the gloves when you can see that he has changed his attitude.
This method will improve your dad's confidence with the rat so the rat doesn't feel his fear, and the rat's confidence will also be improved because he will realise that being handled is not scary at all.
Good luck:)

For a start, you have tried to hold him too early, you should've left him alone for 2 days without holding him so he could calm down from the stressful move from petshop to a completely new home, petshop rats are almost awlays aggressive due to terrible breeding, lack of handling and the stress if moving from birth place, to petshop, to your home in such a short amount of time, always buy pets straight from the breeder! Secondly, you have only brought 1! He is very frightend as he is alone! Go out and get him a friend from a good breeder as soon as you can, also, leave him alone for a couple of days to calm down, then slowly start offering food from your hand, DO NOT pick him up, he must be able to have a choice otherwise he will get scared, put your hand flat on the cage floor, and let him sniff you, do not move at all, he will gradually climb onto your hand. The next day do the same thing, but once he is on your hand, gently lift your hand off the floor, if he tries to jump off, let him. Continue to do this everyday until you have won his and his new friend's trust.

Long term rat owner and breeder.

First, you should go out and get another rat immediately! Rats need to be in pairs, otherwise the develop mental and physical health issues. Second, like any animal, rats need patience and understanding when getting used to you. It's such a huge change your rat is going through you need to leave him alone for a little while and then start to slowly pet him and then work you way up to picking him up. My rat bit me at first but now she is the most loving, affectionate rat you have ever met. Don't give up!