I have had many Rodents yet this is my 1st time owning a Rat. I read up on them before deciding on getting one & I got a Dumbo rat. Everything I have read tells me they do not bite and bond with you very quickly. I have a male and he seems to love to be petted but will not come to my hand, if I want to hold him I have to pick him up. Once he is on me he is very sweet but I swear he nips me. He will sniff my face then all of a sudden I will feel his teeth, never bitting or drawing blood but I can just feel a lite pinch, he has done it on my fingers also & if I put my finger in his cage it's the same thing. Is this normal behavior or does he dislike me? He does chatter a lot when I am holding him & petting him & he seems to enjoy it cause he just sits still on my lap while I pet him.