Wow--certainly an interesting scenario! I can only share what I did with my 6 ft. male when I got him as an adult, and he exhibited similar behaviors. No guarantees--just what worked in my situation.



1. Get a sturdy hook and a pair of welding gloves (and a plexi face shield of some type if you are so inclined). Do not interact with him if you are alone in the house.



2. Stop feeding him in his cage. Hook him and transfer him to a very large sterilite bin with a lid. Make sure that the f/t rats are in the container before you put him in. Let him associate food with the hook and the bin.



3. After he's eaten, gently "dump" him on the floor. This way you can pin his head with the hook and get a good grip on him so he will not be hurt going back into his cage, nor will he have free access to bite you.



4. I started re-handling mine by putting him in a large, dark cloth laundry bag 3 days after feeding. I touched him/held him through the bag and was able to control him while acclimating him to my touch. I repeated this every 3 days.



5. It's been several years, and I still don't trust him completely--welding gloves when I reach in for him and alcohol based hand gel at the ready should I need it to deal with a bite. But, he's much better overall. We actually have "normal" interactions, but I'm super-sensitive to "when he's had enough."



Has your ex been able to perform adequate husbandry for this animal, given the circumstances? If not, you may want to have him vet checked. Conditions due to poor husbandry may make his already nervous attitude more irritable. Be honest with the vet in terms of what you are bringing in--he/she will be prepared. Best of luck with this animal.



rgds,

althea

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