Question:
Introducing a new rat to an old rat?
Betsy
2008-01-24 11:07:51 UTC
I have a one and a half year old albino rat that I took home after a psych class I attended was over. Don't worry, we didn't torture him or anything. We trained rats to press a lever to get food (no shocks, no starving), just a basic learning and behavior class.

Anyway, I know you should usually have two or more rats together for companionship but I'm worried that if I introduce another rat to Sammie (my ratters) they will fight and one of them ends up very injured or at worst, dead. Sammie has been on his own since he was a couple months old and I think he may be too old to accept another rat into his cage. What do you think?
Four answers:
Yelliez
2008-01-24 11:19:57 UTC
Rats are never too old to have a friend join them. It is more difficult when older, but it isn't impossible. There are a few key things to know when getting him a friend.



1) Quarantine, quarantine quarantine! Do not get a new rat and immediately put them together. There is a quarantine time frame of four weeks that should be done before even allowing them to see one another. This is preferably done in another house as the point of the quarantine is to not allow the two to breathe the same air for four weeks to make sure the new rat is healthy and isn't bringing any unseen health issues into the new climate to give to Sammie. If you do not have another place you can quarantine the new rat, another floor in another room with the door shut should be fine. Please change clothes and shower between visits from rat to rat. The new rat can transfer a problem onto you and you in turn can bring that to Sammie if you aren't careful.



2.) Once four weeks are done, you can start introductions! This is especially easy if your first rat is young, but it is not impossible to introduce another to an older rat. Please only get another rat of the same sex for obvious reasons!



You can introduce them using your shower tub. Let them out and get to know one another for a few weeks twenty min or so at a time in the tub (as this is a neutral place where none has scented and claimed it as his own and a good place to keep an eye on them).



Start them out in separate cages, do not just put them together from the start. Once they get to know one another via the bathtub method, if you would like to house them together in one of the cages you currently have one in, the day you wish to do this, take the cage and clean it. Thoroughly clean it. You want none of the first rat's scent on any of the toys or in any of the areas of the cage (which holds very true for males as they loooove to spray their things just to make sure everyone knows they belong to him). I suggest getting all new toys to make this easier on you, as some toys prove difficult to clean effectively.



Once you have placed them together, watch them like a hawk. Males are harder to place together than females are, but it is still possible and has been done many times. Let them play in the cage and if one starts to fight the other, let them fight for a little bit before tearing them apart. Sometimes they just want to claim dominance and it may just take one small fight. Of course this doesn't mean if they are hurting each other and drawing blood to let it continue. Use your discretion. If they don't seem to do well together in the cage once you come to this step, don't give up. Separate them again and continue with introductions and play times with one another. Then try the clean cage method once again.



Please let me know if you need any help.



Good luck!

=)
Beige Almighty - Goddess of Nada
2008-01-24 11:18:37 UTC
The willingness of rats to accept a new roommate depends on their personality and age. It will take more time--sometimes up to several weeks--to introduce a newcomer to adult rats, but it can be done. With time and patience, almost any rat will accept a newcomer.



The introduction process has several steps and the time required for each may vary. The easiest pairing will be two young rats, while the most difficult introduction is between two adult males, especially if they aren't neutered. On the other hand, as rats start to age they can mellow out and be more accepting of new roommates. A young rat is the best choice for a new roommate for an adult male, but the newcomer should be at least six weeks old. This is because adult males will sometimes kill strange baby rats younger than this.



When introducing rats, you should have two cages so the new rat can have his own cage at first. (The second cage can be the resident rat's travel cage.) Never just plop a new rat in the resident rats' cage because the residents will always defend their territory.



During the introduction process, you should only advance to the next step if there is no sign of aggression within 30 minutes. A resident rat will express aggression by puffing up his fur, arching his back, and swinging his body sideways at the newcomer. If you see this type of behavior, remove the new rat quickly to prevent an attack. Use care when picking up an aggressive rat as they will sometimes bite. Pick them up with a towel. Or if need to quickly break up a fight, you can pick up the aggressor by the base of his tail. If an introductory session results in aggression, try again later, or go back a step.



When introducing a new rat to a group of rats, usually only the dominant resident rat will be aggressive toward the newcomer at first. This is the dominant rat's "job". Once the new rat is accepted by the dominant rat, the others may show some aggression in turn, but it usually won't be as severe.



For more information, see the attached link
Feralâ„¢
2008-01-25 15:19:03 UTC
It is possible to introduce a new rat.I've done it several times.What you want to do is keep the new rat in a cage by himself for a few days but put it close enough to Sammie's cage so they can smell each other and "talk".After that,when you're ready to introduce them,try to put them together in a neutral place,like the bathtub,so they can play with each other without the new rat being in Sammie's territory.Try this a few times.If they get along put the new rat in Sammie's cage but if they start to fight remove him immediately.They can cause severe damage to each other.



I never had a bit of trouble with the six rats I have now.They all live happily in the same huge rat condo.



But then again all rats are different.Sammie might not want a new rat and you can't force one on him.If he seems like he's doing fine to you,and isn't bored by himself,there might not be any need for another rat.Just make sure you give him plenty of attention and take him out of the cage for at least an hour a day.
2008-01-24 11:14:04 UTC
if you give him s female it`ll be fine.


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
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