I'm getting a new rat tomorrow!

I already have one rat and She is such a sweetie but I was wondering if she might hate her new sister. She loves all my friends but she's never met other animals except for a couple of dogs but I wouldn't let her down to play with them. So ideas on how to ease them into friendship?

Edit Delete
Moderate: Hide this post Mark as Spam
6 replies since 1st June 2012 • Last reply 1st June 2012

Reply #1:

I'm Pretty sure that Rats are very social animals, and that they wont have much of a problem.. That being said, there may be some territorial issues with the one who was there first.
If you're really worried, I would say.. And I'm just making this up as I go along, You could start with some sort of a cage divider.. or put the new rat in a separate enclosure and put them together for a small amount of time, like.. 10 minutes and then put it back. Then every day increase that amount of time.
I really don't think that it will be a big deal though Happy

Edit Delete
Moderate: Hide this post Mark as Spam
Reply #2:

you might want a spare cage. like a cheap mouse cage or something from a thrift shop. so you they dont get along at first you can keep them seperated for a while Happy

Edit Delete
Moderate: Hide this post Mark as Spam
Reply #3:

http://ca.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20110708194600AAe9ElQ

Edit Delete
Moderate: Hide this post Mark as Spam
Reply #4:

you need to introduce them in a neutral territory, and have somewhere for them both to live if they dont get on
they will need to sort out the hierarchy so there may be some fighting which u shouldnt stop unless it gets bloody. dont leave them together unsupervised at all because one may kill the other newcomer/stranger.
if they get on thoroughly clean and disinfect the cage so it smells neutral.
if they dont get on try rubbing each of them with a towel and placing that in the others cage so they get used to the smell. never divide up a cage as that reduces the minimum space rquired by law (this goes on width x depth and doesnt include height at all)

Edit Delete
Moderate: Hide this post Mark as Spam
Reply #5:

Hi, I used to keep rats and know a lot about them. This page is a really great resource and should answer about all of your questions. http://www.rmca.org/Resources/aintro.txt

I definitely recommend the quarantining, don't want your current rat to get sick if the new one has a respiratory infection or pneumonia. Good luck! Rats generally like each other so you may not need too much of it Happy

Edit Delete
Moderate: Hide this post Mark as Spam
Reply #6:

I currently have 4 rats and have had several others and the most important thing to remember when introducing a new family member is to do it in a neutral place. Also make sure you give the current rat attention whenever you do the new one so they don't feel as though they are being replaced. They are very much like children in that aspect. Rat's are a natural pack animal so there shouldn't be too many problems.

Edit Delete
Moderate: Hide this post Mark as Spam


Reply