female rat does not like other rat??

[lisser]

Hello!

I am a recent rattie mom! I have had my girlie for 3 weeks now, and after research decided to get another girl to keep her company! I got the other girl about a week and a half ago, I have noticed that the two are never around each other. If one is in the hammock the other is in the hut, if the new girl tries to cuddle up with the older one she leaves and will literally run away from the new girl. I have not seen any fighting, but they are NOT socializing at all! The weirdest thing is, my older girl will sit there and climb the cage and just stare at me to get my attention. She is the most affectionate lil thing in the world....but not to the other rat. I am worried that the new rat is lonely as shes not as spunky as she was when i first picked her out. Is there any way my older rattie might just not like the company of another rat? (and for reference, the older rattie is barely 2 months, and the new one is around 5-6 weeks)

** also, about 3 days after i got my first girl, I also got another rat, the lady told me they were BOTH boys (surprise! one was a girl) this second rat was a boy, but he was too small to be away from his mother and unfortunately he did not make it (R.i.p lil boy ) he died on the hammock while they were both sleeping, i think he was barely 4ish weeks IF that.. the lady told me he was ready to leave his mom but he really wasnt. with this little rat, my girl was fine and they would play and cuddle and were always together. could this also be a reason my rat will not accept the new female?

 

[hopefloats]

Even being away to early they can survive from 3 weeks on. I would be very concerned why that boy passed away. It is ok they are not becoming best friends as of yet in tme they will. As long as they are not fighting I would not worry about it.

 

[UhHuhHer]

If she lost a friend, it's possible that she's mourning. It's also possible that she's not sure how to interact with a larger rat. She could be scared of her. How did you introduce them? It's a very delicate process, moving two rats in together. If we know how you approached it, it would be easier to try to figure out if another approach might help.

The other thing you may have to deal with is that your littlest may not be well. The boy's death could have simply been failure to thrive, but he could also have been ill. If you got both babies from the same person, you should ask how the rest of the litter is doing and see if maybe something isn't going around. Someone who doesn't know how to sex the babies and gives them away too early, may very well have some other issues going on with their animals.

You also need to have a serious talk with whomever gave you the two rats. If she could not identify a male from a female, you could have had a surprise litter very quickly. More importantly, she should not have given you the boy at all if he was 4 weeks old, or under. If the new one is around 5 or 6 weeks, and you've had her for a week and a half, you were probably given her too soon, as well. This doesn't sound like someone I would take rats from, if I were you. The odds that you will get unhealthy and poorly-cared-for animals from someone like this are very high.

I hope you don't read this as a lecture to you, because the fault really lies with the person who gave you the rats, but I hope you take my advice into consideration and distance yourself from this person and consider alternatives in the future for getting rats.

 

[jorats]

How old are the girls?

 

[SQ]

about 2 months and 5 or 6 weeks
..... so gradual intros would not be needed as both would be babies

What are you feeding them?
Pictures?
How is their breathing?