I don't want to jinx it but....Intro advice? 12/15

[Chevalrose]

So I brought home the rest of the new boys from MRR today (4...2 separate pairs that aren't together). Right now I have the two new ones we got Tuesday and all four of the new boys we got today hanging out on the couch with me IN PEACE!!!

In a little while I'll see how they are in a cage together....

Is 6 too much for 1/2 of the CN if they end up being fine together?

 

[Chevalrose]

Even was able to clip everybody's toenails!

 

[Moon]

Even was able to clip everybody's toenails!

LOL well that's certainly a plus!

 

[jorats]

Excellent!! They are adorable all together on the couch.

 

[Chevalrose]

So they all spent the night together on the top of the CN

Now the big step is introing them all to Romeo...Oliver could care less. Everyone but Milo and Otis are bigger than Romeo, and I'm thinking that could go one of two ways. 1) He chills because, well...they're bigger or 2) He gets too intimidated and gets more grumpy.

Also, should I just do them all at once or slowly into them to him?

 

[mamarat]

I would intro them all together. Good luck!!

 

[jorats]

Rats don't get intimated with size. If they are bossy, nothing stops them. lol
I'd do them all together too.

 

[Godmother]

So glad to hear it is going so well! They are a handsome crew of ratties.

 

[Chevalrose]

So last night I put them all together. Romeo likes Eastwood pretty well. His issue is really with Otis and Milo, Otis mostly. He did really well though...just showed him his butt and went on his way. Otis is a persistent little bugger though and gets in his face and tries to hump him. I had them all out for an hour and at the end of the hour Romeo was getting pretty tired of Otis (I don't blame him) and gave him a what-for. No bloodshed. Pavil and Cecil are very timid and sat in a box most of the time, Romeo went in there, sniffed them, and walked out no problem. He did have a confrontation with Newman, who then ran into a tissue box and didn't come out for the rest of the hour. Romeo stuck his head in and sniffed him with no problem after though.

He doesn't mind approaching other rats, but if they approach him (with the exception of Eastwood), he tends to get huffy (granted the only ones that really approach him are Milo and Otis). I've gotten the hang of the pinning trick and I hold him and talk to him until he calms down. I use a towel and make sure my fingers are either on his head or on the sides...touching him somewhere so he knows it's me. I'm also doing this with Otis since he's been trying to hump Romeo and Oliver. He's like the Tasmanian devil when you grab him, but he's gonna learn who's in charge!

Overall, I think it went well. Going to keep switching them all from top to bottom all week and hopefully we might be able to get integrated this weekend.

 

[jorats]

Be sure not to rush things... you should be doing a week of neutral ground intros and a week of familiar ground intros. It does sound like it's going really good.

 

[Chevalrose]

So Romeo usually gives warnings pretty well, but when he's not listened to, he hits pretty hard. A couple guys got some punctures today :\. Do I still continue as I'm doing? Is it just something that will take time? He's more impatient with the two youngest, and Otis just totally gets in his face. Should I "dicipline" Otis when he persists, or Romeo for getting irritated?

Also sometimes when I pin Romeo he SCREAMS bloody murder, like I'm killing him. I usually let go after he's stopped and calmed down...is this correct?

 

[jorats]

Romeo is a bully. He could do some serious damage if he wants too. Any chance you can have him neutered? If not, you need to not allow him to touch the other rats during intros. So that means keep an eye on him at all time. If he goes near a rat, you put your hand and firmly say no and push away. This might work for him, especially since he screams and fights your pinning. Letting go once he relaxes is perfect. You are showing him you are the boss and he will be let go when he submits.

 

[Chevalrose]

Yeah, I'm considering getting at least him, Otis, and maybe Milo neutered (Otis and Milo are the two youngest at 3 months. Otis seems to be becoming a bit of a bully himself). Pavil and Cecil don't seem to have a dominant bone in their body so I don't think I'll neuter them just yet. Eastwood and Newman are already neutered.

The only one Romeo has not gotten into it with at all is Eastwood. I know I can't rush things, but Romeo is totally alone now that Oliver just passed away the other day (and even before that Oliver wasn't great company for him). *sigh* I wish rats were smart enough to remember when they were the new guys getting bullied and remember it was not fun lol. (Onyx was pretty rough on him and Oliver when we intro'd them).

In the meantime I'll start being a bit tougher with Romeo when he starts to get grumpy with someone.