I have an intro/handling question.

[Kolkri]

Fido has been with me the longest. He was doing fine and was sweet when Froda was alive but now that he is alone he can't be touched. He runs and bites. I have tried a couple times to put my newer rat Buddy in the same cage with him. I have scrubbed the cage and even kept Fido in a 10 gallon for a week and then added them both to a clean cage. He just well not stop attacking Buddy and I still can not handle him.

So I want to try the tub for intros with these two. I have some welding gloves I use to handle un tame parrots with. May I use that to handle this mean rat? Or well that make him worse? Do I need to re-tame him before I try intros again?

I guess they don't have to share a cage but I have no more cages or room for more cages so really need to make this work so they can have each others company.

Right now I have the two cages side by side but they are showing no interest in each other at all. Buddy is still very sweet but Fido is getting really mean. I can't help but think if he would accept Buddy he would go back to his sweet self again.

Any tips from you all would be great.

Thank you

 

[hopefloats]

If you are just tossing him in the cage that is part of the problems. Males especially have to be introduced slowly. I would work on socializing Fido... How old is he? I will assume by his behavior he is intact. What do you mean Fido is getting really mean with the cages near each other?

Some boys end up having to have a neuter to make them happy.

 

[SQ]

How old is Fido?
How old is Buddy?
It sounds like Fido may need to be neutered by a vet with sucessful experience at neutering rats.

When you pick Fido up, do you make sure that neither your hands or your clothes smell like Buddy?
Fideo could be reacting to the smell.
You need to work on Fideo's socialization. It sounds like he is very frightened.
If you can not handle him, I doubt you will be able to intro him in with Buddy.

There are gradual intro steps to follow .... unless all rats are babies (under 3 months of age).
Rats over 3 months of age are territorial and view new rats as possible threats so it is very dangerous to just put them together.

 

[jorats]

Before I comment, I'll wait for SQ's questions to be answered. Their ages are important.

 

[Kolkri]

Fido is 5 months old and Buddy is about 7 months old. Fido was not a mean rat till Frodo passed away a month ago. The longer I keep him alone the more he bites me.
Oh and 160.00 to get him fixed. Sorry but that is way to much.

 

[hopefloats]

I have a lot of boys sadly this will not fix on it's own. No amount of socializing will help him. He is an angry boy and needs a neuters.

 

[jorats]

Both rats are at that prime age for some aggression. Unfortunately, a neuter is your quick and best fix. Your little boy is having issues dealing with his stress. It's not a good feeling for him. It's frustration and he's overwhelmed.
You could try trust training and lots of one on one and hope that one day he'll come around. In the meantime, please give more thought to the neuter. It might not be worth it to you, but it's worth it to him.

 

[Kolkri]

Hmmm well guess they get their own cages then. I'll keep working on re earning his trust. Maybe since I had it at one time he well come around without much trouble. This is not my first rat. I have been keeping them for years. But it is the first time I have had this issue.
Thanks for the one tip. If anyone has something other then have him fixed I can do please share it.

 

[Kolkri]

Fido is taming back down nicely. I can pick him up again and he no longer runs from me but runs to me. lol So today I plan on trying intro's again but this time in the tub. They can see and smell each other right now and that seems to be doing well. Now to raid the frig for something good for them to eat.
Thanks for all the advice.
Wish me luck

PS They spent 15 in the tub. Ignoring each other and eating. Good start I think.

 

[jorats]

Good luck!! and yes, a good start indeed.