Introducing young rats to each other!

[Casey]

Hello!
I was hoping to get some of your opinions, as I have not had much experience with rattie intros. I have read tons of threads and watched numerous you tube videos on introductions. But am still not sure the best next step with younger rats. Do you think introductions tend to go smoother with very young rats? I have two almost 4 month old boys and now three almost 7 week old boys. I have been doing the tub intro for a few days now (but then putting them back in their own separate cages afterwards bc they babies just seem so much smaller!). They have sniffed, played, wrestled and eaten together in the tub with no fights or aggression. One of the older boys has pinned the babies on their backs a few times, but nothing aggressive and the babies just lay there. I just wasn't sure if I should move on to putting them in a small neutral cage together and just leaving them together while I supervise, or if doing small playdates for a week or two is even helpful... Or is taking them away from each other after each play session just making them have to start over each time? Thank for any advice!

I do have a brand new double critter nation for them to move into together and it will be new to all five of them. So hopefully helps with any territorial issues!

 

[SQ]

Awwwwww sweet boys

Intros are very smooth when all rats are under 12 weeks old

Normally babies need to be at least 8 weeks old, 10 weeks is safer, before being physically introed to rats over 12 weeks old.
If you believe the babies are large enough to defend themselves, given that the older rats are still quite young - teens and not yet 4 months old, then you could continue doing neutral area intros for a couple of times and if all continues to go well start doing familiar area (nonneutral area) intros - most people use the rat's play area for this (ie a rat safe area where the rats get out daily to run, climb, explore and play)
(as a word of caution, I know of adult rats who seemed be getting along with babies and then in seconds killed the babies)

I realize that you wrote that you have read about doing intros and watched videos.
However, from what you have written, I would suggest you look at https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/introducing-new-rats.34842/#post-491257 and at joinrats.com

I hope this helps

 

[jorats]

They are adorable. I would do intros for another week making sure it's in a place that the rats usually play. If everything goes good do a big cage scrub down and move them in, making sure to watch them the whole day.