Introduction advice/help!

[Samii]

Hey! It's Sami here with another ratty problem! I have my two rats Luffy and Simon and am getting a third rat in a week or so. It's going to be a younger rat, 5 weeks if that's the proper time to find homes for them. Their temporary mom is going to double check with an expert.

So, I'm a bit nervous about this introduction thing and how it's supposed to go. I know to use an unmarked territory like a bath tub or a new room for introductions, but I've never done them before! I'm especially nervous since the new rat is going to be so small. Should I wait for a bit until it's bigger?

One of my rats is very sweet and playful, never aggressive, so I'm not really worried about him. It's my other rat Luffy. I was supposed to neuter him but things have since settled down in my rat pack and there's seldom any fights, they never really had any serious ones to begin with. It's only during playtime that it becomes a problem. Luffy likes to chill and explore and Simon likes to play. When Simon bugs Luffy over and over again Luffy gets irritated and retaliates. They end up in a rat ball which I have to break up and everyone is fine aside from some fur pulling.

So, a third rat would seem wise so during playtime Simon has someone else to bug, someone younger and more energetic. But during introduction I feel like Luffy might not react well to a young rat. That's my main concern. Is there best way to go about introducing rats?

 

[jorats]

The best thing would be to get two young babies together so they can keep each other company until it's time to do intros. It's best not to start intros until babies are 8 to 10 weeks old. Also, even after when they've all moved in, two babies together can play hard with each other and not annoy the older adults.
How old are Luffy and Simon? And yes, 5 weeks is a good age for males to leave their colonies.

 

[Samii]

I'm not sure how old Luffy is but he's older than Simon who I think to be still under a year. He was still growing when I got him but definitely not small.

I want to get two babies together but I have to talk my mother into letting me.

Also will 4 rats fit fine I'm a single critter nation?

 

[jorats]

Yes, 4 males would be comfortable in a single CN. I hope your mom goes for it. It will be much better for the babies to have each other.

 

[SQ]

Definitely 2 babies ... they will need each other because they will be frightened at being away from mom and siblings (btw, boys are separated from mom at 5 weeks but not rehomed until 6 weeks) and it will be quite awhile before they can be introed with your older rats.
They need to be 10 weeks before you start physical intros so they are old enough and big enough to defend themselves.

There are established gradual intro steps you can follow to intro rats

 

[Samii]

Okay. She already separated them from mom, because she couldn't even handle them with mom around. She's super aggressive. I'll be taking mine home at 5 weeks.

It's good to know that introductions shouldn't be done right away. I mean, it made sense to me and I was going to wait but it's nice to know how long.

I asked my mom and she never answered, I'm going to take that as a yes. Haha. I'll be taking 2 home this Sunday. I'm so excited. They're not going to have a very big cage at first, but they'll be okay. I have a bigger cage if they get too big for the one I'm getting. I'm starting with the Kaytee rat home which is not ideal for them, but they wont' live in it for forever.

So, I'll guess I'll check back in in 5 weeks when I begin to do Intros! A few questions right now, because I'm curious. Do you do intros as a whole group? Is there a best way? Also, is it bad to put the babies cage on top of my critter nation? Or should I move it somewhere else in the room? Because no matter what they're all going to be in the same room. Does that cause a problem to have both cages in the same room? Also, when I have out time(which will be separate obviously) will it be a problem to give both groups playtime in the same place, which would be my room?

 

[SQ]

When getting new rats, it is best to quarantine in a separate airspace (house) for 6 weeks as there are a few airborn and usually terminal diseases.
Hopefully the place you are getting them from has quarantined mom and babies as it doesn't sound like you can do that (most people can't which is why getting rats from a place that does quarantine is a good idea).

Put their cage where you are absolutely 100% positive that your other rats will not be able to get anywhere near their cage.
Rats will injure or kill unfamiliar rats even through the cage bars
.... plus the babies may not smell like rats yet, they may smell like prey

Before you are ready to start physical intros, you can exchange used cloths so that they can get used to one another's smell.

 

[Samii]

I'm rescuing them from a co-worker. She rescued 2 females someone had abandoned in a parking lot. One mom had 12 babies and the other had 6. The one that had 6 she gave to one of my managers to care for and find homes. So she hasn't had them around any other rats. Does that qualify as a quarantine?

I won't be able to put the cage in another room but I'll find a place for them where my boys can't get to them in my room.

 

[jorats]

Oh sneaky! I'm glad you are going for the two!

 

[SQ]

yes, if they haven't been around other rats that could qualify as quarantine

Thank goodness for your friend for saving them

In case this info is useful http://www.ratshackforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=23041

 

[Samii]

Sweet, so now my only concern for right now is finding a place to put them. The smell of other rats in the room shouldn't be a problem unless my boys can find them right? Cause I thought I'd put the cage near my bed and move it when I let my boys have free time. They usually play on my bed so they'd smell where the babies have been but when they came out there would be no babies. Otherwise I'll have to ask if I can keep them in the den. But, I'd much rather have them near me so I can monitor them. :3

Also, I plan on having alternating play times for my boys and the babies. Again, that means both groups of rats smells will be in the area. Is that a problem?

Edit: I plan on helping Christina(the rescuer) find the remaining babies homes. Two of the females have found homes but that still leaves 8 babies that need homes, plus the mom. I'll recommend petfinder.com to her and other adoption sights I can find.

 

[jorats]

If you plan on having them introduced to form one colony one day, having them in the same room and play in the same area is a good thing.

 

[Samii]

Okay awesome! So I'll do that and just move them during my older boys' playtime. I'll have to make sure the babies can't get to my older boy's cage during their playtime though. :O