Introduction help!

omgolivia123 · Dec 1, 2014

Hello wonderful humans, lol. I want to get some introduction help. I plan to do the introductions in a month or two. I'm not really sure when exactly I should do it. Frosty and Scrappy are 7 weeks old. Ash and Sebastian are about 4 months. So, they're all still babies. They are all males.

All of them are super friendly. They love each other and most humans, Haha! But I don't know if I could do the introductions sooner? Or will frosty and scrappy just look like fresh meat or something?! I've never had to introduce rats before.

They all are brothers. They have the same mom and dad. Even though they are from two separate litters. Do you think this will help? Will they even know? And yes, sadly the mother rat got pregnant again a bit after ash and Sebastian's litter. Luckily, the owner of the mom and dad rat let rescue these guys. I don't particularly agree with her rat owning style but this isn't why I'm here lol.

I know to do it in a room where neither have been. So I'm thinking on a table or something. Do I do it in a big area or small area? And I know about deep cleaning the cage and changing it up because territory issues. They've been in good hands their whole life (first few weeks could of been better in my opinion but hey), they are all health, they are all happy, they are all friendly. So I am hoping all of this helps.

Also, how many days of seeing each other before I move frosty and scrappy in with ash and Sebastian? Oh gosh I'm so nervous. Lol.

I'm just scared I might do something wrong or they won't like each other. Who knows. So ALL tips and help is greatly appreciated! Thank you all so much in advance

jorats · Dec 1, 2014

Hi! Sounds like you are well prepared. You could start intros when the babies are 8 weeks old. I would do it on a smallish tabletop with all four meeting each other. Chances are it should go very well at that age.
Have nothing on the table except some yummy food. You could try bananas or peas. I would do this meet up for a couple of days and then move the meet ups to a familiar place, like where they normally have their out time. Do that a couple of more times and if all goes well, you scrub down the cage and move them all in.

Casey · Dec 10, 2014

I was just going to ask pretty much the same question. It has been years since I did intros, I do remember my boys always did better than my girls! ;-)

So my oldest two, Boo & Dill just turned 3 months this week. But they are pretty big boys already. The new babies, Zak & Liam are just five weeks and so tiny! So should I wait until they are 8 weeks? I was told by the rescue 6 weeks but am sure they will still be so little compared to my big boys. But was worried about my big boys getting older and set in their ways too...

omgolivia123 · Dec 11, 2014

Today I finally braved this task! It went SOOOO well. I'm so impressed. They all loved each other right away. I'm planning to move them in by the end of the week.

omgolivia123 · Dec 11, 2014

I don't know why it looks like frosty has a mass or tumor in that picture. He doesn't. Just wanted to clear that up lol. I think it was the way he was sitting! Haha.

I check my rats like every single day. Haha.

Casey · Dec 12, 2014

Awe

They are so beautiful! ...er I mean handsome! ;-)
I cannot wait to get my boys in one cage together. their cages are on opposite sides of the dining room right now and when I talk to one cage and give them treats, the other two boys are going crazy in their cage bc they want attention and treats at the same time! :rathugz: