Some pre-story...I got my first rat, a blue/white male I named Tuffy. Everything I read said Tuffy needed a friend. In came Taffy. Both were very young so no formal intro's were made. Turns out Taffy was female and had 7 beautiful babies. As soon as I realized she was pregnant, I separated her from Tuffy, which made him very unhappy. He began to chew the fur on his front legs. Deciding to keep 2 of the male babies, after weaning, I allowed them to grow up some in a cage next to Tuffy's cage.
Now for the happy story. I purchased a very roomy 3 level cage. On the way home, I also picked up a baby baby male rat. He was about to be snake food at the pet store and was far too cute! Anyway, gave the cage a good cleaning, set it up with all new toys and bedding, and decided this was it, the males were all going together and they were either going to fight or not. Well, not, actually. Not even a little bit. Granted, they are all young, even Tuffy, but they are completely endowed, even the baby, so if hormones were going to play a part, I would think they would be doing so by now.
Anyway, they've been together for 3 weeks now. The fur is growing back on Tuffy's front legs. I've even added a few "home" nesting places, fearing they might have been a little territorial, but nope, they all just cram in together. The baby is growing well. He was really too young to be away from Mama when I got him, but the "manly" supervision seems to be just what he needed.
Anyway, things may change, but for now, I wanted to share an introduction story with a happy ending.
Now for the happy story. I purchased a very roomy 3 level cage. On the way home, I also picked up a baby baby male rat. He was about to be snake food at the pet store and was far too cute! Anyway, gave the cage a good cleaning, set it up with all new toys and bedding, and decided this was it, the males were all going together and they were either going to fight or not. Well, not, actually. Not even a little bit. Granted, they are all young, even Tuffy, but they are completely endowed, even the baby, so if hormones were going to play a part, I would think they would be doing so by now.
Anyway, they've been together for 3 weeks now. The fur is growing back on Tuffy's front legs. I've even added a few "home" nesting places, fearing they might have been a little territorial, but nope, they all just cram in together. The baby is growing well. He was really too young to be away from Mama when I got him, but the "manly" supervision seems to be just what he needed.
Anyway, things may change, but for now, I wanted to share an introduction story with a happy ending.
