Introducing Skittle, our new baby rat! We rescued him from a pet store. He was going to be snake food! He was about 4 weeks old when we got him. We got him 2 days after my beloved Pepper died. We have had him exactly 31 days. It was rough in the beginning, since he bit me twice, and my daughter once, and left nasty marks on us. But I just couldn't give up on him. He always looked at me with those needy eyes, and would beg for attention any time anyone walked by his cage. He was in quarantine until last Thursday, when I had to clean his cage, and transfered him to a temp cage. I then decided to bring him to our play area, and try to lure him out to see how he would react. Low and behold, he finally came out, and I would touch his back every time he came near. He tried to bite me a few times, but I got the snacks out, and just watched his body language, and within about 20 mins, I had him doing spins for a treat. He then would come to me without biting, and I tried picking him up, and within about another 20 mins, I was holding him. Then he couldn't get enough. The next day I introduced him to the boys a couple of times, and he was totally submissive. I put him in their cage to stay last night (he had been in their cage several times and out to play with them several times) and he did great. He is now the cuddliest baby ever! It's so strange what a month, and some patience will do!
New baby rat!
- Thread starter Dena
- Start date
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SQ
Senior Member - Vegan for the animals
Congrats on the new baby and I hope he will be ok …… and hopefully you did gradual intros and kept and eye on them for many hours … because adult rats will kill babies
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/introducing-new-rats.34842/#post-491257
and joinrats.com
https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/introducing-new-rats.34842/#post-491257
and joinrats.com
I did. I did intros out of the cage, for a couple of hours, then in the cage for about an hour each time. They immediately took him in and cuddled him and one of the big boys, the alpha, has especially taken to him. They are right outside my room, so if I hear the slightest squeak, I'm on top of it. I tried to separate them and put him back in his cage, and they constantly look for him, and he just sits on his top shelf the whole time waiting to go back in with them, so I just left them together. Everywhere brother, the alpha goes, skittle is there, and where skittle goes, brother is there. If skittle makes the slightest peep, brother is right there checking on him. I've had his cage in their room for the last week and a half right next to them, that was before their contact intros. So he's not a stranger. I guess I should have clarified.
SQ
Senior Member - Vegan for the animals
Rats under 12 weeks old are considered babies and can be easily put together,
After 12 weeks old they become territorial and will hurt or kill new rats unless introed carefully
Young babies do not smell like rats are can be mistaken for prey
Glad it is working out ok
After 12 weeks old they become territorial and will hurt or kill new rats unless introed carefully
Young babies do not smell like rats are can be mistaken for prey
Glad it is working out ok
