quarantine/introducing a new baby

[horselo285]

Hi everyone,

So, my current girls are doing very well! They are finally in their new double level critter nation! They love it! (I have three girls who are roughly 4 months of age) and Sandy (who had been sick with myco at the petsore) is on 15th day of meds and is doing MUCH better!

I want to add one more rat to their little colony and have been following a (fairly) local breeder- Her current litter of babies will be ready to go home the first week in March and I am planning on taking one.

My question is, do I need to quarantine this new baby? She will be going straight from her current home to my home and will not be exposed to any new rats.

If I do need to quarantine her, will she be okay by herself for a little while? I really only wanted one more rat as of now, so I wasn't planning on taking a pair.

Also, whats the best method of introducing her to my current girls?

Any advice would be appreciated!

Thanks,

Laura

 

[jorats]

Where is the baby coming from? She's the only rat there? I would think if she's healthy and looking good, it would be safe to intro to your girls.
How old is everyone?

 

[SQ]

Babies really need another baby to play with ... please consider getting two sisters

 

[horselo285]

The baby would be coming directly from a small breeder- She is with her mom and siblings. No new rats have entered the air space since she was born.

She would be six weeks old when I take her.

My rats are between 3-4 months old, I believe. I am not 100% sure.

I really only want one more rat- 4 is a fairly manageable number- five is a bit too much for me at the moment... :-/

Would the company of my playful young rats be enough companionship?

 

[hopefloats]

The others are still babies so they should be fine. I would watcg the new one for a bitnin a different room to make sure she isn't sick. Also is she is to little you will ned to watch her size before intos. The age difference the size can be a big difference so she could get hurt depnding on your girls. My pika was evil at that age to any new rats and just to be safe watch them closely, if she is real small, let her grow a little bit.

 

[horselo285]

The others are still babies so they should be fine. I would watcg the new one for a bitnin a different room to make sure she isn't sick. Also is she is to little you will ned to watch her size before intos. The age difference the size can be a big difference so she could get hurt depnding on your girls. My pika was evil at that age to any new rats and just to be safe watch them closely, if she is real small, let her grow a little bit.

Thanks so much for the advice!!! I will definitely be very careful! :-D