Question Concerning Newly Introduced Rats

[GrayLightNewDay]

This is going to be long, but I need help!

I currently have two female rats. I got Navi when she was 6 weeks old and fell in love with her immediately. My roommates were against me having two rats at first, so I just got the one. When we was five months old, I went out of town for three nights and felt miserable the entire time because I knew Navi was not getting any attention. At that point my roommates realized how amazing rats are, and agreed that it would be good for me to get another girl to keep Navi company.

So, about a month ago I got another female, named Lady Calista. She was about 7 weeks at the time. I put their cages next to each other, just far enough away that they wouldn't reach one another, and left them like that for a week. However, during that time, when I was feeding Navi she ran to the top of her cage and bit poor Calista's nose. It bled, but healed very quickly. I was really scared, to the point that I cried because I just wanted them to be friends. After the week, I decided to introduce them in my bathroom. I watched them very carefully and only let them stay together for five minutes or so. I did that every day for a week, and they did pretty well. Navi was uninterested in Calista, but Calista wanted to be close to Navi and tried to crawl under her the whole time. Navi got a little annoyed and would try to nip at Calista's rear, but I read that was normal. After that week, I decided to let them play on my bed together (I always snuggle with Navi and let her run around under my blankets), and they did fine. No fighting, but Navi was still uninterested and Calista still wanted to be under Navi. A few times Navi would push Calisa down and Calista would automatically lay on her back and stay still.

Then, I moved Calista's cage and put both of the rats together. Calista groomed Navi a lot and they made cute little noises to each other. I let them stay like that for a few days and there was only a little bit of fighting going on, maybe twice a day. No blood was being drawn, they were just doing that boxing type of fighting.

Three days ago, I cleaned out Navi's cage (her's is bigger and suited for two rats) super super super well. I scrubbed every single inch, inside and out, and even cleaned the area where her cage was kept to remove her scent. I put the rats in the cage together and during the first day they were fine. They boxed a couple times, but then they would stop and groom each other.

After the first day I realized that Navi is acting like the bottom of the cage is hers and only lets Calista stay on the top level (the cage has the bottom and then two levels) and sometimes she tolerates Calista being on the middle level. Navi will go up on the top level and want Calista to groom her and she squeaks and acts cute... but if Calista tries to go on the bottom, she boxes at her, attacks her, and bites her a lot. Currently, I noticed that Calista's tail has bite marks all over it. Nothing severe, but it's enough to make me nervous. Is this normal? Should I take Calista out of the cage? She is still eating, drinking, grooming, and playing. She grooms Navi whenever Navi goes to the top level and she still tries to crawl under her all the time.

Any advise?

Sorry that was so long, I'm just kinda freaking out.

 

[dspch911]

You need to pm jorats or hopefloats (I know there are more on here that can help, but these two come to mind) if they do not see this post to answer it - they can help you. I have no experience in this yet, but will soon.

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

The only thing that concerns me is the tail biting other than that it's all fairly normal. I would take a step back to having them together for long periods of time (like hours) but not in a cage and at first don't give them anywhere to hide. Once they have acknowledged each other (sniffing, maybe some boxing) you can add some toys and houses. I would keep up with these playtimes for at least 3 consecutive days and if they get through those with no major incidents (blood drawn or a rat ball) then I would move forward to the cage. They need to establish dominance before they move in together so if they are still boxing then it's unresolved. Is there any way you can remove the shelves? If so I would do that and also if possible I would take the cage out of your room when you first move them in so it will be completely new smells for both.

 

[jorats]

Can you take a picture of the tail so we can determine that it is indeed bite wounds?
They sound like they are getting along nicely except the tail thing. But rats who are being dominant, not only go for tails, but the top of the neck/back. That's where you would see gashes normally.

 

[GrayLightNewDay]

I only have a webcam, so it was hard to get a clear shot.

That is what it looks like, it's basically covered with little red marks that look a bit like scratches.

 

[jorats]

Do you see Navi biting at the tail? Or could Calista be getting the tail caught in something?

 

[GrayLightNewDay]

When Navi has decided that she is done being groomed, she starts to bite at Calista's bum, then Calista will climb up the bars of the cage to get away and Navi bites at her tail.

 

[jorats]

How long have they been living together now?

 

[GrayLightNewDay]

They were living together for three days in the small cage. And now it's been three days in the big cage.

 

[jorats]

Girls are so much harder to change their behaviour. But we can't have her biting the tail like that. Does Calista scream when her tail gets cut up?

 

[GrayLightNewDay]

She screams and runs away.

 

[jorats]

Ok, then I'd say it's time to separate again and start your intros all over. This time, do intros on a familiar place like the bed, do this for at least an hour at a time, every day, if you can do it more than once a day, even better.
Each time Navi goes to chomp on Calista's butt, stop her. Put you hand like a wall between Navi and Calista and say NO! firmly. Each time you see Navi go to Calista and not bite her, give her a yummy treat like a cheerio. We need to "train" her to not bite Calista.

 

[GrayLightNewDay]

This is them on the first day I put them in the big cage together. They were doing fine until Navi decided she owned the bottom of the cage.

Navi and Calista

 

[GrayLightNewDay]

Ok, then I'd say it's time to separate again and start your intros all over. This time, do intros on a familiar place like the bed, do this for at least an hour at a time, every day, if you can do it more than once a day, even better.
Each time Navi goes to chomp on Calista's butt, stop her. Put you hand like a wall between Navi and Calista and say NO! firmly. Each time you see Navi go to Calista and not bite her, give her a yummy treat like a cheerio. We need to "train" her to not bite Calista.

Okay! I heard that a spray bottle works, too? Should I spray Navi if she is being mean? When they are being sweet to each other I talk to them and tell them how good they are lol.

 

[jorats]

Ok, then I'd say it's time to separate again and start your intros all over. This time, do intros on a familiar place like the bed, do this for at least an hour at a time, every day, if you can do it more than once a day, even better.
Each time Navi goes to chomp on Calista's butt, stop her. Put you hand like a wall between Navi and Calista and say NO! firmly. Each time you see Navi go to Calista and not bite her, give her a yummy treat like a cheerio. We need to "train" her to not bite Calista.

Okay! I heard that a spray bottle works, too? Should I spray Navi if she is being mean? When they are being sweet to each other I talk to them and tell them how good they are lol.

I've never liked a spray bottle for rats. They have such sensitive lungs, any water in their ears, eyes and nose could set off a mycoplasma flare up and that's not a good thing.

 

[GrayLightNewDay]

All day yesterday there was no fighting or biting, so I decided to take the shelves out of the cage like smilez_n_hugs suggested and it actually worked. Navi isn't being mean to Calista at all, they are cuddling and acting cute on the bottom of the cage together :joy: . I will add the shelves back in a week or two. If there is anymore fighting, though, I will take Calista out and retry the introduction process. I just don't want to start over again yet, it took a whole month to get to this point.

Thank you guys for your advice and help!

 

[jorats]

That is awesome. What it probably did was force the girls to bond together.

I need to remember that tip. Thanks smiles!

 

[GrayLightNewDay]

Since I removed the shelves in the cage a few days ago, my ratties are doing amazing together. They have been grooming each other tons and making cute little noises (even when I pet them, which is funny). When I take them out of the cage they play and chase each other around. And the best part is, yesterday they slept together for the first time! I am so happy. :dance: :heart:

 

[mamarat]

That's the best news.

 

[jorats]

That is truly awesome! At some point, I would try to add the shelves again.