questions about introductions?

[Livyaahh]

I'm in the process of introducing my 4 male rats. So my two new ones Reggie and Rolf to the two residents Ben and Jerry. I put the cages next to each other, then swapped them over a few times (so Reg and Rolf went in Ben and Jerry's cage and vise versa), and I'm now introducing them everyday in my bathtub-the third intro is today.

So, when they first met they were all fine, they sniffed each other, then went their own ways. No aggression, no fighting, no stress, the second time, there was no fighting, no aggression, but quite a bit of cleaning, which I hear is a sign of stress, and they were more interested in trying to get out of the bathtub than communicating with each other, or whatever rats do. They all just wanted to be with me. And it was really annoying because I wanted them to groom each other and stuff. So I just sat next to the bath and stroked them all- was that a bad idea? I put food down and everything, they all ate, but then lost interest.

I went out and bought some angel delight. I heard that somebody smeared their rats in pudding when they introduced them and then they all groomed each other, and I thought that it was quite a brilliant idea. But then I realized- wouldn't they just lick it off themselves?

Also nobody is even attempting to be the dominant rat. Is this weird?

Please help

 

[jorats]

You are very lucky that you are having such an easy intro. You are doing great, sitting by with them is fine too.
I wouldn't smear them with anything, they need to smell each other for who they are. If they don't bother with each other, that is exactly what you want.
I'd say another day or two like this and it's time to move it to familiar ground.