Various questions

[MissGuardian]

As some of you might have seen, I´m most likely getting a new boy somewhere around May(depending on if there are enough males in the litter). I want to be prepared, so that brings up a few questions.. Thought I´d make them all here, instead of making X threads..

1. I have a Royal Suite 95 double cage. The bar spacing is 1/2", Is that small enough for a five(ish) week old male?

2. Quarantine: I have no option to quarantine the rat, as I am only allowed to have the rats in my room, and I do not know anyone that likes rats that don´t already have them. Is there any other option? The bright side is that the breeder is very responsible, so the rat should be healthy.

3. I don´t really have neutral territory.. The most neutral place here, is on my bed altho they have been there. Is it enough to wash the bedspread before starting intro? On previous intros I´ve only used clean towels on the big rats territory and never had an issue(I´ve only introed nice adults to babies).

Also: the rats I have now, is a calm, neutered male, and a hyperactive but very nice spayed female. The female is the alpha. When I introed the female the boys accepted her the very first day.

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

I really hope you will consider getting 2 babies as it will make the transition much easier for them. The 1/2 inch bar spacing will be fine and as for intros there might be issues since your other rats will be able to smell their own smells from the cage. If that's the case then the bath tub is the best place to start.

 

[MissGuardian]

I really hope you will consider getting 2 babies as it will make the transition much easier for them. The 1/2 inch bar spacing will be fine and as for intros there might be issues since your other rats will be able to smell their own smells from the cage. If that's the case then the bath tub is the best place to start.

I am not allowed to have more than three rats at one time. I can not afford it either.
I don´t have a bath tub unfortunately
Only my bedroom..

 

[ametropia]

No matter how reputable the breeder, no one is perfect, and animals can and do get sick or can possibly be carrying something. Not doing a proper quarantine is always a risk. I can't tell you what to do or what not to do.. I can only say you should consider if you could forgive yourself if all of your rats ended up sick because the newcomer wasn't properly quarantined and turned out to be ill :\

You said you can't afford 4 rats as opposed to 3... but do you have all the funds for emergency vet-care put aside for if all 3 come down with illness?

You don't even have a bathtub? There must be a bathtub somewhere .. Or is it just that you aren't allowed to use it? Who is putting a strict "3-rat-limit" on you and how was that number arrived at? I'm confused about your situation (sorry, just curious :heart: )

I don't know.. Maybe it would be best to hold off on getting a new addition to your group until you have more provisions with which to work with?

The 1/2" spacing is fine for the bars.


(edit: spelling)

 

[MissGuardian]

I live at home with my parents.
I have limited funds, as I am disabled.
Having a bath tub is not very common over here anymore.

 

[jorats]

It sounds fine to me. First, you guys don't have the illnesses like we have here for our rats.
The baby is better off with other babies so they get that hard play but if you spend lots of time playing hard with the baby, he will be fine especially with a mother like figure around.
The bar spacing should be fine for the baby.
Make sure the bedspread is clean before doing intros. But with a neutered male and spayed female, I'm betting you'll have easy intros. Although, you may not want to start them until the baby is about 7 weeks old... just so he's a wee bit bigger, in case there's an unfortunate accident involving teeth and nails.

 

[ametropia]

I live at home with my parents.
I have limited funds, as I am disabled.
Having a bath tub is not very common over here anymore.

ohhh I see I'm so westernized, sorry :lol:

 

[MissGuardian]

It sounds fine to me. First, you guys don't have the illnesses like we have here for our rats.
The baby is better off with other babies so they get that hard play but if you spend lots of time playing hard with the baby, he will be fine especially with a mother like figure around.
The bar spacing should be fine for the baby.
Make sure the bedspread is clean before doing intros. But with a neutered male and spayed female, I'm betting you'll have easy intros. Although, you may not want to start them until the baby is about 7 weeks old... just so he's a wee bit bigger, in case there's an unfortunate accident involving teeth and nails.

No, even quarantining here isn´t too common.. It usually isn´t needed.. I´ve had a lot of disease on my rats in the last year, but the only contagious I´ve had, is mites and lice..
I will play a lot with him, and Nirvana is VERY active and playful.. Even for a girl..
I will wash the bedspread before introing.
I will keep the age part in mind. I do not know exactly how old he will be when I get him tho(IF I get him), because the breeder isn´t located near me.

 

[MissGuardian]

I live at home with my parents.
I have limited funds, as I am disabled.
Having a bath tub is not very common over here anymore.

ohhh I see I'm so westernized, sorry :lol:

It´s okay..
It´s just a sore spot, since moving out from here would cost me a months pay in rent only.. This is as good as it gets for me
We haven´t had a tub since I was 7 years old or something.. :shock: (I´m 21 now)

 

[ametropia]

Oh wow, that's a long time to not have a bathtub. I had a shower-only place at one point and it drove me nuts :\

You could always just use the bathroom floor too for intros As long as it is hole-free and what not, generally a secured area.

 

[MissGuardian]

Oh wow, that's a long time to not have a bathtub. I had a shower-only place at one point and it drove me nuts :\

You could always just use the bathroom floor too for intros As long as it is hole-free and what not, generally a secured area.

I can possibly try, but we have a washing machine there, and there is a hole behind it.. No Idea how to cover that hole so they can´t get behind there.. If they get behind it, there is NO way of getting them back out :?

 

[ametropia]

ooo yeah no that sounds too dicey. Stick with the bed then. Seems like the safest option.

 

[MissGuardian]

ooo yeah no that sounds too dicey. Stick with the bed then. Seems like the safest option.

I think it is.. I have never had a problem with it before either.. The rats I have now are not territorial it seems..
I had Stefan with me on the rat fest here, and he instantly became friends with two adult girls.. On their owners and my shoulders.. With Nirvana, Edward(R.I.P) and Stefan, there have NEVER been a fight as far as I know.. Nor any puffing or anything.. So hopefully it will not be an issue..

 

[rhapsody]

I've adopted just one baby and was able to successfully integrate her into my adult crew. But as smilez_n_hugs pointed out, it was definitely NOT the most ideal situation - in hindsight, the first couple of weeks would have been much easier if she had a littermate to make the intros less scary.

I also got lucky because one of my adult females is super hyperactive, and is able to keep up with my baby's hard playing. Hopefully, your hyperactive female will be able to keep your new addition occupied too.

 

[MissGuardian]

I've adopted just one baby and was able to successfully integrate her into my adult crew. But as smilez_n_hugs pointed out, it was definitely NOT the most ideal situation - in hindsight, the first couple of weeks would have been much easier if she had a littermate to make the intros less scary.

I also got lucky because one of my adult females is super hyperactive, and is able to keep up with my baby's hard playing. Hopefully, your hyperactive female will be able to keep your new addition occupied too.

If I look at my females energy level, and the one of the parents of the boy I might getting, I think He´ll be the one struggling to keep up with her.. Even if he´s young.. The females of her line are a lot more active than the average female.. And the family of the boy I might get, is relatively calm.. And if it isn´t enough, I will be more than happy playing with him..
I would love to get two, but that isn´t an option sadly.. And If I were to stay at two, I would most likely have a lone rat for a long time, or buy at a pet store.. So I think having three is the best option.. There are very few rats for adoption here.. There are NO shelters that takes in small mammals at all.. Only cats and dogs.. I don´t have the option to drive far to get rats(or anything really) due to health.. I wish things were different, but this is what I´ve got..

 

[Moon]

If your breeder hasn't brought in any new animals for a while, they would be pretty effectively quarantined also. Especially, as Jo said, you just don't have the health problems/viruses out your way that we do.

Good luck with your (potential) new baby!

 

[MissGuardian]

If your breeder hasn't brought in any new animals for a while, they would be pretty effectively quarantined also. Especially, as Jo said, you just don't have the health problems/viruses out your way that we do.

Good luck with your (potential) new baby!

She has a intake stop except for the male until after the babies are weaned, so it should all be good.
Thank you! I just hope it will be enough males in the litter.. She has 7 on the waiting list so far, and they are not bred yet(both males and females tho)..

 

[MissGuardian]

Figured I could just continue with this thread, instead of making another one..
When I´m introing, who is it best to start with? Or should I have both?
Nirvana(the female) is the alpha, but she´s also the smallest.. Never introed her to anyone before.
Stefan is the biggest(obviously), but he´s also calm, and I´ve introed him to another adult male(both were intact), and to Nirvana..
I´ve only done two intros before, so I´m not experienced with this yet..

 

[jorats]

Whenever I do intros, I always do the whole group together, I find it's easier and better for them to all get to know each other at the same time.

 

[MissGuardian]

Whenever I do intros, I always do the whole group together, I find it's easier and better for them to all get to know each other at the same time.

Okay!
I will do that then