When/How to Introduce New Rat

[puffnstuff]

Hi all.

We adopted 2 young female hooded rats over a year ago. They were rescued from a bad home, but other than being a bit small for their age (poor diet likely the cause), they seemed healthy. Rat #1 ended up with myco a couple months later, but was able to recover fully with docxy and baytril treatment. All was fine, until several weeks ago, when Rat #2 became ill very suddenly. Unfortunately it happened during the weekend, and I couldn't get her to a vet until Monday, but it was too late as she passed away on the Monday. I think she was too far gone anyway, fighting for every breath, so the meds would have been too late.

Anyway, now we have just one rat. Of course she's very sad and lonely and bored. So I think it would be better to find her another friend. If we bring home a baby, is there any danger that the older one would attack? Could a new rat cause too much stress and perhaps make her worse off than being alone?

What's the best way to introduce a new baby into the cage?

 

[xxchelle]

I've introduced babies to adults before with absolutely no issues. As long as you take the introductions gradually, and do all the right steps, you shouldn't have problems.

The best thing to do would be to get two young rats to introduce. They will have more energy than your older girl, and will want to play more. That way they can play with each other! If it's just one, and she's constantly bugging your older girl to play, your older girl could get frustrated. That's where introductions could go wrong.

 

[puffnstuff]

Thanks. Not really sure I'm ready to commit to having 3 rats in the cage. Would be 50% more work (i.e. cleaning) than having only 2, right? I'm sure somebody will correct me on that.

Would 2 new rats make the older one feel like an outsider? Or do they usually all become friends? "Older Girl".....HAHAHA, she's only probably about 20 months old, at least going by the age that the original owner told us. I guess in rattie years, she's an older girl.

How old is Claire and her sister Sofia (I LOOOOOOVE Claire!) ?

This is our cage: http://www.flickr.com/photos/36772640@N04/3418256276/

Is it suitable for 3? (I hope that link works!)

 

[xxchelle]

It's rarely any more work at all, actually, and definitely not 50% more! If proper intros are done, no one gets left out from the group, they all become bonded, and it's adorable when you see everyone piled into a hammock or house together!

Anyways, I'm sure more people will come and weigh in on the situation, but that's my two cents.

As for the cage, what are the dimensions?

 

[puffnstuff]

Cage is 20" wide x 20" deep x 26" high.
Full floor, and 3 additional levels with ramps (1/2 width levels of plastic shelving), plus a 12"x12" hammock.

 

[xxchelle]

According to a cage calculator (http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk/information ... alculator/) it will house 3 rats. Now, if it were males, I'd say subtract one from that number, but bonded females would be okay.

 

[jorats]

Unfortunately, 20 months is considered older in rats but not too old to enjoy life still. I agree with Chelle, 2 younger girls would be perfect for the lady.
That cage looks like it will work with 3. The two babies will be very busy and full of energy and the older girl will enjoy their cuddles and probably grooming them. She will teach them the wise ways of being a rat.

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

I would definately go with a pair of younger girls for your older girl :thumbup:

 

[puffnstuff]

Thanks for all your replies.

Our "older girl" Mustang is definitely a motherly type, and always seemed to look after her smaller, shy cage mate (RIP Shelby :heart: ). After much consideration, we've decided to try and go for adopting 2 young girls. Crossing my fingers.

 

[jorats]

Good choice! Don't forget to check out all our rescues.

 

[xxchelle]

I'm hoping to help her find the perfect pair of younger ratties! Emma and Quinn (5-6 months old roughly) or perhaps Echo and Whisper (2-3 months old)... Maybe even Sofia and Claire? We shall see! She's already filled out my application.

:joy:

Emma

Quinn

Echo

Whisper

Sofia

Claire

 

[jorats]

That is most excellent!

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

Great news!

 

[mamarat]

Beautiful girls! It'll be hard to just pick 2. Good luck!

 

[puffnstuff]

:nod: Well, GREAT NEWS HERE!!!

Echo and Whisper (both blue hooded, one's regular and one's a dumbo) have been adopted into our home. See pics above, 3rd and 4th one.
Thanks so much to Chelle for making the long drive to bring them to me, and for putting up with all the back and forth e-mailing.

They are so sweet, and so full of energy! Right now they busy tossing fleece blankets around, eating their EX blocks, and drinking. So at least the move didn't upset their appetite any. Echo is crazy about Nori (dried seaweed), but Whisper won't even look at it.

So, our Mustang at first didn't even think much of the new inhabitants. But after about 1/2 hour, started getting very excited and interested in what was going on. This will take some time. They are in separate cages for the time being.

 

[xxchelle]

Just to clarify, Echo is a dumbo black hooded with a blaze, and Whisper is the blue hooded

Keep us updated with the intros, I hope they go smoothly

 

[mamarat]

Congrats! The girls are beautiful. Good luck with the intros.

 

[jorats]

Sweet!! I bet they will be fast friends real soon.

 

[puffnstuff]

So, here's the latest update. Intros with our older Mustang (black hooded) are going as well as can be expected (this is my first time).

We have renamed our 2 new little girls. I thought they looked like Laverne and Shirley, but the kids wouldn't have it. So, Echo has been changed to Sky because her mottled back looks like grey clouds in the sky. Although Chelle's picture and description say she's black, she's really more of a beautiful slate grey (see my avatar on the left). Whisper (blue hooded) has been changed to Kaiser, because she's like a soft little bun.

Kaiser is full of energy, and practically leaps into our hands when we open the cage. She is so curious, and crawls and jumps around everywhere. Sky was a bit timid at first, and hid in a box when we would open the cage, but today she came running up the ramp when I entered the room, and was happy to see me, and let me pick her up and hold her close. Although she did a big poop when I put her down on the bed, so I guess she's still a little nervous LOL!

Hoping to post a few pictures, if I can figure that out. They are very pretty girls.

 

[jorats]

Sweet names. Sounds like those girls have hit the jackpot of a home.