Like folks, rats are social animals. They typically wish to reside with different rats. But introducing pet rats to 1 one other nonetheless must be accomplished with care.
This is a information to efficiently introducing a brand new rat to your pet
Is it attainable to introduce rats which have lived alone?
Not each rat is keen to just accept a brand new good friend. You ought to know that there is no such thing as a absolute assure that your rats are going to make mates.
Some consultants imagine that feminine rats usually tend to reject newcomers than males. But there could be issues with both gender.
On the opposite hand, many rats particularly youthful rats, will fortunately quiet down into their new life with a room mate in the event you take the correct precautions and make introductions in steps as described right here.
Don’t neglect, in case you are bringing a brand new rat into your property it is very important ensure that it’s wholesome earlier than permitting the rat to work together together with your present pet rats.
You can discover info on quarantine instances for rats on the American Fancy Rat and Mouse Association web site
Introducing rats – taking it slowly
It’s nice that you just need to give your rat a good friend. But we want to try the state of affairs from his perspective.
Just as a result of I like different folks, it doesn’t imply I desire a whole stranger dropped into my front room with no rationalization. Nor does your rat!
It’s the identical for the brand new rat. Being tipped in into another person’s dwelling with out warning is sort of a traumatic expertise.
So, you’ll have to do your greatest to make this enjoyable to your rat and his new good friend. Before we begin, a warning.
Rat introduction – some precautions
No matter how cautious you might be together with your rat introduction it isn’t with out threat. Your pet rat could hurt the brand new rat (or vice versa)
This threat of hurt is way higher if there’s a large distinction in dimension between the 2 rats, and particularly if one of many rats continues to be very younger.
It is healthier to be protected than sorry and to keep away from introducing a rat child to an older rat till he’s large enough to face up for himself and a minimum of to resist a nip from the opposite rat.
Lindsey Pullman recommends that your child rat weighs a minimum of 7 ounces (200 grams) earlier than trying introductions together with your older rat
Introducing rats – impartial territory
The first rule of protected introductions is impartial territory. Remember what we mentioned a few stranger dropping into your front room.
Doing this to your rat is a certain hearth option to begin an enormous struggle. So impartial territory is a should. That means discovering someplace that neither rat sees as his dwelling floor.
What can you utilize?
Well, in case you have a model new cage that the 2 of them are going to share sooner or later, then introductions might happen in there.
Remove all toys and so forth although. You want to have the ability to get in there swiftly to separate them if a struggle breaks out.
Another in style choice is the bathtub tub, or bathe cupboard. But it must be large enough so that you can get in there or get on the rats simply.
Don’t neglect, that while you bust up a struggle, you might be more likely to get bitten. So you need to shield your self.
A small stiff sheet of plastic or card that may be positioned in between the 2 rats as a bodily and visible barrier could come in useful.
A squirt from a plant spray full of water could also be ample to interrupt up a scuffle. And some gloves could assist you if you have to decide up an offended rat!
How to introduce a brand new rat
It is essential to level out that this era of introduction goes to take a number of days.
Just as a result of your rats don’t struggle on day one, it doesn’t imply they received’t struggle on day two, or day six.
Once you might have your impartial territory place the 2 rats in there collectively an observe them intently.
Aim for just some minutes the primary day. If all goes effectively, repeat the next day, twice a day if attainable, and every single day thereafter for regularly growing intervals of time
How do I do know whether or not to separate my rats.
It could be tough to know when to step in and separate your rats.
A certain quantity of squeaking and squabbling is regular, you most likely don’t have to leap in to separate the rats simply because one has rolled on his again or fluffed up his fur.
Drawing blood will not be a very good signal in fact, however to a sure extent you’ll have to make use of your judgement on when to interrupt issues up.
If you might be anxious it might be greatest to err on the aspect of warning. You can at all times attempt once more later.
Rat introductions – transferring in collectively
If all goes effectively, after ten days or so of profitable impartial introductions, it’s time to your rats to maneuver in and turn out to be room mates.
This step must be taken with care.
The ultimate state of affairs is a model new cage that neither rat has ever referred to as dwelling. If you can not present this you will should get busy and scrub out the previous cage very totally certainly.
It wants to look and scent like new to the rat who lived there earlier than or there’s a threat he’ll try and defend it.
The cage should even be giant sufficient for the 2 rats to reside comfortably and sleep individually in the event that they need to.
The likelihood is, they’ll quickly be snuggled up collectively, however that is extra more likely to occur if each really feel safe of their house
Introducing rats – a abstract
It’s nice that you really want your rat to have a good friend. And it’s true that rats basically, get pleasure from firm and like to not reside alone.
But keep in mind that introducing rats doesn’t at all times go to plan. An older rat that has at all times lived alone can turn out to be set in his or her methods.
It will not be attainable to get to the purpose the place he may even tolerate one other rat in his presence, by no means thoughts get pleasure from their firm
For essentially the most half nevertheless, with cautious introductions, your rat ought to develop to like his new good friend and revel in his new and extra sociable life with a room mate.