Could I get a third rat?

Question

Ok I have 2 rats and i want a third 1 (still working on persuading my mom to get another) But im not reall sure how to socailize that rat to my other 2 rats. I need some advice.

Answer 1

Yuck!!!! Just get a snake and feed them all to him.

Okay, okay, yeah that sounds like a good idea. They'll have more friends to play with. Maybe during the first few days of buying the rat, they might not seem to socialize with each other but usually all animals adapt to new things.

Answer 2

When I introduced my rats, I introduced them in the bathtub, since neither of them felt they needed to protect their territory.

If that goes well [if they don't fight or seem agressive], let the new rat into the regular cage without the other rats for about an hour.

Then introduce the other rats. First put in one of your rats to meet the new one. If things go well, put in your other rat.

Stay in the rat room for a few minutes to make sure the rats don't fight.

Good luck!

[Also introducing females is easier than males. I don't think you'll have a problem, since once there are 2 rats, it's pretty easy to introduce another one.]

Answer 3

i agree with mei but first you must be up for the responsibility

Answer 4

no you have enough rats get a pet cat and teach it to kiss your rats

Answer 5

Okay i did this with my 3 cats. When we had two, and we brought a new cat in... we simply the new cat with food, water, toys, and a litter box in a seperate room that was closed so all cats could get a "smell" of each other. When you finally get your 3rd rat, make sure to place him a seperate cage! If the two other rats are both in the same cage, keep all cages seperated at least 9 inches apart from each other. And do not take them out at the same time. After 3 days, put the two (if they get along) rats that are not new in the same room, allow the new one outside the closed door, to "smell" the other 2 rats. After that, take all rats out, and place them 5 inches from each other. If the rats squeal at each other, and look like they're going to attack. they need more time. If they seem happy to have a new buddy (sniffing, not squealing) than you're fine. Hope this helps.

Also consider asking a Petco, or Petsmart employee aboiut your question, they would know better than me, but since i've had hamsters, not exactly rats, i know a little bit about warming new friends up to one another.

Answer 6

why would you want more? get on of those poison traps. that will do the trick.  

Answer 7

My daughter had two male rats. Brothers. We rescued a female from a bad home about a month ago. She is so sweet and the most beautiful rat I've ever seen. It is turning out to be such a big job taking care of two cages. My daughter has a small room and having two big cages in there is turning out to be a hardship for her. Plus having to clean out two cages instead of one is a pain too. We are now thinking of getting rid of the two boys and keeping the girl. We love them all, but it's a job taking care of them and keeping them separate. We don't want any little rats running around. She likes them to be out and run around the house. She can only do that in shifts now! I would think about everything that's involved with having another if I were you. It's more than you think.

Either way, have fun with your little critters.  

Answer 8

Ignore the idiots who don't understand what wonderful pets rats are.

Do you have another cage? You'll need one before you get the new rat, because you'll have to quarantine him from the others for 3 weeks (meaning he's in a separate cage, in a separate part of the house). This will prevent any diseases he has from going to your other ones. Don't skip this step! I know it's tempting. The first time I introduced rats I didn't think I'd need to, either, and it has cost me over $200 in vet bills.

You'll also need the second cage just in case they don't get along so that your new guy will have somewhere to live!

After quarantine, you can start getting them acquainted. Put the cages near each other so they can see & smell each other for a while. After a day or so of that you can switch their cages. Put the two old guys in the new guy's cage and vice versa. They'll get a better feel for who the others are! You don't have to do that long, 20 minutes or so. Then you can introduce them. Do it somewhere neutral, like the bathroom or bathtub. Somewhere the other two don't usually go. Watch their interaction. Keep them in there for at least a half hour before you put them back in their cages. Do this several times, and if they get along you can proceed to introduce them somewhere the older rats DO play. Same thing, keep them there for a while, watch how they interact, and repeat several times. Some fighting is normal, as long as there is no blood. After you've done that, you can try the cage. Clean it thoroughly before you do this. Wipe down everything in it. Evvvvvverything! This will get rid of the other guys' scents and they won't feel as territorial. You can also put a dab of vanilla on all 3 rats, so they have similar smells. Monitor this CLOSELY. If any big fights happen, separate and go back a step. It takes lots of patience, but you can do it. :)

Answer 9

A great way to socialize them is put them in the bathtub together. None of them own that territory so none are liable to fight over it. I would get another if your mom lets you. Its a fact of life that rats will eventually pass on over the rainbow bridge. And if you have another then they other rat can lean on the 3rd one for support. They make awsome pets and I say the more the merrier that would be how I ended up with 17.

Answer 10

socialize them one at a time, keeping one old rat in a bathtub with the new rat.  this way the old rat doesn't have anything to protect (including the other old rat).  give them each something to eat, like a little treat, (they get used to one another if they eat together.) If one of them starts to arch their back or hiss take that one out immediatly and try again later.  It is normal for the older rat to try to dominate the younger one, so don't try to stop this.  let them stay on their for a long time even if they seem to like each other.  after they have been in the bathtub at least an hour without hissing or biting, put the old rat in the carrier you took your new rat home in and put the new rat in it's future cage, (so they can get used to each other's smells.)  then see how the older rat does with the new one in it's cage.  repeat with both rats.

I hope this helped!

(i used to have 2 rats of my own)