Depressed rat after new addition?

Question

For the longest time I had one hairless female rat (I know, I should always have a playmate). She never acted depressed or upset and seemed to enjoy being a single rat. She received TONS of personal attention from me. I hold her every day, we go walking together, etc etc.

However, I am about to start college again, and I know I won't be able to give her the attention she needs. We bought a new hairless female playmate and, after proper quarantine, introduced them together a few short days ago.

Now, my older rat seems to be depressed. She sits in her corner, doing nothing but curled up. She used to come up to me when I opened her cage, but now she just stares at me.

I have a feeling the new rat is acting dominant by climbing on my older rat and peeing on her and nipping at her (without breaking the skin, though). They are about 3 months apart, age difference. However, I did catch them cuddling together this morning and sharing food and water.

Could my older rat be depressed because her dominance was taken over by a younger rat? Could she be nervous with a new playmate? Or could she be sick? I plan on taking her to the vet this week, but until then, any advice would be great!

Thank you!

Answer 1

what the one rat is doing to your current rat is completely normal and doesnt make them feel shamed or unworthy like it would to a human. 3 months apart is not a large enough distance for some actual action to be taking place. it could be that shes being submissive, but that is a completely normal animal behavior.

Answer 2

It sounds to me like she might just be showing her submissivness to her new sister. All animals will have one dominant leader, and it looks like the new little girl has established that she is dominant and your older one is not contesting that and trying to show she is submissive and won't try to be dominant. I think that in some time that she will perk up again. She is just trying to be careful to show the other rat that she is not going to take away her dominance.

what the one rat is doing to your current rat is completely normal and doesnt make them feel shamed or unworthy like it would to a human. 3 months apart is not a large enough distance for some actual action to be taking place. it could be that shes being submissive, but that is a completely normal animal behavior.

it is just submissive behavior. it will pass in a few days.

Answer 3

it is just submissive behavior. it will pass in a few days.

Answer 4

Is the younger rat DEFIANTLY a female? Just wondering cause you said she peed on her.

Answer 5

It sounds to me like she might just be showing her submissivness to her new sister. All animals will have one dominant leader, and it looks like the new little girl has established that she is dominant and your older one is not contesting that and trying to show she is submissive and won't try to be dominant. I think that in some time that she will perk up again. She is just trying to be careful to show the other rat that she is not going to take away her dominance.