Getting another pet rat?

Question

I have one pet rat and I want to get another one. His name is Dexter and I don't want him to get lonely. When getting another rat, should he be about the same age and size or could it be a younger, smaller rat?

Answer 1

DEXTER! GOOD SHOW

Answer 2

It is great that you are getting another rat - they should NEVER be alone.  Definitely get a male - it might be better to get a younger one that will learn from the older one and he will also not try to challenge the dominant position of Dexter, but rather accept to learn from him. Good luck

Answer 3

A younger smaller rat might not be a bad idea, as the older male might adopt him.  It really shouldn't matter a ton.

Check out this site before you adopt a new rat: http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk/information/...

It goes through how to properly introduce new rats.  You can't just put them in a cage together and hope for the best starting off.  Rats are highly territorial and are likely to fight if you do that.  Since you might have to keep them separated for a bit, make sure you have an extra cage, water bottle, etc for the newcomer.

I'm glad to see you're getting a second rat.  Rats are highly sociable creatures and really need a buddy to be psychologically healthy.

Please check out your local humane society for a new rat.  It costs about the same, but the money goes towards helping other animals and you'll save a rat.  If that's not an option, you should get your new rat from a breeder or a small, local pet store, rather than a large chain pet store.  Rats from large chains aren't socialized and aren't bred to be of hardy stock.  Many times, big chain rats will end up with health issues later in life (if not presently) and are more likely to bite.

Hope that helps!

Answer 4

That is an excellent idea. Dexter will appriciate a friend :)

There is a lot to learn before introducing rats.

First, there is a mandatory quarantine period. There is a number of infections which only affect rodents, and can spread just through them being in the same air. You want to keep the new rat as far away from Dexter as possible, in a different room, if not another building. Illnesses can be carried by rats without causing them to show any symptoms and appear perfectly healthy, but when they are brought into different air, the illness will either thrive  and make the rat sick (in which case you need to cure the sick rat) or die on its own. Quarantine lasts 2-3 weeks, the longer the better, so any potential illnesses can die off. After this time, then you start the introduction period.

The introductions last around a week for me. You continue keeping them in separate cages, but taking them out several times a day, for very short amounts of time, on a neutral surface (like bathtub or something)  to meet each other. As they get to know each other, you can increase the amount of time they spend together. Half way through the week, you can move their cages near each other.

You want to get as young rat. Male rats will challenge each other, so by getting a baby that will not need to challenge Dexter, you will be making their meeting easier. Males get along wonderfully until someone tries to over power the other. Rats 5-6 weeks are exactly perfect.

Here are some sites about quarantine and introductions which you need to read:

http://www.ratz.co.uk/quarantine.html

http://www.ratz.co.uk/ratintro.html

http://www.petratscanada.com/ratcare.htm...

http://ratguide.com/health/basics/quaran...