Question about my new rat and my old one?

Question

I am getting a new rat and i was wondering how i should go about introducing the new rat to my old one?

Thank You!

Answer 1

I put my new one in a small travel cage with small bar spacing and put that in the big cage with the old rat. I let them have half a day or so to get to know each other's smell, then introduce them slowly on neutral territory, holding one rat and let the other sniff so I can take them apart quickly. Even when they get along fine at first, I only let them together for an hour at first and increase it over a week's time.

Answer 2

if u have a ball then put the new one in there and put it in the cage and see if they fight

thats all u need to do

if they do get another cage for tht one

if they don't try to fight then leave them they will do it themselves

but even if it doesn't look like they are fighting when its in a ball

then put them together for real and watch them

see if they fight

Answer 3

Rats have to be introduced very carefully as they are highly territorial.  You can't just throw them in a cage together and hope for the best without ending up with an injured rat.  Rats have to be introduced gradually, eventually in a neutral area, like a bathtub.

This site has great advice as to how to properly introduce rats:http://www.fancy-rats.co.uk/information/...

It talks about what behavior to watch out for and what is just dominance struggles.  

Make sure you have a separate place for the new rat to stay for a bit until they get along.  You'll need a separate cage, water bottle, toys, etc.  Most of all, be patient.  It's going to take a little time for everything to become hunky dory.  

Hope that helps!