So...I have a few things to ask about my various rodents and the way they interact.

Question

I guess I should start off by listing my pets...Betty Syrian hamster, the Professor-Siberian hamster, Chingy-13 lined ground squirrel, Luna-blue rat, Max-guinea pig, Mimi-guinea pig. If you're going to tell me to let my ground squirrel go, please don't answer this question. I have my reasons for keeping her, and she is well taken care of and loves us/her life with us.

Anyways, my rat Luna really loves Chingy for some reason (even more than Max and Mimi) and will l**k her face and groom her when we hold them together. I know they do this to other rats, but her half siblings aren't old enough to be seperated from their mother yet, so we'll have to wait a few weeks before we can get her a playmate (Luna's 10 weeks old). Has anyone else's rat taken to another animal or rodent like this if there wasn't another rat for him/her to play with? Luna really loves Chingy, but she doesn't appear to like either of the hamsters, because when we have her on the bed while either of them is running around on the bed, she'll attack them. Any ideas why she likes the ground squirrel and not the hamsters? And also, Mimi (guinea pig) is due to have her babies in about 3 weeks, so I plan on removing Maxie when she has them so he won't get her pregnant again. Since I always hold them together and they live together right now, I'm afraid he might be lonely, so I was wondering how old the pups have to be before I can put one of his sons in with him (after weaning of course). Oh yeah, just to let you know, the hamsters ARE in different cages, but we do hold them together because they get along outside of the cage. And I do know that Luna and the new rat will have to be introduced before they can live together as well. Brand new cage that has neither's scent, right?

Answer 1

Wow...

Never let different species of rodents play with each other. The rat attacks the hamsters for a reason. Don't let any of the rodents see each other again because it's not safe. Do you see rats and squirrels playing with each other in the wild? Or rats and hamsters?

It's okay to keep two male guinea pigs together. It's just a myth that they can't be kept together. It's not true. They CAN be kept together. You just gotta introduce them right.

Read this (scroll down a bit and you'll see "Adding a 2nd Cavy") http://cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm

Answer 2

well i don't know anything about hamsters or squirrels but as for guinea pigs, don't put any of the sons or daughters in the cage with him. even though they are family, males tend to fight and it can get pretty nasty. also, even though they are family, males and females will mate no matter what. i would say just give max tons and tons of attention so he doesn't get depressed. just like humans, animals can get depressed. when they get depressed they won't eat or drink which i'm sure you know is very dangerous.  

Answer 3

use a bathtub to introduce animals but rats are really no problem to introduce. i do not know why luna likes chingy so much, but it sounds interesting. my rats have taken to my rabbit and will groom her long fur while she eats