Problems With Introd

» legrandsiecle - Scaredy Rats

I have a male rat, Dover, (16 months old) that just lost his best friend. I don't want him to live alone so I brought home 2 brothers, now 9 weeks old. They have been living in 2 cages side by side for 3 weeks now. I have attempted to put all of them together several times but the young ones bare their teeth and freeze. Dover will go up to one of them and put his head down to be groomed (by the way, he was the dominant male with his last buddy). The young rats (Castor and
Pollux) will remain frozen and maybe squeal. Sometimes Dover will push his side into one of the
twins which creates much squealing. I don't know what to do.

I'm really afraid because I tried to introduce
a 6-week old baby when Hello, Dover's buddy, was still with us, but I turned my back for one minute and Hello had blood all over his mouth. It was very sad and unnerving. I don't want anything like this to happen again. I have hope because it wasn't Dover who attacked the other baby.

What should I do? I did the bath tub introduction, and bathing all the rats, cleaned and rearranged the cage, treats... I
think the problem is that the babies are so afraid. Sometimes when the 3 are together the 2 babies will start fighting with each other. Should I introduce one baby at a time?

Help!!

-- posted by legrandsiecle

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» computersaysno - Scaredy Rats

In response to Scaredy Rats posted by legrandsiecle:

hi there i have had a situation like this before with my rat bouncer, she lost her sister custard at 5 months old, when introducing new rats u must do this on neutral territory and very slowly, sometimes it can take weeks we are currently introducing 2 now which seems to be going okay, but unfortunatelly with bouncer she wouldnt accept another rat at all, she would fight with them, scratch and squeek, we had to admit defeat in the end and leave her on her own which she seems quite happy with, if u cant get your 3 rats together i think its best u dont push the issue, as long as the rat on her own is given plenty of attention and time by you she will be okay on her own, a lot of older rats will not accept baby rats due to dominance and territory i hope this helps and things work out ok

-- posted by computersaysno

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» legrandsiecle - Scaredy Rats

In response to Scaredy Rats posted by computersaysno:

Thanks for your response. Dover, the older rat is fine with them. He would love for them to groom him. But the babies are afraid of him and refuse to believe that Dover is a nice rat. The other night one bit Dover on the backside. There was no blood, not even a mark - we looked everywhere. Dover writhed on his back in pain for hours. It was terrible. There was nothing to treat. Days later we still can't find a mark. He now lives alone and hangs out with us often. No more traumatizing the rats.

-- posted by legrandsiecle

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