ChatterBank2 mins ago
Rattyratgirl I need your help! Will this work?? Any other rat people can answer. NO RUDE COMMENTS!
I have recently thought of getting another rat, because my old girl has a bad ear ache and isn't looking good...:( Any way I've been reading up on some articals on introducing rats, and a may have an idea. What I was thinking is have them downstairs in my territory with my play pen stretched out like a gait. Then put my two girls on one side and the rat girl on other and let them go up to the gait and have them figure is out and smell each other. But first I am going to put the new one in their old litter and rub some on her to make her smell like them. After about a hour or two with the gait (I'll get a towel and a spray bottle in case fighting happens) I'll open it up and let them run around and smell each other.
WILL IT WORK?
Thanks,
Emma
WILL IT WORK?
Thanks,
Emma
Answers
1 to 9 of 9
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keep an eye on the thread though if rattyratgirl pops up I'll post her a quick one to point her in your direction. Thing is AB is a uk site and mostly older folk so we have a bit of a time lapse... Its the repeated 'prompts' that will irritate folk... I expect you are doing it to stay in the latest posts but the animal regulars check to see whats new quite often so you won't be missed.
Hi Daisy,
Disclaimer first...I have never had pet rats in my life, but I have owned Degus for many years so this is how I would introduce a newbie.
In the first instance they are kept in separate but very close together so they can see and smell each other but not touch. [for around two weeks]
Degu's love to sand bath [like Chinchillas] so all the time I would swap baths and bedding....as you mention in your post they need to smell the same.
For introductions I put a towel in the bath [bit no water lol] and put on a pair of gardening gloves, then get a water spray on standby.
Then chuck them in!!!!
You're now going to see one of two things.... death or interest.
Use gloved hands to separate them if they really go for each other but remember you will see some showing off, squealing etc.
This is not an easy thing to do and can take weeks.... other Gu's I have re-homed I have been able to put in the cage with in days....It's a bit of trial and error.... Just keep the water spray and gloves handy at all times!
Lisa x
Disclaimer first...I have never had pet rats in my life, but I have owned Degus for many years so this is how I would introduce a newbie.
In the first instance they are kept in separate but very close together so they can see and smell each other but not touch. [for around two weeks]
Degu's love to sand bath [like Chinchillas] so all the time I would swap baths and bedding....as you mention in your post they need to smell the same.
For introductions I put a towel in the bath [bit no water lol] and put on a pair of gardening gloves, then get a water spray on standby.
Then chuck them in!!!!
You're now going to see one of two things.... death or interest.
Use gloved hands to separate them if they really go for each other but remember you will see some showing off, squealing etc.
This is not an easy thing to do and can take weeks.... other Gu's I have re-homed I have been able to put in the cage with in days....It's a bit of trial and error.... Just keep the water spray and gloves handy at all times!
Lisa x
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