i aquired an 8 week old adorable rex female rat yesterday,i was going to put her in with my other rat,but when i got her home i realized the other rat was HUGE compared to her,i was afraid she would get hurt ,stupid of me for not thinking ahead as i have no other cage available but i saved her from being snake food she was just too cute,sweet and friendly to be eaten so anyway i put her in with my mama mouse and her 3 female tiny but weaned little ones,they get along well with and her mother mouse especially loves her she grooms her,and sleeps with her,brings her food and rides around on her back,do you think this will continue or will the rat hurt the mice as she gets older or vice versa,has anyone had any experience with rats and mice living together?
2007-02-14 06:47:16 · 5 answers · asked by onyxpryzm 4 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
thank you kelly f how rediculous to think i would put her in with my cat,i saved her from being eaten for crying out loud,why would i give her to my cat,some people really need to read the whole question
2007-02-14 07:05:59 · update #1
oops just realized the person thought i put a kitten in with a rat,but still wishing people would read question carefully before answering
2007-02-14 07:10:01 · update #2
All babies get along until they grow up and predatory instinct kicks in. I wouldn't take the chance of waking up one morning to find my mice have been killed by my rat.
If given the opportunity, rats will kill mice if they are kept together in the same cage, or if the rat is able to get into the mouse cage.
Rats are both prey and predatory animals. Rats have been known to hunt, kill, and eat animals that are smaller then themselves. Prey animals for rats include small pet birds, mice, hamsters, and insects.
http://www.ratbehavior.org/norway_rat_ethogram.htm#PredatoryBehavior
http://www.ratbehavior.org/RatsMice.htm#Muricide
BTW, the odor of a rat is very stressful to mice. When I had mice I not only kept them in separate cages, but I also kept them in separate rooms.
E-mail me, spazrats@yahoo.ca, for instructions on how to introduce your little girl to your big girl. In the meantime your little girl will have to live by herself until she is old enough, and big enough, for the intro to succeed. Kudos to you for your thoughtful rescue :*)
Sandra Beasley and the Spaz Rats
(Rattery, Rescue, and Rat-care Expert)
http://spazrats.tripod.com
2007-02-15 05:41:37 · answer #1 · answered by spazrats 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Drchristn I really think you need to read the whole question before piping in with information that is totally wrong!!!
Sorry I can not help as I really do not know if rats and mice can live together but I wanted to help you out with the bashing from the above!!
2007-02-14 06:59:19 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I do not recommend placing these species in a cage together. They are both quite territorial species, and you will almost certainly deal with fighting, and the aftereffects thereof. In addition, they would probably spread disease to one another. Just not a good idea. But I'm glad you asked. :)
2016-05-23 22:55:18 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
do not put her in with any other rodent that is smaller or larger than her. they will either figure she is food or a threat if she is smaller or if she is larger she may kill the smaller ones. better not to risk it.
2007-02-14 10:19:13 · answer #4 · answered by MommyCaleb 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You need to seriously separate them. Rats contain disease which can spread to your cat. What are you thinking? Even to put her with a rodent is absolutely wrong.
2007-02-14 06:53:03 · answer #5 · answered by drchristna_2001 3 · 0⤊ 5⤋