Do two male rats generally get along? I am wondering because for the benifit of my second rat, I am going to get a second? Where to buy healthy rats, that won't have to be taken to the vet immetaitally?
2007-10-07 09:24:43 · 6 answers · asked by maddiepthedramaqueen 2 in Pets ➔ Rodents
Males are more territorial then females so there is the chance they won't get along especially if they have not been with another rat in a while. If you give your rat enough attention he won't need a friend. Just the same, perhaps you are to busy. Introducing male rats to each other is possible. You must have more then one cage and it is to be done very slowly. For getting a rat that is healthy, I would look online and find a bunch of breeders in your area. Ask them questions and visit them. Breeders usually have the healthiest animals. Make sure the animals apear healthy. The other alternative is rescue rats. There are many organizations that rescue rats and these rats may even be healthier then that of a breeders animals. You can choose from all different ages and most animals are healthy. I would go with rescuing because you are saving a life. Good luck!
2007-10-07 10:07:39 · answer #1 · answered by Jenn 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
From personal experience, I'd say solitude effects rats' quality of life more than their lifespan. I still feel bad about all the single rats I've kept before learning better, even though they always got tons of attention. The singles *seemed* happy but it's very apparent that rats who live with other rats have a much richer life & are more enjoyable companions.
If you live near a small animal rescue or a good breeder, these are usually great places to adopt from, as the rats are usually well socialized & very healthy & you can ask questions about individual personalities. Pet stores can be good, but our experiences with pet store animals has been very mixed. If you can find one where the employees know & care about the animals, & you ask to hold anyone you're interested in adopting, chances are you'll find a sweet & healthy rat.
I've heard that males *sometimes* fight, but our boys are brothers & get along fine. You may have more success if you get a younger male as a companion for your guy, & introduce them *gradually* in a neutral area after quarantining the newbie.
When we've introduced females, we would put the cages close together so they could interact but not touch each other. After a day or 2, I bring everybody out for some supervised playtime & after a couple days of doing this 2-3 times a day, I put them together & see how that goes. Usually there is no problem, but in one case our hairless girl huffed @ the newcomer for 2 weeks before settling down & I didn't dare let them out together until the huffing had stopped for awhile (they're best friends now).
Good luck with you new rat when you get him.
2007-10-07 18:30:44 · answer #2 · answered by Catkin 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Most of them are lost without a cage mate. I've always had boys and they love their brothers, they play and groom each other and snuggle. There was one case that I took in a rescue who was a real bully and wanted nothing to do with the other boys except fight. He was the exception rather than the rule, though.
A great thing to do is get a young rat from a reputable breeder. Make sure you listen to his chest for any sign of respiratory distress and if he looks healthy take him home to meet your older boy. You can let them sniff eachother between two cages. If you notice them get fluffly, pacing or lunging at each other then you probably have an aggressive rat that isn't interested in meeting a new friend. Odds are, though you will find them acting totally natural. The youngsters that I've brought home have all been able to move into the big cage immediately and are welcomed with grooming and snuggles!
I think it is really essential for them to have a friend to socialize with. My current rat, Groucho just lost his brother and is very clearly depressed. I'm looking forward to bringing him home a new friend to make sure he has the best quality of life possible.
2007-10-07 17:47:23 · answer #3 · answered by Atilla the Han 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Male rats generally get along very well. I have 3 boys myself. It generally shouldn't affect their life span unless the new rat carries a disease that he would pass on to your current rat. Theirs also the probability that the rats not get along and cause stress in your rats, resulting in separate housing.
In general your rat would benefit from a cage mate. It would keep him entertained when your not there to give him attention. They would also play together and most likely groom each other... getting those hard to reach spots.
Here's a site that will help you with a new rat introduction : http://www.ratfanclub.org/newrat.html . Just remember that you need to quarantine your new rat for 2-3 weeks before introducing him to your current rat.
The best place to buy a healthy rat would be from a personal breeder because they are handled from a young age and they are most likely healthier and less stressed then in stores (who receive their rats from breeding mills).
Hope that you find what will work best for you and your rat.
2007-10-07 17:15:11 · answer #4 · answered by Lambkins 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I always read and heard that rats HAD to have a companion. I have only one rat, a female. I give her plenty of love and attention, and she is doing wonderfully-happy , healthy, and very loving.
2007-10-07 16:56:18 · answer #5 · answered by animalover 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
rats are social creatures so getting a friend is a god idea
2007-10-07 16:27:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋