I bought my rat Moby from a pet store where i live, and i know that it isnt the best place to get a rat, but after he calmed down a bit, he turned out fine. moby's been fine up til now, but he has always been pretty solitary, which should be expected. Anyway, ive gone back into the same pet store that i bought my first rat in, and got my second rat, Tidget. i was worried how moby would react in seeing tidge for the first time, but he seemed fine for a while. moby likes sitting on my shoulder, and tidge is quite adventurous, and moby turned really aggressive towards tidge when he came near. yet still reacted normally to affection from me. i was aware that this would probably happen, but moby is now refusing to let tidge into his cage, or any other areas he considers his. What can i do?? ???
WontLoseHim
Re: New Cage Mate?
Woops, i forgot to mention,
moby and tidge are both males, considering that fact that i dont wish to breed. i know that two males is not the wisest choice, but i have had two males before, although they reated quite differently, probably because they were boughtat the same time and age.
im just worried that they wont get along, as i love them both as much as each other.
Woops, i forgot to mention,
moby and tidge are both males, considering that fact that i dont wish to breed. i know that two males is not the wisest choice, but i have had two males before, although they reated quite differently, probably because they were boughtat the same time and age.
im just worried that they wont get along, as i love them both as much as each other.
Have you introduced them properly? If not, Moby probably sees Tidge as an intruder on his territory.
Read the introductions sticky:
http://www.ratforum.com/index.php/topic,3991.0.html
Read the introductions sticky:
http://www.ratforum.com/index.php/topic,3991.0.html
The introduction of two males is usually easier than with females, unless they are at the age of 6-8 months.
Introducing them properly and cleaning out the cage they will be potentially sharing is very important.
Introduce them somewhere like the couch or the (dry, of course) bath tub. Have a spray bottle on hand in case they turn aggresive. Introduce them and when the introductions are going well (it may take more than 1 introduction) clean the cage out very throughly. Change the bedding, clean the cage bars, change the food, etc. so there are no territorial issues.
Introduce them somewhere like the couch or the (dry, of course) bath tub. Have a spray bottle on hand in case they turn aggresive. Introduce them and when the introductions are going well (it may take more than 1 introduction) clean the cage out very throughly. Change the bedding, clean the cage bars, change the food, etc. so there are no territorial issues.
90% of the rats I've kept have been males and there's only ever been one who I really couldn't introduce to my resident boys. It may be that Moby's just one of those rats who can't stand other rats, but follow the advice the others have given and try to be as patient as possible!!!
Have you thought about getting him neutered? It's expensive, I know, but it's really worth it when it comes to calming down an aggressive nature
Have you thought about getting him neutered? It's expensive, I know, but it's really worth it when it comes to calming down an aggressive nature
Make sure you've followed the introduction process correctly..
I've only ever had a problem with one male, and it was severe. About a week after he had been put in the cage with the other boys (after introductions, everything had been going fine) he attacked my rat Gambit. Gambit's eye was punctured and he had a two inch gash in his belly so deep you could see his stomach. I had to have Gambit put down at the vet because I didn't have the $550 I needed for laceration surgery, topical ointment, stitches, stitch removal, and all the meds he needed. The aggressive rat then became a problem with the other two, and I had to separate him from the others. I ended up giving him to a friend, and he died about three months later of an unknown cause. I'm still to this day not sure what was wrong with him. R.I.P. Gambit and Buzz
Good luck.
I've only ever had a problem with one male, and it was severe. About a week after he had been put in the cage with the other boys (after introductions, everything had been going fine) he attacked my rat Gambit. Gambit's eye was punctured and he had a two inch gash in his belly so deep you could see his stomach. I had to have Gambit put down at the vet because I didn't have the $550 I needed for laceration surgery, topical ointment, stitches, stitch removal, and all the meds he needed. The aggressive rat then became a problem with the other two, and I had to separate him from the others. I ended up giving him to a friend, and he died about three months later of an unknown cause. I'm still to this day not sure what was wrong with him. R.I.P. Gambit and Buzz
Good luck.
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
