[Agretfethr]

Hello! Two weeks ago, I adopted a third rat, Himbus, as a new buddy for my current boys Gobbles and Scrumps. Himbus was fine when I first met him and I thought it was him being cuddly (my boys are very friendly and will try to get on the shoulders of bre people they meet) when the lady I got him from gave him to me.

After the quarantine period I've been able to give (I live in a small apartment with roommates so I wasn't able to do a full quarantine), I tried doing intros a couple ways. I first tried the carrier method, but it didn't end well. The boys were cuddling that morning when I woke up, and I later moved them to the next stage up, a small cage that's empty except food/water bottles... But that's where it went wrong. All three boys did a fair bit of wrestling before, but Himbus got violent and drew blood on both boys. I took them to the emergency vet asap and got meds for them, and put Himbus back into his own cage again, separate from the boys. A few days after, I tried the bathtub intro method, but stopped it basically immediately because I could tell that Himbus was going to attack again (the sidling, puffing up, huffing, etc.).


I'm planning on scheduling a neuter for Himbus, but I'm worried it won't be enough for him to calm down. The cage setup is a DCN with Himbus in the top half, Gobbles and Scrumps in the lower half. Himbus tries to get at them at the edges of the tray and of course, Gobbles and Scrumps are curious/a little mad themselves and trying to sniff him which only stokes the flame. Ive been trying to do a few cage swaps to get them used to each other's scents, but I'm no longer planning on trying this again at the moment, as Himbus managed to bite Scrumps' tail when it fell through the bars...

Are there any ideas you may have for me to help Himbus settle in and get along with the boys? He doesn't like me either and won't let me pick him without screaming, will bite me if i get my hands too close or keep them in the cage too long, and overall is just having a bad time. It makes me sad knowing he's having such a miserable time here, and I don't want to give up on him, I think we'll be friends at some point and he's just scared... Any advice would be appreciated!!

Gobbles (front) and Scrumps (back) are my OG boys and Himbus is the new one, all 8 months

 

[goblinsmischief]

how old is himbus? it might be worth it to try moving himbus to a different cage if you can as being so close to the other two without being able to actually get to them might be winding him up.

 

[Agretfethr]

Himbus was a rescue rat to my knowledge so we're not exactly sure, but I was told around 8 months old, which is the same age as Gobbles and Scrumps. I moved him over to another cage across the room, I'll get back to you on his behaviour over there.

 

[goblinsmischief]

getting him neutered is probably your best bet. plus you can focus on his aggression towards you while hes healing and away from the others

 

[*Girl]

Did you try intro's one on one? I don't know what the experienced folks think but it might be less threatening for Himbus, just let them sniff each other for a bit in the tub.

My boys kept fighting and I neutered them both 3 weeks ago. It is such a difference! Best decision ever, they are best friends now and up to no good together all the time ❤

Good luck

 

[Agretfethr]

Did you try intro's one on one? I don't know what the experienced folks think but it might be less threatening for Himbus, just let them sniff each other for a bit in the tub.

My boys kept fighting and I neutered them both 3 weeks ago. It is such a difference! Best decision ever, they are best friends now and up to no good together all the time ❤

Good luck

Hello! I have tried one on ones a few days ago, but I ended it early since Gobbles was puffing up, sidling, etc. Basically doing what Himbus was doing during the first intros. I'll give them another go, but I'm nervous about which boy I should intro with. Gobbles is the calmer of the two, but he's also the one Himbus hurt worse...

 

[Agretfethr]

Did you try intro's one on one? I don't know what the experienced folks think but it might be less threatening for Himbus, just let them sniff each other for a bit in the tub.

My boys kept fighting and I neutered them both 3 weeks ago. It is such a difference! Best decision ever, they are best friends now and up to no good together all the time ❤

Good luck

Update! I'm trying intros again and so far, so good!!! I had the boys in the smallest carrier last night and besides a bit of tension in the beginning, no problems. I put Scrumps in first with Himbus, and then added Gobbles maybe a half hour later. With a bit of swaying the carrier and bringing them outside a couple times since it was chilly, they were a lot quicker calming down and settling. I put them in the next carrier up today and they're doing well :] Himbus is hiding under the blanket I have in there though so I'll keep them in the carrier for a bit longer before attempting the next move up.