New cage mate

164 Views 9 Replies 3 Participants Last post by PotHeadSteve, 6 d ago

PotHeadSteve

Discussion Starter · 10 d ago

So i just put Sten and Olaf in the same cage. Olaf is starting to get better. But he is still really scared. He has been in a corner of the cage in a puddle of his own piss and ****. He won't move from the puddle until Sten comes out to play. Whenever i take Sten out to play i leave Olaf in the cage and he immediately perks up. Whenever Sten gets too close he keeps like huffing or hissing at him.
Is any of this normal rat behavior? Because it has been a month and Olaf is still super scared. This breeder i got him from was super sketchy. I will never go back there again. Sten isn't hurting him but i can tell he is getting worried about him because he keeps trying to groom him. He isn't being aggressive at all, he is like showing him his butt and like trying to turn around while backing his butt into Olaf to hold him down to groom him. Every time Olaf runs off and cries. He has been getting better slightly. They were eating together on the same shelf inside the cage and having a bath together. But Olaf is still to scared to play with Sten.
I feel so bad for Olaf, he really wants to come out and play but he gets too scared when he sees Sten with him.

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Tinytoes

· #2 · 9 d ago (Edited)

It may just be he needs more time. They aren't fighting, and are at least keeping each other company, forming a relationship, even if it is strained. Poor Olaf has trust issues, and that takes a long time to over come. I think if you are patient and keep doing what you're doing, they will eventually become friends. Olaf may always be a bit on the fearful side, but that isn't the worst thing

Stay hopeful, you are giving Olaf the best home he can have.

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PotHeadSteve

Discussion Starter · #3 · 9 d ago

So i think Olaf might have hurt his finger. I will try to take a picture of it tonight. It could also just be his own pee/poo mix on his hands. But i don't think Sten did it to him. I think he may have just got his finger caught in the bars.
He is getting better everyday. They can eat on the same shelf together and i saw them having a bath together on the same shelf. He lets me pick him up now and he is actually really sweet around people. But other rats he has such a problem with.

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PotHeadSteve

Discussion Starter · #4 · 8 d ago

So i found a huge gash on Olafs back and there was blood on the table. I will be taking them out of the cage. I honestly want to return Olaf or set him up for adoption. I can't take care of him and i don't have the time to take two rats out separately everyday. I doubt Olaf can really stay in the same cage ever with Sten or any other rat.

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Tinytoes

· #5 · 8 d ago

I'm so sorry it has come to this. We can't save them all, and if you are not able to keep them then finding another home might be best. Try looking for a rescue online, or a pet finder list. You might find someone who is willing to take in Olaf and give him a good home. Best of luck to you, my friend. You have done your best.

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PotHeadSteve

Discussion Starter · #6 · 8 d ago

I feel like i lost all my progress. Olaf has a huge gash on his back and one of his fingers are broken. Sten has a little mark under his eye too, since Sten probably chased him and Olaf scratched his eye so Sten must have bitten him on the back. I will keep trying and maybe by some miracle they will be friends. Otherwise i can't take care of him. Like work is picking up and they are going to want me working 40+ hours a week, while i am trying to pay off a motorcycle which is going to be insanely expensive. I am just going to be way too tired to take care of Olaf.

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ratbusters

· #7 · 8 d ago

I think that apart from feeling a bit overwhelming for you, it also may not be that safe for little Olaf. He is probably feeling quite scared and I think you are right about not wanting to keep them together. And running 2 separate cages isn't ideal either.
I hope you find a good solution for everyone - all the best.

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PotHeadSteve

Discussion Starter · #8 · 6 d ago

ratbusters said:
I think that apart from feeling a bit overwhelming for you, it also may not be that safe for little Olaf. He is probably feeling quite scared and I think you are right about not wanting to keep them together. And running 2 separate cages isn't ideal either.
I hope you find a good solution for everyone - all the best.

I think what might be going on is that Olaf might be a dwarf rat. He is like 5 months but he hasn't grown much at all and its been a month. I remember Sten was growing really fast when he was the same age. If he is a dwarf rat then it wouldn't be that hard to adopt him out to someone who just has dwarf rats. He broke his finger during the fight and it was bent to the left but it is actually looking better. Like its not as red or bent, it hasn't effected his ability to climb. And when i separated them he is much happier. I feel so bad for him, he is so sweet with me.

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ratbusters

· #9 · 6 d ago

PotHeadSteve said:
I think what might be going on is that Olaf might be a dwarf rat. He is like 5 months but he hasn't grown much at all and its been a month. I remember Sten was growing really fast when he was the same age. If he is a dwarf rat then it wouldn't be that hard to adopt him out to someone who just has dwarf rats. He broke his finger during the fight and it was bent to the left but it is actually looking better. Like its not as red or bent, it hasn't effected his ability to climb. And when i separated them he is much happier. I feel so bad for him, he is so sweet with me.

Aww.. he sounds like a nice little boy.
I'm trying to remember back to when our babies were 5 months old and I think they were pretty close to full size. Maybe he is a dwarf rat.

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PotHeadSteve

Discussion Starter · #10 · 6 d ago

ratbusters said:
Aww.. he sounds like a nice little boy.
I'm trying to remember back to when our babies were 5 months old and I think they were pretty close to full size. Maybe he is a dwarf rat.

When i got Harold and Pilgore they were pretty much full size by then and Olaf is still so tiny.

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