[Christina86]

Okay, maybe not impossible. But I was worrying a lot.

Everyone knows that I got a rat a week ago, right? His name is Miles, and he's around 3-4 months old. Cute boy.

But he was lonely, so I thought I'd buy him a friend (since apparently they're better socializing with someone of their same species lol).

So I bought another boy on this past Wednesday. His name is Allan, and he's a mere 9 weeks old (he's a tiny boy).

I didn't introduce them from the get-go, because apparently that's bad because of the risk of transmitting illness.

But I got fed up with rats in seperate cages, so I introduced them to each other about 3 hours ago, in the big cage where they will live...

And the impossible was achieved!!

They haven't killed each other. Actually, that can happen with aggressive rats. They're establishing a social heirarchy, and it's a bit more noisy at the moment with them "fighting" a bit... but no hurt cries, and no blood drawn.

Hence, they'll (hopefully) be best buddies in a few days!!!

I realize now I never did post pictures of the new baby, Allan. So I'll try to take pictures tomorrow and post them then, okay?

WOOHOO! I don't fail as a pet owner!!

[(JD)]

I wonder how long before you inform us that Allan is really Alaina? TC

[Christina86]

Oh dear, that would be horrendous. Nope, they are both DEFINITELY boys. Otherwise, BIG trouble. Nope, they have their boy bits.

[Rose3]

looking forward to the pictures

[sabby]

May Miles and Allen have some wonderful times together!


sabby

[Behindthemoon]

i think it is not a very nice idea to keep two mice in one cage. keep them separate and get them together when you are present would be a good idea. Cause they are the kind of creatures very sensitive to the changes of the environment and can get anxious very easily...and well i'd better not mention it. it triggers.

[Christina86]

</font><blockquote><div id="quote"><font class="small">Quote:</font>
Behindthemoon said:
i think it is not a very nice idea to keep two mice in one cage. keep them separate and get them together when you are present would be a good idea. Cause they are the kind of creatures very sensitive to the changes of the environment and can get anxious very easily...and well i'd better not mention it. it triggers.

</div></font></blockquote><font class="post">

That would be the case for some smaller rodents perhaps, but rats live in colonies in the wild, and apparently I wasn't being humane when I only had one rat because they're social creatures.

[sabby]

"Rats are highly intelligent, social animals, and although they enjoy the companionship of humans, they thrive in - and need - the company of their own species. Although they will usually survive if kept as single pets, pet care is not just a matter of keeping animals alive; rats will have happier and more interesting lives when kept with other rats. Rats should never live alone, and ideally should be kept in groups of two or more of the same sex. It is unfair to deprive any social animal of the company of its own species. Rats enjoy grooming each other, curling up to sleep together, and sometimes even fighting. It is usual for rats to scrap occasionally, especially when they are 'teenagers' between 3 and 6 months old; do not worry about this unless you see serious injuries, as the rats are just establishing a pecking order."

This is an excerpt from this site Rats




sabby

Oh yay!

anyone who knows me knows I LOVE rats. Especially hooded rats. What kind did you get Christina?

And yes, rats are VERY social. My old rat sam used to play with the cats and run around the house loose all the time, he was a BIG rat though lol.

What a cute little story, Christina!!!! Good luck with your rats!

[Christina86]

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Rainbowzz said:
Oh yay!

anyone who knows me knows I LOVE rats. Especially hooded rats. What kind did you get Christina?

And yes, rats are VERY social. My old rat sam used to play with the cats and run around the house loose all the time, he was a BIG rat though lol.

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Would have got a hooded rat, but it was female.

I got a black one, and a cream-coloured. Both straight-haired (no rex for me!)

[bflatgary]

I really learned to appreciate rats about six years ago. My daughter had a class in animal training that required that she train a rat. A friend of your gave us a white rat with a tan "veil" mark on her. She named her "Champagne". After determining that Champagne wasn't very bright, she bought a feeder rat, black as night except for a white belly, and named her "Caviar". Caviar was trained for the class.

My wife developed a very close relationship with Champagne. The rat used to nuzzle her. Champagne had several cancer surgeries before we had to put her down.

Caviar wasn't quite as friendly. She was a more athletic rat, and if she got loose, it was a major project to catch her.

My daughter dropped the class when the rat froze up during the test. She would take the class again a couple years later. Again she bought two rats, this time from the same litter. These girls were named Chablis and Truffle. They were young, six week old rats. What we didn't know was that Chablis was carrying a load of pinkies! She gave birth to nine, so we had eleven rats for a few weeks.

We kept two of the pinkies, both male. One of the pinkies did a magnificent job in the class for my daughter.

bfG

[Behindthemoon]

Well, its not that i do not believe in science...last time i had two rats in separate cages alright until i let them live together and found out the next day that one had killed the other with his teeth.(ahmm,sorry if it triggers.)

[psych16m]

my older bro has a pet rat. its so cool it follows him everywhere and its huge. wish i had one.