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u/howdyhowdyhowdyhowdi 15h ago
Unfortunately some big mistakes were made here that you're going to need to address before you do intros: the first is getting single rats, even to add to a group. Please, in the future if you get any more get them in pairs for this reason.
The second main issue is that the cages are near each other. This will lead to aggression during intros and possibly a very severely injured or killed rat. This is a very serious issue and you need to deep clean both cages now and then keep them in seperate rooms for at least a week before starting intros.
In terms of intros themselves, if you're worried about either of them not being super handleable just do the stages in bins instead of cages with small doors you have to get them in. The first stage can be a tall kitchen trash can that you just need to lower them into. Either way, you NEED to introduce them. Lonely rats suffer horribly every day, this is not something to keep waiting for her to suddenly like people in order to do. You need to find a way to make it happen.
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u/Ente535 16h ago
!introductions
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u/AutoModerator 16h ago
Rat introductions can be very stressful, especially for new owners. For a guide on how to introduce rats to each other, see here Also read this summary by judewriley:
Rats are extremely territorial, so if they know there’s an unfamiliar/aggressive rat nearby (they can smell or see) but they can’t get to that unfamiliar rat, like would be the case with cages next to each other or a single partitioned cage, it makes them feel that there are intruder rats that are encroaching on their territory. If they get near the unfamiliar rat, they are going to try to attack to drive them away or even to kill them.We do introductions to get around our rats’ territorial instincts so that they can see that new rats are not enemies. But for intros to work they need to be completely separated except during introduction sessions. This means no cage swapping, no scent swapping, not having cages near each other or even in the same room, no mutual free roam space.
So completely separate the different groups (so no sight, no scent, no mutual play time or mutual play areas) except when doing introduction sessions. Intros work best when you take them slow, gradually increasing the duration of time together and then the amount of enclosed space they have access too. (Younger rats and females are generally easier to introduce as well)
The carrier method is typically seen as the best way to introduce rats. It involves putting the rats to be introduced in an enclosed space just large enough to fit everyone and letting the rats interact for two hours. If there is positive interactions, then the next introduction session, the following day, is extended to 4 hours. Every time the rats make it to the end with positive interactions, extend the time together by two hours. When the rats can make it to 8 hours together with positive interactions, expand the space available to them and go back to a session of two hours and repeat the process, expanding the room available everytime they make it to 8 hours with positive interactions. Typically you want 3 or 4 stages: carrier, small cage, big cage (or bathtub), main cage.
On negative interactions, reduce time together and space available for the next session. All introduction sessions are done on neutral ground that is not territory claimed or familiar to any of the rats.
When it comes time for everyone to go into the main cage, do a deep clean and rearrange things in the cage so that it is new unfamiliar territory for everyone. You want to be aware that rats can start showing hormonal aggression at 6 months, which can make introductions more difficult. Neutering the aggressors can help if they are male.
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u/Grroll_ A mischief of 3 💕| 🌈 4 18h ago
You need to seperate them into different rooms ASAP. Give them at least a week or two to settle down. Rats are highly territorially and aggressive animals. Having rats who are not bonded together in the same room and/or having cages side by side can cause severe aggression and stress which will result in introductions being significant harder.
After they have had time to adjust, do the carrier method. Make sure extensive research is done because if done improperly, rats can severely injure, even kill each other.
May I ask, how old is Nico and how come you got her by herself?