Funny story. I have a two level cage and so when I introduced two females a few years ago I thought 'Oh, I'll just close up the space in the floor and they'll each have half of the cage'. The next morning I woke up, the partition was somehow destroyed and the rats were snuggling together. They would not be denied! I've improved my barrier-making skills since then.

@Argysh

6 жыл бұрын

Now I'm split between building a good barrier and trying your approach. (jk ^^)

@kennedynuthals7436

5 жыл бұрын

Hanespower Your lucky they liked each other that could have gone so bad! BUT I’m so happy it worked out! I hope it works good with my rats

@kaleleaff

5 жыл бұрын

Lucky, I did the same thing, but my old rat killed the new one...

@kristinaback6512

5 жыл бұрын

It only took me 4 days on intro's,now they're playing and grooming each other

@bradbradleys6091

4 жыл бұрын

@@kristinaback6512 I've been trying for about a month still with no luck My existing rat is one mean bitch

My older boy accepted his new little brothers very quickly (his original brother passed away, so I got three babies), there was no squabbles and no dominance at all, even during the first intros. They have been living together for about a month now, and getting along wonderfully in a new double critter nation.

I was so lucky when it came to introducing my baby to my two older boys. Introduced them on day one- went amazingly. Day two, the baby moved in and they all snuggled together and went to sleep

@marysnutch4828

2 жыл бұрын

Same here

You should make a video on rat body language and sounds! There aren't many helpful ones on youtube :-)

@mollielynnjean

5 жыл бұрын

she has

@lillianisrude2108

5 жыл бұрын

Mollie Lynn Jean she made it after that comment..

I'll be getting my first pair of male rats this week! I'm super excited! Thanks so much for helping me learn as much as possible!

@midnightember7435

6 жыл бұрын

Lilly Walters congratulations I know you will give them an amazing home 😊😊

@siamese.cheese

6 жыл бұрын

Lilly Walters im getting my first pair of male rats next week!

@inowliveinkorea8545

6 жыл бұрын

Lilly Walters I got my rats today this morning

@pandacrafts3127

6 жыл бұрын

Lilly Walters lucky

@cassiebrown5480

6 жыл бұрын

Lilly Walters good for u

Thank you so much for making his video! My Luna passed away at a young age recently, and her sister Minnie needs new friends. We're adopting 2 new girls soon, and this video is super helpful!

This helps me so much, my girly lost her sister the other day and I was unsure of how to introduce new babies to her

I like your face, tattoo, knowledge, voice, your just great and have made so many rats way happier. Just, thanks is all I'm trying to say.

My rat queen and my new rat Cow (baby) got a fight and I completely panicked! Thanks for the tips.

I got two girls because 1 of my two girls is close to passing on and I don’t want the other to be alone. This was super helpful ! Thank you!

not even fully through this video and I already love it, I've never thought of changing items in a cage when introducing rats, that's ingenious and such a perfect way to slowly adapt them. I will be trying all this very soon with 4 new boys and my 2 residents. Here's hoping! Thanks for the great video

This video came at the perfect time! Thank you 😊

Thank you so much!! This is the best pet channel, everything is so clear and easy to understand! Also, I convinced my mum to let me adopt two rats from a shelter thanks to you, I'm getting them in a few months after I've finished saving up and preparing everything for them

I love rats 🐀🖤❤️

We have the tweens who are year and a half, both have PTS, one more then the other. After some research, l believed, the addition of two more rats of similar age would help. We were lucky and found two on Gumtree for free, cage and other stuff. These rats were so loved and it was emotional for their last adopted family to part with them. We placed a towel in the bath and place the four girls in. They sniffed each other and snuggled so in the cage, which is in our bedroom, the honeymoon time pass a few hours. Body posterior and a couple of jumping at each other with one of us keeping a close eye, we took it in turns. Next day, all four are in the same box and snuggling, it will be up and down but the first part over. 😶

Did you know there is an app called Amino and there are groups we're you can post pictures post stories and many more about any topic and there are groups about pet rats! Thought you'd like to know because it's amazing!

@teddy-9236

3 жыл бұрын

That's cool I've heard about that app, But I don't think I'm allowed to use it.

Thanks for posting this wonderful video! I have one guy whose only cage mate passed away 2 weeks ago, and we just picked up 3 young rats to become his new family! Quarantine is almost up for them, and I'm planning on starting introducing them to my lone guy this coming week! Your vid explains everything simply and clearly, and I will definitely be following your advice :)

So happy you're back and uploading regularly (ish) again! We've missed you bunches xx

I have had my rats for 6 months now (never have had any) and this is an amazing video. I research a ton and this gave me EVERYTHING I wanted in one video. Thank you!

Great video! Put together really well and you speak clearly and explain things understandably. I feel a LOT more confident now.

Thank you so much, I love all these videos. I have watched this whole series several times and many of your other rat videos. It's been about a year of studying and preparing for the breeder to be ready and I'm finally picking up my girlies this Sunday. I was worried at first but thanks to your videos I feel prepared.

Where was this video when I desperately needed it :3 so many new useful tips, you're amazing ❤️

Awesome video, you literally thought of everything !

Amazing video! Thanks a bunch! this helped me out a LOT! You are so kind for making these, thank for making my rats life better

This is a wonderful method! I really don't like the carrier/trauma method and feel much better now about the way I have been introducing. Everyone seems to be happy and bonding! 💚

Thank you for making this! I adopted a rescue who was abandoned at the pet supply store I work at. She was all alone and I feel terrible cause I know she needs somebody, but I’ve been hesitant to get her a little sister because I misunderstood rat fights.

This video is very helpful! I think I'm now ready to introduce my 3 younger boys to my 3 older boys properly! Thank you!! ❤

This was so helpful! Thank you

I inherited my son's rat" Boh," he was unable to take her when he moved out. She is so friendly and had been a solo rat which I knew wasn't ideal.She is around 5 months so a couple of weeks ago I brought home "sprout" a baby of 6 weeks at the time. I introduced them on neutral territory doing the intro in the bath, I got them out in neutral territory for the next few days then got them together in more of Boh's territory. They sniffed and at times Boh showed some dominance behaviour ( which I know is completely normal ) she mounted Sprout a few times and sometimes Sprout would squeak. I put their cages next to each other and they stayed like this for a week and a bit, meeting each other each day when it was free roaming time. Yesterday, I completely cleaned Boh's big cage and changed all the hammocks, toys etc, adding new ones so it looked very different, I put them in together and they are getting on so well, Sprout has been racing around and doing happy jumps.The only time I got a little anxious was when Boh had something to eat and Sprout was chasing and pestering her, Boh hid in the hammock and Sprout joined her then I heard her squeal and Boh had her pinned on her back but that was teaching her manners not to steal her food. There was no marks or anything on Sprout and this morning they were cuddled up together in the same hammock.

I have two 1 and a half year old males that I decided to take a chance and rescue from the feeder bin. They are smart boys, but no matter what I try, they do not let me pet or hold them. I can feed them from my hand and they will give me a good sniff, sometimes put a little hand on mine, but I have never been able to handle them without causing a panic. It's super frustrating to put care into animals who will never trust you, but I love them none the less. I am getting three tamed males from a breeder this weekend and am splitting up their critter nation cage. I don't think I'll be able to introduce the newbies to the older ones because of how anti social they are, I can't even remove them to clean their cage. Even when the door is left open, they refuse to leave. I have no idea how to help them open up, they just sit in one corner of the cage unless they are eating. As much as I would love to rescue again, I also would love to be able to actually have a pet I can touch.

This video is going to help me a lot, I recently lost a rat, and I’m getting my current rat two more friends so she isn’t as lonely. :)

this helped a lot; I have two older ratties that weren't raised by me; I'm not sure how they had been handle; but today one of them bit me on my knuckles; also I did notice one will squeek from time to time; and we also have a younger rattie who is now 9 weeks old and we got all three of them on the same day; they have never been in the same space except in the tube but my yonger rattie never had contact; I kind of did a reverse thing where the older ratties where in thier small cage while the younger rattie was free to explore; but I wasn't aware of the smell change I needed to do as well; so thank your for the tip on that and the proper introduction; I will love for all the ratties to get alone and have the bond and trust I desire with the older ratties; I do great with my youngr ratties.

Thank you! I've been looking for this exact way of introducing my rats to each other. I absolutely cannot stand the idea of the other method of putting them in a small place - it may be my own issue of feeling claustrophobic - but I feel this way is less forceful and gives them the time they need to get to know each other. Thanks again!

Thanks ill be getting 2 new rats today and this will really help introduce them to my ones i already have

Thanks for the tips!

Great insight, definitely subscribing.

I just learned so much, thank you I will utilize all this info.

You need to do a cage tour for that cage

Thank you

WHERE HAVE YOU AND THIS VERY VIDEO BEEN THIS LAST 3 MONTHS???????????? haha sooo I have very recently discovered your channel and all your infinite wisdom on "rat care"! I'm unfortunately, NOT proud by the fact that literally every step you mention in this clip is the OPPOSITE of what I did at the time of adopting/introduced a group of rats into my home and into my current cage of furr babies (rats). Lucky for me it has soo far been a success but since its only been a little under 3 months its still a day to day learning experience. This night alone I have already watched this clip 7 times haha and can guarantee I will be watching it again, & again..... Absolutely love the genuine care, love, education you present in such an easy to follow way but not just that, it shows that a lot if not everything you teach is straight from your experiences while first hand owning/raising/caring for these tiny furr babies. I truly have a ton of information to learn and I only hope I can do so in time to maintain or improve with the rats I have currently as well as any future babies that I may come across.

Thank you for this. I have three different groups of male rats now and this is helpful.

Used a similar method with my boys Oliver and Ryan and they're best buds now.

I got my first pair of rats today

@inowliveinkorea8545

6 жыл бұрын

Their names are Darwin and Wilson so cute

@inowliveinkorea8545

6 жыл бұрын

My rat Wilson was on my shoulder this whole video

@catmaddysmom

5 жыл бұрын

Awww thats so cute how are they doing

@lizzie4962

4 жыл бұрын

@@catmaddysmom probably a little old now lol

@howardtheduck5642

3 жыл бұрын

@@lizzie4962 probably dead asf now💀

thanks for this! Im in the process of adopting an exotic species called Spiny Mice from a rescue. its three males from a previous single home, but they've all been separated for fighting, as they can drop their tails similarly to some reptiles. but spiny mice are highly social and i'd feel bad adopting just one and leaving the other two behind, so i've asked the rescue to let me try to reintroduce them. i've never kept small mammals before, but hermit crabs and breeding pairs of beta fish light to fight a lot and i've dealt with that. Spiny Mice are closely related to gerbils and the method for introducing them is similar to this, but your video takes it further, to the bathtub stage! I feel pretty confident I can handle all this, now.

so helpful thank you

Thank you for making this video! My existing rat, Debbie, seems way too excited about our new rat, Suzi. She started grooming her at first, but then she started getting aggressive with the grooming, so I had to separate them. I've owned rats for ages, but it's been several years since I've been a rat parent. Debbie was a surprise, from my mom. She didn't buy any food, or any necessities, but it's the thought that counts. I have a huge cage, but I'm helping my elderly grandparents, next door, and Debbie is crazy active, so I got her a companion that's really chill, to keep her company, when I can't play with her. This is going to be a lot of work, but it's worth it. Btw, I saw the t shirt on ur avatar, and I do too.

@rauchschwalbelp7693

Жыл бұрын

If you had Debbie as a single rat, she IS exited! Keeping rats alone is actually very cruel for them because humans are not a good enough companion. Your mom did a really good thing and it is so important to keep them at least as a pair, best more. You basically made it rain in the dessert when she got an ally.

I have a young boy rat and just got a new older boy rat. My younger one screamed when he saw the other. This was very helpful thank you

I just got my girls this week, but may be looking to get more in the near future. Super convenient that this video was posted today. (:

Thanks a lot!

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THIS IS THE ONLY VIDEO THAT HELPED THANK YOU IVE BEEN SO AMXIOUS

Thank you I'm I'm getting a new rat tomorrow and now I'll know how to intrudce the so thanks

I try a hybrid of this method and the carrier I method, switching bedding and toys for a week then introduce them in a small clean carrier, and gradually move them to larger and larger clean cages. It has worked really well.

my two girls are thankful!!’

I love your videos and your voice!

Good info. I am trying to reintroduce two brothers. That use to be together at the pet store when they were very young. We bought one and then bought the other a few days later. However; they were never put back together, because my daughter kept and bonded with hers, and I kept and bonded with mine. Now we are trying to re-introduce them, because there is so much benefit to it. We should have just caged them together initially and then we still could have each bonded.

I had a single rat for about a month I was trying to introduce them and my older (I’m guess because he is larger) the one I’ve had for longer started fighting and blood was drawn in two places I was so scared I didn’t realize tell the fighting stopped I got two that I thought looked really bad but it’s not as large as the one you showed so I feel much better about it thank you

Thank you so much, my one rat echo isn't very nice to newer younger rats, but once I put the vanilla extract on her and the new ratty she only tussled with the new rat once

I like how she said the igloo is the safest space in a rats cage but my rat literally ignores everything he has except for his hammock lol

I have two of my own girls, and I just got two foster girls last night. Immediately introduced both pairs on the couch. Fell asleep next to each other!!

Not gonna lie. First time I saw this video especially the first part of the video I clicked off but I've now tried 4 or 5 different methods for introductions which all ended in blood and bites and this method (we skipped the putting cages near each other) is working so well. We're only on the 2nd day and we have to re-introduce one of our rats back to his 2 brothers after he had to be neutered for v v aggressive behaviour. We are however doing it in the carrier as this has provided us with the best results so far but we shall see 💛

Brilliant

Been using tons of your tips for my boiz! Did several small intros, all went well. Kept baby's cage very close to my original two. Swapped items consistently. Today they are living in a small carrier for today while I deep clean the main cage and to monitor behavior Baby was so excited, my other boiz are being fat potatoes and are sooo done with the young boi excitement. Already seen lots of grooming of themselves and eachother. Funny enough Baby has become more dominant than one of my elders and the elder is just letting it happen haha No actual fighting, just pushing a tad and force grooming

At first I had four rats but then my heart rat, Pluto, sadly died of old age and we are deciding whether we want to rescue a fourth rat to add to the mix...I watched this channel before I got my rats( a couple of years ago) and it is kinda painful to watch it again but it really helps refresh your memory...@TheRatGuru thanks for all of your help I wouldn’t even have rats now if it wasn’t for your channel Kisses Me ❤️❤️

Watching this in 2023! We just rescued a baby boy from my husband's work warehouse about 5 weeks ago. We are about to introduce him to two new baby brothers. Thank you for making this video!

*gasp* Halloween dollar store accessories! where did you get that spiderweb hammock thing?!

I just got two new baby rats and have been trying to introduce them to the one who's been alone for a year ... Our first rat keeps trying to fight but the others are just two small so I was worried that it wasn't normal. I'm seriously glad I watched this video!

Great video! It was really helpful!

Introducing my two boys to a pair of young ones soon getting the new ones on Saturday so will quarantine etc

when i first got a rat i only go one cuz i didnt know that rats needed partners so i got another rat but i had no idea that you had to do that before introducing them i just put them together and they got along instantly but i did get them both from the same pet store so they probably already knew each other but i think they got along great cuz my first rat go depressed when i first got it and it was sneezing like crazy but that all stopped once i got him a friend and hes super happy now and they do everything together lol

Ayyyy i wish i could do this. I have mine in a week quarantine😭

I always just rescue rats that are already bonded so I dont have to go through this 😂

@kawaiiann6954

4 жыл бұрын

I did the same thing but sadly one of my rats got a respiratory infection and he passed so now I have to do the process that I tried to avoid. But as long he’s not alone that’s all I care about.

I really did not know you could use vanilla extract in that way! I have two groups of rats I want to introduce because one is a pair. I currently have it setup so that they can see eachother trough a small portion of the cage because they live in the same cage. I am going to start having them in the bathtub in a max. of two weeks and I will totally use the vanilla extract!

Hi! You have a GREAT channel 👍 I have 2- 2 year old female girls and recently added 1- 4 month female and 1-3 month female. The 2 older ones are bonded. The 2 young ones are not. Outside the cage everyone plays, gets along and there is zero aggression over anything. I I introduced as per this video.. They, for the most part get along in the cage ( it is good size 4 feet tall x 3 feet wide and about 2 feet deep. There is tiny of things to do and places to go in it) but, when the young small one gets in the older ones way (or the young one wants to join up or get some love from the older ones) they randomly bite at her and make her squeak and squeak. Nobody has drawn blood, no wounds but this has intermittently been going on for the past week... Any thoughts or advice? They are best friends in playtime outside the cage.. I don't get it. Please and thank you.

Thanks for the vid. I founda a rat in the the dumpster taped up in a live crickets box. He was on the brink of freezing to death but I nursed him back to health & he's doing good but he seems lonely & after some investigating learned that they should have at least one friend so I'm going to get one today, like right now. I hope I get a good match.

@kooby122

2 жыл бұрын

remember tha wild rats might not fare well with pet rats, they're two different species. pet rats can be a variety of colors, but wild rats are only found in the agouti (brown) coloring. I wish you the best :D

Thanks Guru. This video was almost eerily timed to the sad passing of my first rat, Gus. I have one other rat who now spends his time alone in the cage for the majority of the day while I am at school. I don't know if my mother is comfortable with me getting another rat so soon, so I don't know what to do for company for him. What should I do?

What type of material do you use to line the floor and whats the cleaning schedule like? I think i have the same cage and its hard to find something safe to cover the wire floor thats also easy to clean. I currently use fleece on the top tier and paper bedding on the bottom tier but without a solid floor amd wiring on the outside, it can get pretty messy

Hi rat guru! I've had my two ratties for about half a year now, and I was wondering how you feel about adopting rats from a lab, since thats where i got Lucretia and Maureen. I feel like alot of people Dont know about this, and adopting there can save them front euthanasia.

dude when I got my other rat I just placed them on my lap, they sniffed each other, looked at me and were fine, they now happily live in the same cage.

@ambriadaniels-dovolis7496

4 жыл бұрын

Yep same here.

i've got two adult males and plan on getting two baby males tomorrow. I have an extra cage they'll be fine in; plan on letting them adjust to me, first, then I'll let the introduction process start. hope it goes well!

Hi love Letting my rats free Rome but they always are trying to get my toes 😂❤️🐀❤️

Im watching this video with 10 rats walking around me

@hehehdbejwneeieuiwkf5918

6 жыл бұрын

lol

@ilovemyself9565

4 жыл бұрын

Simulator'sEnvy cool so you don’t need to introduce

Thank you for the great tips. And also, you have beautiful Ratties. I love them.

Hey Rat Guru, I have a question. U said to quarantine the for like 2 weeks. When I got mine, the private owned pet store (they take good care of their animals and give them treats too) told me that I could not adopt a rat yet because they were under their own quarantine, so after 2 weeks, I came back and bought 2 youngsters, Should I still put them in my own 2 week quarantine? Or was the stores 2 weeks fine?

Hey, just discovered your channel and I wondered if you have any advise for me. My two Boys (like 5 months old) started to fight. Like really bad. They´re brothers. First I had two rats from that Group (someone who accidentally got a litter) but discovered one was a Girl and went back and exchanged her for another Boy. The two got along well. But after a while they started Fighting more and more. Started of light enough but by now I have to Keep them apart. It´s not just fun Fighting, they put their fur up and are really tense and hard to separate. Even if one is in the Cage and one outside, they still try to fight between the bars. I have the Cage on the table since... I have another, older rat in the same room which is female. Seperate Cage. I let the Boys out taking turns each day. With her they get along through the bars. With each other they don´t. I never had that before. Any ideas? I would really appreciate some suggestions ...

Is kaytee clean and cozy bedding safe for rats

If I bring home two rats from the same store/breeder/shelter do I separate them or put them in the cage together?

Hi, your videos are extremely helpful but I have a few questions. I got a pair of rats and one unfortunately died very suddenly ( I was devastated). I got a new rat and after 2 weeks of quarantine, I have placed the cages next to one an other. My old rat is showing extreme interest in the new one, to the point that she is chewing on the bars of her cage (a behavior she has never exhibited before). How can I tell the difference between excitement or aggression on her part? I want them to be get along as well as she did with her sister.

is this video more for medium grown rats meeting other medium grown rats? when i slowly introduced my new baby rat to my already owned boys there were no scraps fighting etc, even when it was technically 2 vs a baby. they now all sleep together and there is never fighting over food, territory, anything. we did things differently than this video, but we still had researched how to introduce rats, my rats are not aggressive at all though so maybe that was why there were and still are no fights? very curious

Hi, I know this video is kinda old but im about to introduce my two girls together (their names are ace and touille) and I was wondering if letting them swap cages was necessary? Im moving both of them into ace's cage but im concerned that she would get territorial about another rat being in her cage, even after the process

I have one rat right now and we have a big cage. I’m getting a new rat soon, so is it ok if I get a small cage for the new one for right now until they get used to eachother or get both of them a small cage?

I have two girls and they get along great. But last time we tried puting them in the same cage there was blood and one of my girls now has a hole in her ear, litteraly. Anyway, do you think bleaching is a good way to clean out a used cage for them.

Oof I need this I'm getting some rat babies to add to my two strong mischief and I needed advise

So I’ve 2 pairs of male rats for about 2 months but I still haven’t put them together. The thought of moving them in together is so terrifying and intimidating so I’m taking the introduction process verryyyy slowly. At first I put my two new boys in a cage next to my current boys cage just so they can smell/see each other for about a week and then we did quick introductions in my bathtub for awhile then I switched their cages completely for a few days and the past 2 days I’ve been putting all 4 of them in small cage and letting them all spend the night in it together (the cage was beside my bed in case anything were to happen) one of my boys definitely got aggressive and showed his dominance but other than that while they are all together in the small cage they are eating their treats and even snuggling and sleeping together! I haven’t noticed anymore aggression from my dominant rat. Should I continue putting them all in the small cage at night or could I just deep clean my main cage and move them all in??

what was the cage you used as a temporary living space for the new rats. I am thinking about getting two boys from one breeder and another boy from another, and was thinking about the type of cage I would need for my single boy to stay in whilst they were bing introduced.

Hi I have a question. I got my three girls a little over a week ago so they are not tame yet. They are quite skittish and shy. I was wondering how I'm supposed to clean their cage?

Agghhh. I'm so happy because i watched this video in preparation for getting 2 new rats to add to my current babies (Phineas and Napoleon). I was so worried about them fighting but when i brought them home i put them in the tub after about an hour in separate cages and they didnt fight once. Im still watching the 4 closely but its been 3 hours so far and no fights. I feel so lucky haha

My male rex dumbo had no trouble just throwing 2 more rats in. The added rats were babies. They squabbled about an hour. After that, they soon settled down. 🐀

What do you think should be done if my new rat is mounting my current one and it is scaring my current rat? They are not housed together yet.

Do I need to do this if they are from the same breeder and I got them at the same time?

Hi Guru, we had the misfortune of loosing two of our mischief to old age and illness, leaving the third by her lonesome. Because of financial troubles and the holidays (few breeders in our area were actively breeding at the time) we weren't able to get companions for our lonely rat until now. They are in quarantine now, but as we prepare to introduce them to each other we have a couple questions. 1) Should we pay special attention to the first meeting since one of these rats has been lonely for a few months now? 2) Are there any things we should keep an eye out for when introducing rats with a large age difference?