Hey everyone
I need to introduce myself here but also all my ladies and talk about introducting older rats to babies! I have 4 female rats, Alice, who is around 1 year and a half and the three babies, Jessicka, Ginger and Lily, who are around 12 weeks now.
Alice lost her sister to a cyst around 2 months ago, it wasn't able to be removed so we played a waiting game until it was kinder to have her put to sleep. We bought the new rats to keep Alice company about 3 weeks after her sister died as she seemed to be very lonely. Since the babies were particularly tiny when we got them we thought we'd be best waiting a few weeks until they were big enough to defend themselves before introducing everyone. I'm glad I did because the babies turned out to have very early stages of myco. They've all had 2 courses of antibiotics which have seemed to do the job and I've found a very dedicated vet who specialises in rats (lucky me!).
I introduced the strongest baby to my older rat and after a bit of aggressive grooming from my eldest they seemed to get on ok. I was very nervous about Alice (eldest) fighting with the baby because she's so tiny so I didn't give them much time together.
I introduced one of the other babies to Alice last night and they seemed to be fighting, lots of squeaking and rolling around going on. The babies play fight a lot so I think the little one maybe just tried to play and Alice took it wrongly.
I'd really love her to be in a cage with them, she's been so lonely since her sister died but I'm very apprehensive about anyone getting hurt. Should I just bite the bullet and put them all in together or stick with short introductions on the couch for a while longer? I've read a ton of articles on the subject but I'd love your personal views
Sorry to have gone on, I had lots to say!!!
Jen
