Looking for advice on rat who lost littermates

[luvmyangels]

I had 4 rats in one cage and 3 rats in my other cage.  I lost 1 rat from the cage with 4 rats and 2 rats from the one with 3 in the cage. The reason I had them separated was because they did not get along.  The cages are right next to each other.  But my older girl lost both her littermates recently and I feel so horrible everytime I go down to see her which is quite frequently.  But I tried introductions when I 1st got the other 4 and they did not get along.  I am not sure if anything will change now but I do not want any bloodshed either. Any thoughts??

[tattered_teddy_bear]

I'd stay go for the introductions, As maybe your lone female wasn't the one causing problems, and if introductions went OK, the "brawls" for whomever is dominant shouldn't be horrible if they seem to stand each other. females aren't as bad as boys, and I've never had an unsuccessful female introduction  (keep at it, playtimes together, daily "meetings". A lot of people don't realize that introductions can take around 2-3 weeks on the low end of the whole process. A good place to start their meetings is in a bathtub or another room where their normal play area isn't.

good luck

[RWS]

Another vote for intros. With several rats passed away, the dynamics could be much different this time around. Your lonely girl will appreciate the company. Take things slow, just let them play together at first, and remember that if there is no blood then a fight isn't serious.

RW

[scout]

Absolutely try another introduction. And, as others said, be sure to give everyone time to adjust. Here's a great article on introductions:  http://www.ratfanclub.org/newrat.html

[luvmyangels]

Thank you everyone.  I will definitely try again and hope there will be no blood shed. Hopefully with all the change she will be willing to be cage mates with the others.

[JR1030]

I say go for it, too.  I had a group of 4 and a group of 2 which each lost one within a week of each other.  I couldn't let the one boy stay alone, so I introduced the two groups.  I think they were all sad at having lost someone, and they were happy to have new company.  This is by FAR the exception, but I intro'ed them in the bathtub, and within an hour put them into one cage, and they were never separate again, and there were no fights...not even a squabble.  And to think, I was too scared to intro them when they were all alive.

[Lenore234]

Definitely worth a shot.  Rats have a very intricate social hierarchy that can shift quite a bit with the addition or loss of just one member of the group.  Now that some of your rats have passed on, you may find that the remaining rats get along together just fine.  Let us know what happens!