rat problem

[Julia]

hi i'm Julia and i'm having truble introducing my 2 girl rats i have let both them on my bed together and they are somethimes fight and my new rat Ebby (nearly 8 weeks) sometimes squeaks but i don't if it's fighting of play fighting because after Ebby follows my other rat Sugar (11 months old). i sometims put each rat in the others cage so they get used to each other sent so can someone help me with there fighting!

[JulesDoug]

Hi Julia
I am only repeating what I have heard but sometimes a couple of drops of vanilla on your ratties will mask their scent and they will accept eachother a little more.  I could be totally wrong but I think a little bit of argy bargy and power grooming is normal as long as no one is getting hurt.

[Ali]

Jules is right, is sounds as if they are just acting out normal ratty behaviour. As long as no blood is being drawn then you're ok.  

I think you're doing the right things, introducing them outside of their cages, and letting them visit the other one's cage to get used to the scent.

Have you looked at links on intros?

I don't think you've got anything to worry about. It might not be playfighting exactly that you're seeing, but just the struggle to establish dominance that all rats go through before settling into a heirarchy.

Good luck!  

[kmw]

hi i'm Julia and i'm having truble introducing my 2 girl rats i have let both them on my bed together and they are somethimes fight and my new rat Ebby (nearly 8 weeks) sometimes squeaks but i don't if it's fighting of play fighting because after Ebby follows my other rat Sugar (11 months old). i sometims put each rat in the others cage so they get used to each other sent so can someone help me with there fighting!

As with the other answers, I don't think it's real fighting.  If Ebby is squeaking, she's just telling Sugar she's had enough, and to get off of her!  If neither are getting hurt, it sounds like things are going along well.  

[Julia]

 ;)thanks every one withe your advice and i will let you know what happens thanks again.
~~( 3:>  ~~~(  3 : >
Ebby         Sugar

[Suebee]

The everlasting rat-intro mantra:

No blood, no foul

My four new boys, all brothers, all 8 weeks old, wrestle constantly when they are out for playtime. Often simultaneously in a giant ball of fur with four tails and sixteen legs! But no one ever gets hurt -- they're playing and figuring out who is in charge.

Thankfully, their mother had a great personality, and I can "join in" with my hands and only get nibbled.