Sad rat needs some help

[claire]

Hi,
I need some advice from an experianced rat keeper.
I had two female rats (approx 18 months old)who loved each other and were inseperable.
Yesterday one of my beloved two died suddenly and unexpectedly.
I am now left with a very sad, lonley rat who seems traumatised and shell shocked.
I have given lots of extra love and attention but she looks lost in her big cage all by herself.
How do I go about introducing a new friend for her? How likley is it that they will get on? How do I recognise the signs of hostility if the meeting isn't sucessful?
If any one has any ideas or tips please pass them on to me at cows@madasafish.com

Thank You.

Claire.

[nikkimouse]

hi claire,
A lonely rat is definately a sad one. You can never really tell how well your new baby will get along with your old friend until you get em together but there are some tips.
Take some of the bedding from your pet's cage and place it in a temperary house for the new friend. Once the new friend has been in the old bedding for a day or so she won't seem as threatening when you put them together, her smell will be familiar to your current pet. Also make sure there are good hiding places in the main cage for both of them so they have a place to be alone and gradually sniff each other out without being forced to deal with each other right away.
Other than that just keep an eye on them some mice are just moody(like people) so you have to make them comfortable and they should get along fine http://petshub.com/ubb/smile.gif.
hope this helps you and good luck!
nikkimouse

[angelfire1966]

Hi, I have had rats for over 25 years and currently raise them for my local pet stores. In all that time I have not had a problem introducing a new rat to a lonely one who has lost a freind. It would be a great idea as was suggested about putting some of your rats bedding in a cage, and you might also be able to put the other cage by the one you have so they can see each other. If you cannot do so for lack of another cage it sounds like you have a large cage so you may be able to seperate it easily with some screen or something else. There are times when one is a little more dominant and there could be some minor altercations, but as long as they are not excesively violent I would allow them to work it out. Do keep an eye on them for awhile when you do put them together. I have instantly introduced new rats to old one many times and I have never had a problem with them not getting along. I would suggest for a bit though that you put in two feed dishes as all animals can get a little upset having to share food with a new guy. Good luck with your rat. They are such wonderful pets.

[rattis]

I have had rats and I let them see the new rat and the more they see the new one the more they relax when the new one's around and they relax so you shoulden't worry over them and you should let them work it out :alien: :agree: :angel6: :alien: :D

[luvmyrats]

Hi. I have 3 rats now and have lost my dear oldest one. I haven't had any trouble introducing my new ones to older, or in one case, younger ones. One thing I read that sounded really interesting is to smear everybody with pudding and by the time they get done licking the pudding off they are all friends! I haven't had to resort to that, but knowing how they love food, especially sweets, it should work really well!! Oddly enough the closest thing to a fight happended between my two littermates. They are a girl and neutered boy. The female is smaller of course and has pretty much been dominated by the boys, but one night she went after her brother and they were ready to mix it up! I distracted them and all was fine, but it really surprised me.