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Anonymous
Hi /an/,

Some rat advice plx. I had 2 male albino dumbo rats (brothers) and one died a few weeks ago. Since then the other rat is all sad and eats a bit but doesn't seem interested in much except bouncing on the cage when its feeding time and getting attention. He's not greatly happy when away from the cage (alas the one who died liked being taken around the house etc) so I figure he's lonely.

I'd like to get another to keep him company but I was always told 2 male rats introduced in adulthood will not play nice. Is this true? My poor ronery rat, I dunno what to do :(
>> Anonymous
I know people who have introduced rats at all ages. Generally though, it is easier to introduce young rats to a adult one. It would be better for you to get like two thats are a couple of months old, because if you only get one, and then your older one dies you'll be in the same situation all over again pretty soon.

You could always neuter him as well and get him some girl friends.
>> Anonymous
Not true at all. I was addicted to rats for a while and kept getting more until I had up to 10 at one time at some points (I had a small aviary that they lived in, so it was cool). At various stages, I was introducing a single rat to just one, or several, rats at a time (all intact males). I never once had a problem.

Rats will scuffle sometimes when establishing dominance... they do have a social structure and there will be an alpha, but rats rarely fight. If it's real fighting, there's blood involved.

The best method I found for introducing them was to do it somewhere neutral, like on the floor in another room. So no one feels territorial.

It's best to get him a friend, because rats can get really lonely.