so i try to let my older rats play with my younger rats in the bathroom at least once a day. (if they get along they will eventually all live in the same cage). when the little ones are running around on the floor, the bigger ones will follow them and sort of life their back end up with one paw and then sniff their bum. the littles ones do squeak, but they dont seem like they are getting hurt.
the bigger ones have never tried to flip them over and they dont puff out their fur like people say rats do when they are acting aggressive
that's perfectly normal behaviour. I have introduced rats a few times and they always do this.
even flipping them/pinning them or puffing their fur isn't really agressive behavior, that's normal too. these are signs of rats asserting dominance and rats developing a heirarchy.
the only thing you really have to be careful of is biting, or a rat chasing another around to try to harm it. you're doing the right thing by letting them play in the bathroom a few times, though, before putting them in the same cage together. if there hasn't been any blood drawn yet between any of them i think they're all going to get along fine.:)
I would say that your rats are fine, I am not there to see completely what is going on, but depending on the size of the larger rats vs the smaller rats, I would just keep an eye out for aggression, They may also be making sure the little ones are ok, (depending how old they are). I would just let them play together and interact with each other slowly, and once they are bigger they should be fine to keep in the same cage. You may even try to put the babies in with the larger ones now and see how they interact as that will be the best to determine aggression.
Hi, Nothing to worry about this is normal in all small rodents, With my rats they do it when they have been ouyt of the cage and then but back in, or when i take 1 out to play n then i put her back in the cage. The older rats are just smelling, the babies, to see where they have been, as they are not from the same litter, nor live in the same cage, they wanna know where the lil ones have been.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com Don't worry they will eventualy go together as rats are quite open as to who they stay with, they are not territiorial like hamsters.
Seems fine to me. Just keep an eye on the older rats' behaviour when they are around the little ones. It sounds like the younger rats are just trying to communicate with the bigger rats, and as long as they aren't getting hurt then that's okay. This is normal behaviour. If they aren't flipping the little ones over ( like you said), then they will be absolutely fine. Carry on allowing them to spend time together and interact with each other. It sounds to me like they're going to be good buddies!
Good luck!
Sure, it's fine. Your older rats are just getting to know the younger ones by scent. It sounds like the younger rats are protesting a bit since they're squeaking, but it's normal & not a big deal .
It sounds like the introductions are going nicely.
It will be just a friendly greeting, if there's older ones i'd keep them away until the youngest is older. We bought a baby rat and my two older ones bullied her=( it starts slowly and got to fighting and ripping fur.
