How should I introduce a new rat?

I've had my rat for almost a year now. It's a female, and she'll be a year old in July. I want to introduce a new rat to her as a friend since rats are very social and I thought she'd like some company. But I'm worried that if I get one, she would possibly feel territorial since she's had the cage to herself for a year, or what if she simply doesn't like the new rat? If so what should I do?


Another thing is, would she be more inclined to be welcoming to a boy more than a girl?How should I introduce a new rat?
You'll definitely want another girl or you will end up with babies very quickly. Because she's lived on her own she may be a little less accepting but it still is worth it to try. I would recommend finding a breeder in your area and adopting a baby around 6 weeks of age. Female rats are much more accepting of babies and the babies will submit easily. You may also want to adopt two babies that way if your female doesn't like them they can live together in their own cage.





Start by introducing them on neutral area, leaving them together for 30-60 minutes while you clean their cage really well. If they are getting along, put the new rat in first, letting her sniff around for about half an hour or so before putting in your old rat. Some fighting is to be expected, only separate them if they are being really vicious or if they draw blood.





You may have to repeat this process several times if there is fighting, but if they don't get along after a few weeks it is likely that they would be better off apart.





To find a breeder in your area, try these links:


http://www.altpet.net/rodents/breeder.ht鈥?/a>


http://www.ratster.com/breederlinks.html


http://www.dmoz.org/Recreation/Pets/Rode鈥?/a>


http://www.rmca.org/Resources/breeders.h鈥?/a>





Good luck!How should I introduce a new rat?
With hamsters you have to be very careful with introducing new pets, I would get a younger rat so she wouldn't feel threatened and get a bigger cage.


Hope I helped :]
You should always introduce rats in stages. This is more of a problem when introducing two boys who are apt to be more territorial. First, put their cages close together so that they can smell but not interact with each other yet. Debbie ';The Rat Lady'; Ducommon suggests introducing them for the first time in neutral territory that neither has scent-marked, like the bathtub. Monitor them while they sniff each other. Keep doing this for a few days for longer and longer periods of time. Next, clean out the cage that they will both share so that it doesn't smell like either of them. Put both rats in the cage, but first smear them with something they both like, like peanut butter. They'll lick it off each other and then usually by the time they're done they've bonded. One will usually still try to assert its dominance by nipping or pinning the other rat. This is fine as long as the tussling doesn't get out of hand e.g. there is no blood.


I think the introduction process is the same with a male/female pair. However, I would recommend neutering the male unless you want a whole mess of babies. Good luck!
It's good to get your fur-girly a friend. Females do get territorial, but they usually accept a friend a bit easier than a male.





From experience I know it's easier to introduce 2 young ratties to the resident of the rat cage.


Young rats are so full of energy that one youngster will be constantly bothering your older girl.


If you get 2 they will have each other to play with and comfort each other if your rattie doesn't immediately accept one or both. Most likely she will accept and enjoy having company. Two would also distract her from being angry about the intrusion of just 1 rat baby.





Rats also sometimes carry viruses that could make your rat sick so there should be at Least 2-3 weeks of quarantine to make sure the new babies are healthy. This in itself is a good reason to get 2. Those first weeks alone would be hard on a ratlet.





After you have introduced them in a neutral setting, before you put them in the cage, make sure that you have a new nest-hidey box and an additional water bottle and food dish. That makes less to be territorial about for your pet.





It should work out fine and your fur-baby will be so happy that you have gotten her some friends.





It would work out with one new baby, it's just easier to do two.