Introducing rats... Also Pets @ Home rant!!!

Re: Introducing rats...

Vicky RVN — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 22:00:25 GMT

Yeah i think this may be the case. I'll just let them out for a short time together each time and see! Their owner is staying at my house from sunday while she looks after Jack so she can carry on!

Re: Introducing rats...

Kim Buckley — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 21:57:03 GMT

Awww. I mean they might have a bit of a rough and tumble to sort out who is boss.

Re: Introducing rats...

Vicky RVN — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 21:55:29 GMT

Kinda hard to tell really. Trixie does lick a lot so this could be what she was trying to do? Baby rat just climbed on Trixies cage when Trixie was in it and i think Trixie was licking her then.

Re: Introducing rats...

Kim Buckley — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 21:47:08 GMT

Mine used to do that but in a playful way. Had one who would squeak all the time. Did they look like they were fighting or hard to tell?

Re: Introducing rats...

Vicky RVN — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 21:21:15 GMT

Well they met each other...there was lots of scuffling! Trixie was chasing the baby around a lot and there was a squeak from one of them. I've separated them again, not sure if it was friendly playing or not?!

Re: Introducing rats...

Kim Buckley — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 21:18:49 GMT

Aww I'm sure they will be the best of buds in no time! My three used to sleep in a big ball!

Re: Introducing rats...

Vicky RVN — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 21:12:40 GMT

I've done it...new rattie has just got in Trixies cage and Trixie just got in new ratties cage!!! So they haven't actually met each other yet!

Re: Introducing rats...

Kim Buckley — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 21:07:53 GMT

I introduced rats and they were fine! Maybe get a towel and some water ready just in case?

Re: Introducing rats...

Vicky RVN — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 21:06:47 GMT

I am such a wimp...scared to let them out together! They're in cages in the same room and i've been letting out one at a time so they've sniffed each other through the bars...Trixie is running around me at the mo and i think the other one wants to come out to see her but i'm a big wimp! What if they fight?!

Re: Introducing rats...

Kim Buckley — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 12:43:07 GMT

Having worked for companion care inside a pets at home, I got to work along side their staff. Some of them were very good and knew what they were talking about (espeically the fish department) whereas others didn't but they would also come and ask us if they were unsure. It was a rather large store though.

At the pets at home local to me they seem a lot less sure of what they are doing! Including the old bat who started having a go at me when I said that ckcs have health problems!

Re: Introducing rats...

Vicky RVN — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 20:58:27 GMT

That's awful Kim!

I went in and spoke to manager. He listened to what i had to say and is going to make sure the member of staff is spoken to. He said he was surprised as that member of staff has been there 18 months. I told him it seemed like he didn't have a clue! Feel better for having my say.

Re: Introducing rats...

Kim Buckley — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 17:52:55 GMT

I bought a g pig a few years ago from PAH and it developed really bad haemorrhagic diarrhoea. I was a SVN so took her to work and gave her fluids and syringe food. My mum rang the store to let them know and the person she spoke to said this was completely normal when they go to a new home!! My mum demanded to speak to the manager and made a complaint saying they shouldn't be giving out any medical advice.

Re: Introducing rats...

Rachel Jayne — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 16:43:05 GMT

How did you get on?

I think approaching it in person is best if you can, they can ignore/pretend they didn't get an email...

Re: Introducing rats...

Vicky RVN — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 14:47:35 GMT

I thought i might get more response if i'm there so they can't avoid me?

Re: Introducing rats...

FINNIGAN — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 14:30:01 GMT

i made a complaint on line to this company, went to store to suss them out, was given the complete wrong/dangerous advise by inexperienced person, manager phoned me to discuss this at home, once id said i wouldnt send our clients to thier store, found the staff to be very uninterested and very inexperienced, made a complaint also that some of thier animals for sale there had no water in thier cages, i have to say im no fan of these places!!! try e mailing them, they did take note.

Re: Introducing rats...

Vicky RVN — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 14:24:45 GMT

Right, that's it...phone line engaged, i'm going to go and give them a piece of my mind!!!!!

Re: Introducing rats...

Vicky RVN — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 13:38:23 GMT

I've got the new rattie! She's very sweet. Got a young one as there were no rescues. Thinking it will probably work better that way anyway. I'll try what you've suggested, i was thinking of doing it that way so will hopefully work! They're side by side at the mo. The new one is very nervous bless her, she is spending her time hiding in her box when i'm around.

For those of you who haven't seen my facebook i'm going to make a complaint to Pets at Home I asked for a female (you know how obv it is in rats!) and the guy went to open male cage. I told him no, they were male. Then he opened female cage, he asked if i wanted to put my hand in to get the one i wanted out cos he got bitten last time! I let him do it. Now wish i hadn't, he struggled to pick her up (she wasn't exactly being difficult) then promptly dropped her on the floor from chest height! Picked her up and gave her to me and then left her with me while he went to get a box. He was gone for a while and i was well out of his sight. He had left the door WIDE open, so the other 2 could have easily fallen out! My mum and friend closed the door. He came back and said he'd left it open. They said yes, they'd closed it. He then opened it and walked away, so they closed it again. Again he said he'd left it open, they said yes they'd closed it again! Meanwhile the poor rat was sat in my hands petrified! I filled out paperwork. He'd ticked boxes to say he talked everything through with me. All he said is 'have you had rats before'. I said yes and that was it!! I am furious! If i can't get hold of manager on the phone i think i'll go in and kick up a stink...i'm a quiet person so will take a lot of courage for me to do it!!!!

Re: Introducing rats...

Selena Carnell — Sat, 11 Sep 2010 12:14:18 GMT

yep done afew, mainly males.

have them inseperate cages for afew days but next to each other so they can see and smell each other, maybe put some of the litter from one cage into the other, when you introduce them do it in a neutral environment if possible, gradually increase the time they have together in one cage. make sure you cangrab of quickly should a fight ensue!

never had much trouble with old and young rats, the old boys tended to put they youngsters in their place.

Re: Introducing rats...

Vicky RVN — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 20:00:48 GMT

Has anyone else introduced rats and has any tips?

Re: Introducing rats...

Vicky RVN — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 19:59:32 GMT

Thanks for that Bizzy. Sadly we had to PTS Rambo today so going tomorrow eve after work to look for a friend for little Trixie Not been a great 2 days at work with my Daisy pig and now Rambo rat But getting a baby pig friend for my little Snowdrop (from a client) and a friend for Trixie, so i'm going to be kept busy doing introductions so no time to dwell on things.

Re: Introducing rats...

Honeybadger — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 10:10:43 GMT

I forgot to add - I LOVE RATS! They are the most amazing pets. The only reason I dont have them now is because I dont have enough time to devote to them and Jess. Plus Jess is a bit of a baby and scared of them!

Re: Introducing rats...

Honeybadger — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 10:08:42 GMT

I've only ever introduced young rats to adults before. I have done it 10+ times and never with any problems. I did it over a period of about 2 weeks. Would let them all out for play time. The babies would go and explore in the grown up cage and sometimes they would all snuggle up in the hammocks together. Ocasionally when the babies mature there is a slight power battle as they sort out the heirachy. A few scuffles but no injuries. I used to keep 6 female rats in a cage all toegether happily, as the older ones passed away I would add in babies. This is with females though, it is alot more difficult with males as they tend to fight alot more.