I just got a new rat friend for my 5 month old female. I brought her home and set her up in a separate cage because I know I am supposed to quarantine her for a couple weeks. I have some questions though.
What exactly is the quarantine for?
How long should the quarantine be?
The new rat is about 2 months old and seems very healthy. She did sneeze a few times (I know about Mycoplasma) but I don’t know if it was just normal sneezing as I’ve had rats just simply sneeze before.
Also, I’m trying to choose a name for her. My first rat is named Temudjin. For the new rat I’m deciding between Coco, Ella, Elphie, and Daisy. I also have a hamster named Simba. What do you think?
I got the new rat at Petland. I got two other rats including my current one at Petland as well but a different location and they have been very healthy.
You should quarantine for 2 or 3 weeks, and basically you’re just looking for any sign of illness in the new rat during this time. Make sure to wash your hands and change clothes after handling the new rat so you don’t spread anything to your old rat.
The sneezing is likely normal, when a rat comes to a new environment they tend to get the sneezes. Just monitor that and make sure it doesn’t get worse.
After the quarantine is up you can slowly introduce them. Don’t just put the new one in the others’ cage. Let them get to know each other in a neutral zone, like the bathroom or bath tub. That way neither will feel dominant there. Do this a few times, and if they seem to be getting along you can then try to put them together somewhere your old rat normally plays. After they get along THERE you can try to put them together in the cage, but make sure to clean it thoroughly, wash everything, and keep a very close eye on things. :]
"Quarantine your whole rattery for at least two weeks every time it is exposed in any way to other rats. This means that not only are you keeping new rats separate from your rats, but that you are keep all of your rats away from everyone else. This is because it is possible that yours were infected by the new ones and are incubating a virus. This applies to any kind of possible exposure that your rats may have had, including having rats visit your house, bringing any of your rats out where there are other rats (like friends’ houses or pet stores), or of course, getting new permanent ones. "
I got that from this website: http://www.rmca.org/Articles/quarantine.htm
I like the name Coco! Very cute:)
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You should quarantine for 2 or 3 weeks, and basically you’re just looking for any sign of illness in the new rat during this time. Make sure to wash your hands and change clothes after handling the new rat so you don’t spread anything to your old rat.
The sneezing is likely normal, when a rat comes to a new environment they tend to get the sneezes. Just monitor that and make sure it doesn’t get worse.
After the quarantine is up you can slowly introduce them. Don’t just put the new one in the others’ cage. Let them get to know each other in a neutral zone, like the bathroom or bath tub. That way neither will feel dominant there. Do this a few times, and if they seem to be getting along you can then try to put them together somewhere your old rat normally plays. After they get along THERE you can try to put them together in the cage, but make sure to clean it thoroughly, wash everything, and keep a very close eye on things. :]
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you quarentine her to make sure neither of them are sick and so they wont both die…
i didn’t do that, and my rats ended up fine, but i guess some people do… whatever
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I think Elphie goes with your other pets’ names better than your other options, but that’s just me
The quarantine is just to make sure no illnesses brought in by your new rat are spread to your existing rat before you are aware of them. The reason it’s two weeks is that’s ample time for an illness to show itself. Vet care is much less costly for just one pet.
I agree with the above answerers, the bathtub is the best place to introduce them, when you do. Make sure you give them the same treats/food and two of each for the first while, so they can’t fight over food. Also, it’s very important that when you move them in together that the cage is completely neutral… so either get a new cage (if you were planning on it anyway) or just make sure to completely immerse yours in water and scrub it like crazy. I usually bleach mine every once in a while (1/2 gallon bleach in a bathtub) but make sure you rinse it crazy well afterward. Also do new toys, new beds, etc. It makes the scuffles much less frequent and adjustment a lot easier if neither rat thinks of the place as ‘their’ home right off the bat.
Have fun with your new baby
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Rat owner, small animal specialist at a pet store
If you just stick the new one in the cage they will most likely fight. keep both cages next to each other so they can get used to each other and make sure the new one isnt sick and doesnt infect the other. Umm, and keep them apart fopr at least a week. and my guinea pig and hamsters sneeze, its okay! People sneeze when they are fine, it might be dust. I love the name Coco and Ella. Good luck with your new pet!
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