Do Rats Need to Be in Pairs?
WouterOne question that is frequently asked is, “Do rats need to be in pairs?” The answer is a resounding “yes!” Rats that are socially bonded are much more likely to be healthy and happy. In fact, they are also less likely to contract various illnesses associated with stress. In addition, rat pairs can help reduce stress levels for the owners.
However, if you do plan on getting more than one rat, you must consider the time and effort that you’ll have to spend socializing and bonding with each individual rat. This will improve your rat’s overall health and happiness and reduce stress in both of you. It’s also important to take the time to check up on each individual rat in order to determine their general health.
Initially, it may take two weeks to become friends. Eventually, they will bond with each other and become best friends. If they are not friendly or aggressive at first, you can try placing two aggressive rats in separate cages and monitoring their behavior. You can also re-arrange the cage to create a new environment that will make your rats more social and less aggressive.
Rats are known to be territorial, so pairing two adult males can be tricky. However, young males are usually fine with introducing two adult males. However, older males may not accept new cage mates and may exhibit aggressive behaviour. As long as you are persistent and patient, the introductions should go smoothly.
