Rat Owners - can you add another rat?

[BarfTheHeraldAngelsHeave]

We have a lovely male fancy rat, but when we bought him only had a medium sized cage, hence why we've only got one, but we feel bad about him being lonely, despite having him out and with us every evening and more on weekends.

We've now upgraded to a massive Rat Palace, so have room for more and would like to get him a friend, but not if they're just going to fight and kill each other.

So does anyone know if you can introduce another male rat to a single male rat?

I think they will kill each other. I gradually introduced a younger female to my older female. It was absolute carnage (fighting, screaming, hissing) and I had to take the new one back. Your best bet would be to have him castrated and then gradually introduce a young female. I think it's risky though. Try this forum though.

TBH if your male is well socialised with the rest of the (human) family, he probably is OK as a single rat. How old is he?

Thanks for the reply - he's 10 months old and not neutered, as a single we didn't really need to. He's a very friendly happy rat, we were just concerned that he would be lonely.

The only rat I ever kept as a single rat was also my only boy. He always seemed the happiest of the lot, maybe because I felt sorry for him and played with him constantly.

You could ask for advice on fancy rats, but I think that I would leave well enough alone if he seems happy enough in his self. Unhappy rats come across as depressed.

Yes, yes, yes! Don't leave him as a single rat, they are social creatures who need their own kind. Fancy Rats has all sorts of good advice on introducing new rats to each other. I've introduced adults to adults and babies to adults very successfully.