Hi everyone. I'm in need of desperate help with introductions.
Originally, I had 2 rats- Pepino and Chip. I tried introducing a third, Floopy, when Floopy was young and Pepino was a few months old, and Chip was 2 years old. Floopy was extremely terrified- he would hiss, run, jump, pretty much do everything to avoid the others. I tried the carrier method, the bathtub, and in a fun playpen to introduce, and Floopy remained terrified. I eventually moved them in together anyway, thinking Floopy would get over it, but for 2 months he pretty much stayed in one corner of the cage and would hiss/scream whenever the other rats went near him. I decided to remove him, since I felt that this was not a quality life.
After 4 months of living alone, I got Floopy 2 babies- Charlie and Darwin. I did introductions using the carrier method, and things were great for a while (they would sleep together and didn't seemed bothered by one another). After 3 months as the babies got older, Floopy began chasing the babies around the cage (never drew blood), which resulted in the babies being terrified of him. They stopped sleeping together, and the babies would constantly avoid him (both in and out of the cage).
2 weeks ago, I had to put Chip to sleep, which left his cagemate Pepino alone. I tried introducing Pepino (Pepino is neutered) to Floopy and the babies using the carrier method, and Floopy drew blood on Pepino. I finally decided to keep Floopy alone once again, since he was causing too much stress to the babies and Pepino seemed to need the friends more than Floopy at that time. I'm still trying introductions between all four, but am at a standstill. Pepino and the babies are doing great together. I tried introducing everyone in the bathtub, but the babies just tried to jump out or run from Floopy. I tried on the bathroom floor with toys, but the babies just climb up my legs onto my shoulders or run away from Floopy, which makes Floopy chase them. Floopy and Pepino are doing better, but that's because Pepino is super chill and doesn't run away from Floopy. Floopy is always very stiff, and rubs his sides against Pepino and the boys.
Does anyone have any advice? I have money set aside to neuter him if need be, but I'm just not sure if that would even help at this point, since it seems that Floopy never liked other rats.
Originally, I had 2 rats- Pepino and Chip. I tried introducing a third, Floopy, when Floopy was young and Pepino was a few months old, and Chip was 2 years old. Floopy was extremely terrified- he would hiss, run, jump, pretty much do everything to avoid the others. I tried the carrier method, the bathtub, and in a fun playpen to introduce, and Floopy remained terrified. I eventually moved them in together anyway, thinking Floopy would get over it, but for 2 months he pretty much stayed in one corner of the cage and would hiss/scream whenever the other rats went near him. I decided to remove him, since I felt that this was not a quality life.
After 4 months of living alone, I got Floopy 2 babies- Charlie and Darwin. I did introductions using the carrier method, and things were great for a while (they would sleep together and didn't seemed bothered by one another). After 3 months as the babies got older, Floopy began chasing the babies around the cage (never drew blood), which resulted in the babies being terrified of him. They stopped sleeping together, and the babies would constantly avoid him (both in and out of the cage).
2 weeks ago, I had to put Chip to sleep, which left his cagemate Pepino alone. I tried introducing Pepino (Pepino is neutered) to Floopy and the babies using the carrier method, and Floopy drew blood on Pepino. I finally decided to keep Floopy alone once again, since he was causing too much stress to the babies and Pepino seemed to need the friends more than Floopy at that time. I'm still trying introductions between all four, but am at a standstill. Pepino and the babies are doing great together. I tried introducing everyone in the bathtub, but the babies just tried to jump out or run from Floopy. I tried on the bathroom floor with toys, but the babies just climb up my legs onto my shoulders or run away from Floopy, which makes Floopy chase them. Floopy and Pepino are doing better, but that's because Pepino is super chill and doesn't run away from Floopy. Floopy is always very stiff, and rubs his sides against Pepino and the boys.
Does anyone have any advice? I have money set aside to neuter him if need be, but I'm just not sure if that would even help at this point, since it seems that Floopy never liked other rats.
