I adopted Alfie today!!!
My Fry had no understanding of rat social skills at all.
He was born May4/17. He came to me June8/17 at 5 wks old to be a be company for 33 mo. old Squirt until he passed, with a home waiting for Fry after. Squirt had severe hind end degeneration, so couldn't interact with Fry other than snuggling. Being a baby, Fry would jump on him a bit, but Squirt really didn't mind, he was so happy with the company, and Fry was a very mellow little guy who learned quickly to just run around on his own, play with me, and snuggle with Squirt.
All good til Squirt passed 7 1/2 wks later on July30/17 and Fry went to his 2 new 21 mo. old bro's. He'd met them a couple times on my balcony, but would shriek & run when they tried to check him out, we hoped proper patient intros would change that. It didn't go well, his attitude confused, then upset them. They attacked him and Simon even bit his Dad badly. So Fry stayed with me, and I'll see him thru. I'd tried to put him near various boys I crittersat after Squirt passed, but his attitude would cause even the mellowest of them to get aggravated.
He was happy enough in the cage right next to my last girl Zahra until she passed Mar13/18, then he was truly alone at 10 mo's old.
But he Loves girls, no fear. He would go to Zahra when I had them out together and want to snuggle (no, Never tried to hump her!?), and was ecstatic when critter-sat girls would be near his cage. I wanted to find him a spayed girl, no luck. I thought he might be ok with a very old boy, none were available.
I fostered babies Gucci & Boots and that went great, he wasn't afraid of them, he really liked them, but when they jumped all over him he would only stand, then be visibly distressed with confusion on what to do when they didn't stop, but was too gentle to get aggressive. I think he didn't even know what ratty-play was.
They left and 8 wk. old Alfie came May15. Alfie would pin Fry sometimes in play, and suddenly Fry's lightbulb went on! Once he figured out he had a non-aggressive solution his whole demeanor changed. He gained confidence, is no longer fearful when Alfie is full of beans, he just stands when Alfie jumps all over him, and if Alfie doesn't quit then he will pin Alfie ever-so-gently, as many times as it takes for Alfie to stop (and I distract Alfie if I see it going on too long). They Adore each other, and they're like a truck & trailer most of the time.
I'd intended to take a ratty-break, but then Fry had to stay. But Alfie is only about 11 wks old, what to do when Fry passes? The people who were going to take Fry (now his Auntie & Uncle) agreed yesterday to take Alfie when Fry passes, so Alfie & Fry can stay together.
So I was able to adopt Alfie today!
I'm going to try giving Alfie little meetings with critter-sat boys when I have them here (with their parents permission of course), I don't want him to lose his social skills. But I think he'll be fine, he's able to interact with Fry like Fry was unable to do with Squirt. And he's already taught Fry!
I think I'll try Fry with meeting with a mellow boy too and see if his new-found confidence helps him with others..
I know, this long-winded, but it's been a long road to find buddy-happiness for my wimpy boy.
I'm over the moon now - so thankyou Auntie Nicole & Uncle Tyson, and
Welcome Home Alfie!
