Hi, I have an older male (called Phoenix), approaching two years who I got when he was about 5 months old. I originally got him at the time as a companion for an elderly blind rat (Olly), whose siblings had died. But Olly did not take two him at all, and despite Phoenix friendly advances, Olly would attack him constantly and viciously, eventually resulting in Phoenix losing the end of his tail. So eventually I keep them separated and stopped trying to introduce them until Olly passed away.
Phoenix became my only rat for the next 13 months and since I live in a small three room apartment, he has been able to free range, as his cage door is always open. Phoenix is extremely easy to handle, and constantly climbs up onto my bed or couch for some attention.
Anyway, I eventually decided to get two more baby boys a month ago, as companions for him, and as companion for each other when Phoenix passes on. I was concerned at first as I was not sure how Phoenix would react to new rats after his previous traumatic experience. Anyway I got two 6 week old energetic males and my worries seem to have been groundless. Phoenix just totally ignores them, even if they climb over him. He displays no dominant behaviour at all towards them, but he has started to climb onto my bed at night to sleep with me (something he has never done before), he has previously climbed up to spend time with me, but never actually gone under the covers and slept with me before. And now he does it most nights since the new males have arrived. (Not really afraid of squishing him, i do not move around much when i sleep and he often chooses near the feet, or the shoulder, (or if he can, he tries to sleep on my hand which he seems to enjoy but for me is uncomfortable as he is a big boy and my hand goes to sleep).
Anyway i know this is a long post but i was just wondering if he has become too bonded to me to enjoy playing with other rats (he still sometimes plays with me despite his age). The two new ones sometimes try to cuddle up to him, but he will just get up and move.
Phoenix became my only rat for the next 13 months and since I live in a small three room apartment, he has been able to free range, as his cage door is always open. Phoenix is extremely easy to handle, and constantly climbs up onto my bed or couch for some attention.
Anyway, I eventually decided to get two more baby boys a month ago, as companions for him, and as companion for each other when Phoenix passes on. I was concerned at first as I was not sure how Phoenix would react to new rats after his previous traumatic experience. Anyway I got two 6 week old energetic males and my worries seem to have been groundless. Phoenix just totally ignores them, even if they climb over him. He displays no dominant behaviour at all towards them, but he has started to climb onto my bed at night to sleep with me (something he has never done before), he has previously climbed up to spend time with me, but never actually gone under the covers and slept with me before. And now he does it most nights since the new males have arrived. (Not really afraid of squishing him, i do not move around much when i sleep and he often chooses near the feet, or the shoulder, (or if he can, he tries to sleep on my hand which he seems to enjoy but for me is uncomfortable as he is a big boy and my hand goes to sleep).
Anyway i know this is a long post but i was just wondering if he has become too bonded to me to enjoy playing with other rats (he still sometimes plays with me despite his age). The two new ones sometimes try to cuddle up to him, but he will just get up and move.