Should I get my male rat a playmate?

Rats should never live alone (unless they're known to have severe aggression towards other rats, but that isn't very common). Even if he may seem content on his own, he is probably very bored, and this can lead to depression, illness, behavioral problems, or early death. Even if he doesn't get obvious symptoms of depression, most rats are not really happy without a same sex cagemate, so it would be best if you got him one.

They should not fight as long as you introduce them properly. If you just put another rat in the cage with him then they will definitely fight and probably hurt each other, you need to do it slowly over a couple of weeks so they can get used to each other. Here is how to introduce rats:

http://www.ratfanclub.org/newrat.html

Also, since your rat is pretty old and would be considered a senior, you will probably want to get 2 new rats. Since I'm guessing the new rat you would get would be young, they will have a lot more energy than him, and if its just the old rat and the young rat, the older one may become annoyed. Also, when he dies (most rats don't live past 3) you will end up needing another cagemate for the younger rat and you will have to go through introductions all over again. If you just get 2 young ones now they will be able to play with each other and they will have each other when they older is gone.

If you are going to adopt an older rat to be his cagemate you could just go with one. However it is harder to introduce 2 adult males to each other, usually its best to only do that if you have experience with it. Most people try to introduce rats younger than 6 months to the original adult, since this way the older rat doesn't have his dominance threatened. But either way can be done.

Keep in mind that all rats do get into little fights from time to time and they will probably fight when they first meet, but as long as there is no blood being drawn it isn't serious. That just how rats sort things out and play.

it's really hard to say.

normally I would say yes without a doubt, but at his age it might be a bit stressful for him to go from being his own person to probably very quickly being at the bottom of the pecking order.

I think if you decide to go for it, you need to be prepared to possibly have two separate cages set up if it doesn't work out for him.

if he's still a youthful two (we had a very old girl, that was probably five when she died, and she only really felt her age for the last few months) it could work out.

get two baby boys, and introduce them often on neutral territory. they might not even be that interested in each other, they might scuffle or they might enjoy each others company. do this regularly somewhere neutral and see if things settle.

if it gets to a point, even after they're in together, when he gets more of a hard time than he seems able to cope with, he may need to be in a separate cage again (which may happen when the younger boys hit maturity) if so, provide him with some small cuddly toys to snuggle with, and lots of one on one time.

personally when I've had one of an elderly pair die, I've just given the remaining one even more attention. I think if they're old and set in their ways it could prove a bit too stressful for them.

and one calm older rat is no trouble to have out of the cage nearly the whole time you're at home.

yes rats are pack animals and love friends and no they wont fight. if you ever get rats again i suggest you get females (they tend to be less ugly).

P.S: rats are prone to cancer so sadly they may die slowly (there real fighters, my first to pass lived 3 months with cancer untell it died peacefully), although rats are only suppost to live 2 yr. all of mine lived over 3 and a half so just be ready.

if you thought this was helpfull feel free to email me with more details, glad to be of help

this is somewhat hard to declare. oftentimes i could say confident little doubt, yet at his age it may desire to be slightly stressful for him to flow from being his very own man or woman to in all threat very right this moment being on the backside of the pecking order. i think of in case you determine to decide for it, you could desire to be arranged to in all threat have 2 separate cages set up if it would not artwork out for him. if he continues to be a youthful 2 (we had an exceedingly old woman, that become in all threat 5 while she died, and he or she in basic terms somewhat felt her age for the previous few months) it may desire to artwork out. get 2 toddler boys, and introduce them generally on unbiased territory. they won't additionally be that interested in one yet another, they could scuffle or they could rejoice with each and each others employer. do this generally someplace unbiased and notice if issues settle. if it gets to a element, even while they're in jointly, while he gets greater of a hard time than he seems waiting to handle, he could could desire to be in a separate cage returned (which will take place while the greater youthful boys hit adulthood) if so, furnish him with some small cuddly toys to snuggle with, and many 1 on one time. in my opinion when I've had one among an elderly pair die, i've got in simple terms given the the rest one much greater interest. i think of in the event that they're old and set of their procedures it may desire to show slightly too stressful for them. and one calm older rat is not any worry to have out of the cage almost the full time you're at domicile.

Think about it first.

And sometimes they can fight so i think you should see because your rat is older

it would just vary. but get him a play mate ! see if they get along :D

Yeah, a pet stray cat or large snake.

yes please get him a mate. he will get lonely if you dont.