Introducing Rodents
The optimum condition to introduce a new rodent to another is to do so when they are young. Almost every social rodent species will get along amiably with others if introduced at a young age with little effort. Whenever possible, purchase the animals as juveniles at roughly the same time to avoid problems. When that is not possible and you need to add an individual to a group or pair a single animal up with another, precautions must be taken. I suggest the new individual be no less than half the size of those already in the enclosure so they will not seriously injured. Also make sure the species is compatible before trying to introduce them. Some rodent species are solitary, and in others members of the same sex will not be tolerated in close proximity. Here are a few methods of introduction:
'NEUTRAL GROUND' METHOD
"Neutral ground" is any place that your rodents do not see as "their" territory, mainly, their scent is not present there and/or the terrain is unfamiliar. This way they will feel less inclined to show aggression to defend the area. The easiest way to do this is by using a spare cage or critter keeper that has been washed of any animal scent, or often people use their bathtub (with drain plugged). Put the new rodent in first, then the other(s). Likely there will be a lot of sniffing and nipping, as well as some chasing and wrestling as well. As long as no blood is drawn they should be left alone. Keep watch over them and leave them in their neutral space until they start to show more positive signs towards each other. This can include mutual grooming, sitting together with no aggression, a lack of chasing, or even ignoring each other.
In the meantime, clean out the main enclosure. Scrub it down and everything in it, put fresh bedding in and re-arrange the objects in the enclosure differently than usual. Once the animals seem to be getting along put them all inside main enclosure. Keep a close watch on them over the next few days. There could be some fighting to determine dominance but if blood is drawn they need to be separated again.
'SPLIT CAGE' METHOD
There are a few ways to accomplish the proper effect with the 'split cage.'
1) Two cages side by side.
2) One smaller container like a critter keeper inside the main enclosure.
3) A mesh barrier is created down the middle of enclosure to split it into two.
Now you have a separate place to keep the new arrival. The animals should be able to see and smell each other, but not have any contact that can result in injury. After one or two days, have the animals switch sides. This allows them to get used to the other's scent. In another day or two, switch them back. Now both their scents should be intermingled on each side. The next day, remove barrier and watch closely. If they are seriously violent with one another to the point of drawing blood, separate them again. This process can be repeated.
'DIVIDE AND CONQUER' METHOD
This is a method used for introducing one or two new animals to a group of others who are having trouble accepting them. Put the new arrivals in an enclosure of their own for a day or two. Then add one animal from the larger group to the new one's enclosure. Give them a day or two to get comfortable with each other, then add another. Keep this up until one by one, each animal from the original group has been added and get along. Try to go from introducing the least aggressive member of the group to the most dominant, this way the most aggressive animal will have spent a couple days by itself and be wanting companionship and will be less likely to fight. Then they can all be moved back together to the main enclosure.
Written by LEX Exotics
