Should I get another rat?

I'd actually advise getting two babies. It's easier on the new rats if the attention of the existing rat is divided between the two of them, plus if introductions do not work they have a companion in each other.

I would also advise not getting them from the pet store. I'd suggest looking up breeders in your area, and finding one who breeds for health and temperament. Most pet store rats have been kept on wood shavings at some point in their lives; the oils from wood shavings scars rats respiratory tissue .. you then have to watch them suffer in their old age as the scars stretch and hurt :( (Google rats and phenols if you want to learn more).

When you get the new rats I'd suggest quarantining them in another room for two weeks, even if they do come from a breeder. Google SDAv and Sendai to find out why. Once they are quarantined you can start the introduction period. Please do some reading on this, as putting them straight into a cage together doesn't usually work very well.

Oh, and in answer to your question, it's very rare that rats will fight in the way that hamsters do.

Yes you should. Rats live in groups and actually can become depressed if they don't have a partner. No, they will not fight to the death, rats love company. Just make sure you do get a female.

By the way, please don't get a rat from a petstore. They are like puppy mills, inbreeding and kept in disgusting conditions. But it is a good idea to get a younger rat. A younger rat will be more easily accepted. Look on craigslist, it is almost guaranteed that you will find a rat there.

You might want to look up how to introduce rats. Go to at least three different sites. Also, as someone else has already pointed out, you might want to have another cage handy.

No, they will not kill each other. If you researched more into rats when you got one, you'd find out rats need to be kept in same sex pairs and thrive with a companion.

Clean out the entire cage before adding the new rat. Wipe down bars, sanitize levels/shelves, disinfect toys and huts, throw hammocks in the wash, wash the bedding bin, and change the bedding.

Let the baby rat roam in the freshly cleaned cage alone for about 30 minutes. You can expect some fighting and squabbling. This will last anywhere from 1-7 days, it's just the rats establishing who's boss. As long as there isn't blood things will be fine, let them work it out.

You have to be careful adding another rat to a cage where one lives already. I did this with my male rats when my oldest was 1 year old. Always make sure you have another cage handy just in case there is any problems. Introduce them first on the floor out of the cage. Then try them in the cage and see how things go, and yeah there may be a couple of tussles until they sort out their order in the pack. Rats are social animals, so they do like company, but like any animal it is about taking introductions slowly.

truthfully. Rats are social animals and love residing in communities. lady rats infrequently combat. Its the adult males that are the combatants. only confirm to get a huge cage. some tricks on your rat must be to struggle by way of tubes, use a muddle field-nevertheless its no longer probably a trick, climb ladders, go down slides

they should be absolutely fine, so long as you thoroughly research how to go about introducing new rats.

rats are social animals, so unlike hamsters, will not routinely fight badly. you may get the occasional one that can't tolerate others, but this is unusual. lots of people keep large groups of unrelated rats all bought on different occasions together with no ill effects, as long as they are introduced right.

your rat will be a lot happier with a companion of her own kind, and her health and mental wellbeing will improve greatly.

rats must be kept in at least same sex pairs or in groups. but introductions usually take a few weeks. and before you introduce the new rat to your current one, you must keep her in a seperate cage in another room. then after about 2 weeks introduce them to each other in neutral territory (usually the bath tub).

do this a few times. and when they are comfy with each other clean your current rats cage out and re-arrange everything and then put them both in.

ive got an attic full please come and take them all