How to Introduced Older Male and Female Rats?

[Shaun]

We have a spayed 2 year old female rat who just lost her cage mate at the vet. We got a new 3 year old male rat. The female is aggressive on neutral ground and attacks the male, who seems very scared. We have them in separate cages side by side. Its been 4 days. She attacks each time, especially is there are treats. Help?

 

[HCXY]

he already said that she attacks even when in neutral territory... but as the other person said... the bathtub is the best place to introduce rats

if she attacks every time i would not keep putting them through this. some rats don't get along... honestly. if she just keeps attacking him i would keep them seperated.
http://ratguide.com/care/behavior/introducing_rats.php

 

[TessaStarraphobia]

Put a couple drops of vanilla extract between their shoulder blades. They should be too distracted by the new smell to fight. If that doesn't work, try covering their backs in a bit of plain yogurt.

 

[Dachmelehad]

Sometimes older rats are aggressive to other rats, particularly if they were the alpha in their old cage. My suggestion is to keep them in separate cages near each other... but don't try introducing them to each other again. It will at least give them another nearby rat without all of the stress, particularly for the male.

I also have a 2-year-old female rat who will attack any male who comes into range. She's perfectly happy living by herself, and the poor old boy I was trying to make her friend is much happier being the lap rat of my sister than getting attacked by the terrifying female who kept leaping at him. Just make sure you hold them both a lot!