new male rats

Question
Hi, well about 3 days ago I found out on the street a box holding 2 male rats. One looks to be a 6-8 month old fancy rat (who I named Charlie) and the other looks to be a 2 month old dumbo rat (who I named Nikolai). I brought them home since I didn't want them to be hit by a car. Well that night I seen on the older male blood came out whenever he sneezed. At first I thought nothing of it, just thought it could of been the new surroundings. Well now for the last couple days he's been sneezing and blood comes out but he cleans it away. I belive he is sick. Right now the 2 males are in a backup cage that I used for the girl rats but I cleaned it just in case. Here is another problem if you say I have to separate the boys the young one freaks out, squeals out loud and starts to tremble. I belive they have grown up together. I just what to what could be the problem of the older rat and what to do to help him. Because he is the most sweetest rat I have ever seen.

PS. The last time I sent you a question on the holes in the cage, the holes where in the plastic base.

PS. I am sorry to tell you the day after the question on replacement parts my one rat Sven died. It looked like she chewed a hole through the hammock (looked like a cheese) and must of got her head caught in there and suffocated herself in the night. I miss her dearly.

Answer
I remember you now Sydney!  When you mentioned your rat Sven, that name rang a bell.  You used to write to me a while back about your rats including Sven and didn't you have one named Rat Fnk at one time?

I am SO sorry about your poor Sven...that is so tragic.  She was your youngest one wasn't she?  :(

To answer your questions about your new male rats, you have a big heart to bring them home and take care of them!  Sure it is possible that the older boy is sick, possibly a respiratory infection, but the blood you're seeing is probably not blood at all, but porphyrin, which is a red discharge rats often have in their noses, eyes, and ears, and it is usually due to stress.   This male rat could be stressed because he is sick, or he could be stressed because he was sitting in a box in the middle of the street for who knows how long without food/water.  If you can afford a vet, I highly suggest you take him as soon as possible.  If he has a respiratory infection, which is very common in rats, it has to be treated as soon as possible with antibiotics.

I don't recommend that you separate the two boys at all!  If they've been together the entire time and if the older one is sick then chances are that the baby has already been exposed to the germs.  Separating them would only cause undue stress to both of them, which you already witnessed from the baby when you tried.  So do let them have each other for companionship to help them get through the possible illness and adjustment to their new home.

Good luck Sydney and do write back again and let me know how the boys (and your other girls) are doing!