The new rat isnt fitting in like wed hoped...

Question
My husband and I have been keeping rats for a long time, so when one of my co-workers needed a new home for one of her rats (named Gus), we accepted him. She said that he was very sweet and got along very well with her other rat... But he doesn't get along with our male rat (Samson) at all, and he's not very sociable towards us.

We've actually had him for almost six months now. We interact with him every day, but he never seems to warm up to us. He's only interested in us if we have food for him, and he's outright hostile towards Samson. He's never bitten us, but my husband still doesn't trust him not to bite. He doesn't like to be held, either.

We had hoped that Gus and Samson would be able to share a cage, but now we're not sure if they'll ever be compatible. We put him into a separate cage right away, and set their cages next to each other. We've never introduced them outside of their cages, though. I was wondering if it would be a good idea to let them meet each other face-to-face. We've debated it for a while, but I'm afraid that Gus would attack Samson. I know that it's common for males to fight at first to test each other's dominance, but I'm afraid that Gus would try to really hurt Samson.

Also, I was wondering if the other animals in the house could be frightening him. We have three female rats in another room, and a cockatiel in the same room as the boys. (There are also cats all over the property. They stay outside, and we don't really interact with them other than feeding them and taking them to the vet, but I thought I should mention them). Being taken from his previous owner must have shocked him, so could being placed in this environment also affect him? I suppose the main question is whether or not we should find a new home for him. I don't want to give him away, in case that would scare him even more, but if he's not happy here, then do we have a choice?

Answer
Hi Sara

Sounds like Gus just isnt real social for his own reasons. Could be the shock of being given away which is why I would say not to give him away again. this could just confuse him more and cause stress to the point of depression and yes, death can be caused by depression due to their immune system being weakened from stress.  I would love him from a distance if after what I suggest doesnt work.
I rescued two adult rats from the dog pound. They were already 18 months old and although they were not super shy, they did not like to be held or interact with me at all, just each other. They perked up for food but thats about it. I tried not to let myself feel badly because I put myself in their shoes. They lived with a family with small children and when the children became bored with the rats, they were sent to the dog pound and scheduled to be euthanized. I rescued them the day they were set to die, talk about good timing!  This chance in their life had to have some impact on them, as they are very in tune to their surroundings and they do bond with their owner to some degree. I did not want to give them away because I knew that would just make them feel even more rejected.  So here we are, another 2 years later, one of the boys has since passed this  December but the other one is still here, at the ripe old age of 3 years and 8 months and still doesnt like me much, but he does come around more since he lost his brother and he will climb up on my lap and let me scratch his ears for a bit while he bruxes. He is all gray now but he was pure black at one time so he is my grand old man now that I have loved from a distance all this time.

I would work with Gus. What I would do is set up a play area if you dont have one, on the floor, where you can sit in there with him. Keep his cage nearby though and take him out of the cage. Be sure there are places he can hide in such as cardboard boxes etc....I have a big cardboard wall made and it runs around the perimeter of the room and keeps the rats contained to this area so they are safe from getting into power cords or going behind the hermit crab tanks and biting the wires to their heating mats etc....and I sit there with them and watch TV and let them walk and climb all over me etc...

Where does he play out during his play time?