Rat companions

Question
we have just lost one of our pet rats and the other looks really sad and lonely our local pet shop says not to buy another as they may fight but mice will live happily with him if they are the same sex and we keep both food bowls topped up  im not too fond of mice so i was wondering if anyone knows what we could get to live with jelly the rat to keep him company he used to be really outgoing but he's really withdrawn now and unhappy so any info or suggestions would be gratefully accepted cheers

Answer
Oh my goodness, that pet store is terribly misinformed.  Rats are highly social animals and NEED each other.
Rats KILL Mice and if you put a mouse in with that rat, I give him about 10 seconds left to live. Rats are predators by nature and one of their prey is mice. In fact, I would LOVE to know what pet store that is that told you that and I would send them plenty of literature and show them how incorrect they are. WOW. I am blown away right now that they would even say that to you!!

Anyhow, your little Jelly needs a buddy. Its true you should not just toss in another rat for him to live with and should do introductions first to avoid issues over territory and such, but after they get to know each other they will be friends just like Jellys other cagemate.

If you need more advice on how to do proper introductions between male rats please let me know.

I am just grateful you wrote to us first before listening to the pet store and putting a poor mouse in with Jelly. What a    disaster that would have been!

Regards

Sandra