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Rat Owners! Help!
14 years ago
_BONEZ And Her Journal Full Of Brain Barf_ Hi guys; I've got two fancy rats. Sisters.
I've owned Rats before, and the occasional tussle in the cage is fine; they're siblings after all. The smaller of the two (Dolly), gets pinned pretty easy and the larger of the two (Molly), bites at the back of her neck.
Is this a dominance thing? Dolly squeaks, and it's obvious it hurts, but she doesn't put up much more of a fight.
It's starting to happen ALL the time now. I'm constantly turning to break it up. They stop for a second, then they're right back at it.
I know this is semi-notorious in rodents, and some have even gone so far as to eat the other (gruesome I know), but I haven't owned a pair that have ever acted this way.
The main reason I'm having a fit is that Dolly has a gash on the back of her neck, almost an inch long. It's scabbing over now (I've been away since Friday), but I don't want it progressing any further. What do you all suggest? I figure separating them for the time being, but if I do that is it a good idea to let them back together? Is there any other way to curb the fighting?
I'm open for any suggestions <3
I've owned Rats before, and the occasional tussle in the cage is fine; they're siblings after all. The smaller of the two (Dolly), gets pinned pretty easy and the larger of the two (Molly), bites at the back of her neck.
Is this a dominance thing? Dolly squeaks, and it's obvious it hurts, but she doesn't put up much more of a fight.
It's starting to happen ALL the time now. I'm constantly turning to break it up. They stop for a second, then they're right back at it.
I know this is semi-notorious in rodents, and some have even gone so far as to eat the other (gruesome I know), but I haven't owned a pair that have ever acted this way.
The main reason I'm having a fit is that Dolly has a gash on the back of her neck, almost an inch long. It's scabbing over now (I've been away since Friday), but I don't want it progressing any further. What do you all suggest? I figure separating them for the time being, but if I do that is it a good idea to let them back together? Is there any other way to curb the fighting?
I'm open for any suggestions <3
Also if you're worried about the wound but you don't think it needs stitches give her a bath in lukewarm water with gentle shampoo like Johnson's baby shampoo and put the tiniest bit of neosporin on the cut if it's in a location she can't lick it off. I've never had a problem with infection since rats groom themselves so well but better safe than sorry.
They've been cage-mates since I got them, so I'm a little worried that the separation might mess them up a little. But then, this fighting has got to stop.
The area around the gash isn't red or inflamed, and its already begun scabbing over so I think she'll be alright. She doesn't seem too bothered when I touch around it either so I think I'm in luck.
I've owned about 10 fancies, and this is the first time I've seen something like this. And its strange, right now, they're cuddled up in their nest.
But again, they will be separated. Thank you so much for your input! <3
I currently have 20 rats in my colony which is down from my near 30 start. I've had it happen maybe 5 times in the past year and a half and splitting them up was the only way to fix it.
Oh well, I'd rather avoid the gruesome alternative. Separation it is~
Thanks again!
I have two male rats who do the exact same thing, except we separated them for a great while (put them in separate cages) and it didn't stop.
So we just put them back together.
Now they're just back to fighting a little and not biting or humping.
It is a dominance issue.
They can't hurt one another separated, and they play together on my bed when I can supervise. At this point, I would rather have them separated, than together and having Dolly suffer another gnarly bite like the one she has..
put the submissive one in one cage and let it smell like her for awhile; don't clean as often. Then introduce the dominant one to the other's environment, and she'll smell only the other rat's scent; not her own. The submissive one will have more confidence the more you do this, and my boys evened out quite nicely.