Alright my favorite rat experts :) only when difficult :) ha

[jorats]

It's so worth it and I'm so happy you stuck it out, so many people would have given up.

 

[hopefloats]

guess what? Toby was playing, and grooming loki and Ludo. I was so happy! LOL

 

[hopefloats]

ok so today, has been really quiet, I am thinking about braving letting them stay put for the night...... It really was mostly avoiding tonight, and out time was a bit of playing. It has went better today than the other days. I just hope i dont wake up to some fighting rats.

 

[hopefloats]

Well Templeton became livid because Toby came down into their section, which i guess he now owns the bottom half, which is funny because when I did the 5 hour drive to get this cage i don't remember him navigating my way there . So I separated them, put the haired boys up top, and the hairless down in the bottom. Templeton is just a crab butt. I think he is going to not let this happen.

I was mad, so i took Toby and Templeton and set them in the tub for a few. LOL I guess I had to make myself feel better LOL oh well tomorrow is another day right?

I keep cleaning the cage to let this happen. but now they can equally smell up both halves with all the scents, so I dont know if I need to keep scrubbing it down or what.

 

[jorats]

No, don't need to keep cleaning anymore. Cleaning it now makes them reclaim their spots all over again.
Templeton will always have issues but that's normal and needed so he can keep his alpha position. My boys, a year later still have scuffles because so and so tries for the top banana position and the alpha won't give it up. It's normal and healthy for this to happen. It's a colony.
So now, since they've been in the cage so much together, let it go. Let it happen. No more cleaning, no more separating. Unless of course you see them getting cut up. And I don't mean little scratches, I'm talking deep bleeding gashes. Cuts and scrapes will always happen especially on the nakies cause they can't hide it with their fur.

 

[hopefloats]

Day 14-

I open the cage back up, Templeton heads right down to where the hairless are and starts huffing at them. LOL then he gets out and go and lays by the door. He will calm down a little wont he? He is still trying to hide them with fleece on occasion and he is just not wanting anything to do with them.

It is amazing the difference from girls to boys. To think I wanted some boys because my girls were not cuddly enough LOL It is odd how they can be cuddle bugs and then beat everyone up in the cage. The hairless are still kinda worried about walking around, they walk super slow. I guess after a few days that will calm down?

 

[jorats]

It really well calm down but it will probably take more than a few days, could take a couple of weeks. But that's ok... they need to go through this. It's time to leave them open to each other.

 

[hopefloats]

yay.....I should make some body suits for the hairless so it is fair since they tend to get and show scratches easier LOL i could make it from Templeton fur? that might stop him from wanting to show them who's boss, maybe he would think, man they smell just like me, I love them.


Temple is marking the cage right now, I guess that is from me cleaning it so much. What aggression signs should I look for? other than a big bloody fight? is there anything I should pay attention to? I know most of this is normal, I am just not sure what to look for that would indicate it starting to go bad.

Do rats mark the other rats with their scent? or do they just get used to their scent?

 

[jorats]

You could shave down Templeton...lol

Ok, so what to look for is lunging. That in my opinion is the worst and usually indicates something bad can happen. Like a snake about the grab it's prey. That is what you don't want ever.

 

[hopefloats]

I think Templeton needs a Mohawk all the way down his back, it would seem fitting LOL

He doesnt seem to lunge so much, he just chases them or stands guard over them constantly, like he is trying to bully them out of the bed.

 

[jorats]

Templeton is a good boy. He's holding on to his position.

 

[hopefloats]

So today, has been pretty quiet, I still feel bad for the boys. Toby wants to play so bad, he will run around, and start to play, Templeton comes around and he stops and freezes in place. Dopey and Toby both pretty much stay hiding under a bed thing most of the day. They come out but wont venture very far. Toby is getting more comfortable out drinking and trying to move around a bit, dopey wont move hardly at all. I did put the water closer to him, so he could get that at least. Neither of the hairless try to go down into the bottom half, Templeton really acts like he owns that, that is where all the fights have been is that evil lower half of the cage.

Ludo must be to big for his britches because Templeton was chasing him around today. Normally he just takes their antics, but today, he wasn't in the mood.

He still goes up to them and hisses, but he don't usually do anything else. He is really owning that whole cage and they are intruders LOL

I am almost thinking about getting the old superpet cage out and putting them in there for a few days see if that tones him down to where they can become friends.

I am going to leave them alone and hope for the best in the morning. I must say it worries me LOL but I will do it.

 

[jorats]

Yes, leave them in there... They will get over it.

Do you play with your rats by rubbing/tickling their heads real fast to get them popcorning? Do that a lot with the nakies and babies.
Even if you get only one rat to popcorn around, that gets all the rats in a happy mood.

 

[hopefloats]

Day 15

Yes I do, but only toby and the babies seem to care LOL the other squeak like I am over powering them, they are wimps.

I woke up, went to check on them, Dopey was in the same spot he had a little scratch on his back, so i am sure something happened. Looked in all the beds in the top half for Toby, couldn't find him, Started to freak a little LOL he is on the bottom sleeping in a hanging basket by the ramp. The other boys were bundled up in a popcorn box on the very bottom of the cage. Not sure how he got down there or if the cage police Templeton let him down there but either way he is down there.

i will just be glad when they slow down and quit being tough to each other. I really want the hairless to be able to walk freely in the cage. I almost feel guilty because I am doing this so they can have better, but it makes me feel like they have less because they are so restricted.

 

[jorats]

They won't be restricted for long... Templeton will get used to their presence. That is really good news that Toby was at the bottom.
I find it amusing that your main rats choose the bottom of the cage. All my rats have always wanted the top, that's the coveted area with my colony.

 

[mamarat]

It's been so fun reading this thread, sounds like you're doing a good job.

 

[hopefloats]

Thanks. I am glad others are reading it, i thought it was just me and Jorats LOL but now i know everyone sees i am crazy :thud:

It has been such a long road with these boys, especially toby and dopey. I just hate thinking I got them to a better spot in life finally, then it seems like we regressed LOL

I am still looking for that big bonding moment, but least they are not fighting so it could be worse.

 

[mamarat]

You're not crazy but a good mom to your rats. It really sounds pretty good. I know I had a heck of a time with my Wildthings. The screaming didn't stop for a year. But there was no blood, a lot of chasing and boxing though.

 

[hopefloats]

Wow a year! oh my LOL I guess it will get easier to hear, i got used to the girls and dont even run to them anymore so hopefully i will adjust soon.

 

[hopefloats]

Toby has a few battle wounds. Nothing major but you can tell he has been hurt. A few new scratches on his head, a few on his back, one looks like a bite mark but I cannot really tell. Templeton still does not like him at all. He just kinda grabbed his face with his hands he didn't try to bite it, but he nipped him a few seconds prior.

Should I bath them all? maybe there is a small on the hairless that he really dont like?

Should I get the old super pet cage out so maybe Templeton would forget that he owns the other one?

I put them two in the tub, Templeton cleaned himself then he sat there and nipped toby when he came by....


Here is toby's battle wounds, the one on his shoulder is the worse, which isnt even that bad LOL but I would rather more advice than to guess.

what i dont get is why they have to put their eyes so close to another rats mouth! I mean come on, that is gonna hurt lol