Anoni-mouse
New Member
Hi all. About a month ago I got two ratty "brothers" (okay, okay, they were from Petsmart, and there's no way to know for sure--but they said they're littermates). Scamp is fairly small, Skipper's much larger, squishy, and much more calm.
After some initial squabbling when I brought them home, they settled in and all was well. But lately they started fighting again, over everything. Skipper will sidle up to Scamp, kick him, and sit on him. Scamp squeaks and pounces on him, runs away, pounces again, and will instigate a chase. He then runs into the entrance of the wire cage, waits for Skipper to pursue, and bites Skipper's face, trying to drag him inside. Skipper at this point squeals and darts away.
For the first month, Skipper was clearly the alpha, and they both exhibited a typical alpha-beta relationship. Now Scamp is instigating fights, and actually gets the upper hand through subterfuge and manipulating their environment (will pin Skipper in a corner, or attack from a doorway, ambush from above, etc). I'm just wondering if this is something to worry about, or if they're just being boys. I'd say they've got to be at least four months old by now.
I haven't yet seen blood on Skipper, but Scamp had a small gash behind his back leg, which has healed. I've tried taking out the things they fight over, making sure there are plenty of food/water places, give them both ample attention. They don't fight when in the cage but once they come out for playtime it's constant. They sleep together, they hang out on my shoulders, but in my lap they fight. They eat together, but fight over treats. Both are very intelligent, Scamp more subtly so. Both are litterbox trained, but Skip marks just about everything, constantly. They fetch/roll over/spin/come by name/jump up to my shoulders/etc on command.
I'm unsure what to make of it, my girls never did anything like this. All they wanted to do was groom each other, explore, and dig in my ears. Lol.
Thanks in advance for any advice, whether it's something to worry about, etc. Their cage has about 5 feet of floor space split between three levels, two hammocks, and a hide box inside, with ropes, chew toys, stufties, etc. I just want them both to be happy, and when one's being pinned in one moment and getting his face chewed in the next, it's a little disconcerting.
(Scamp - Capped variegated, Skip - Mismarked berkshire)
After some initial squabbling when I brought them home, they settled in and all was well. But lately they started fighting again, over everything. Skipper will sidle up to Scamp, kick him, and sit on him. Scamp squeaks and pounces on him, runs away, pounces again, and will instigate a chase. He then runs into the entrance of the wire cage, waits for Skipper to pursue, and bites Skipper's face, trying to drag him inside. Skipper at this point squeals and darts away.
For the first month, Skipper was clearly the alpha, and they both exhibited a typical alpha-beta relationship. Now Scamp is instigating fights, and actually gets the upper hand through subterfuge and manipulating their environment (will pin Skipper in a corner, or attack from a doorway, ambush from above, etc). I'm just wondering if this is something to worry about, or if they're just being boys. I'd say they've got to be at least four months old by now.
I haven't yet seen blood on Skipper, but Scamp had a small gash behind his back leg, which has healed. I've tried taking out the things they fight over, making sure there are plenty of food/water places, give them both ample attention. They don't fight when in the cage but once they come out for playtime it's constant. They sleep together, they hang out on my shoulders, but in my lap they fight. They eat together, but fight over treats. Both are very intelligent, Scamp more subtly so. Both are litterbox trained, but Skip marks just about everything, constantly. They fetch/roll over/spin/come by name/jump up to my shoulders/etc on command.
I'm unsure what to make of it, my girls never did anything like this. All they wanted to do was groom each other, explore, and dig in my ears. Lol.
Thanks in advance for any advice, whether it's something to worry about, etc. Their cage has about 5 feet of floor space split between three levels, two hammocks, and a hide box inside, with ropes, chew toys, stufties, etc. I just want them both to be happy, and when one's being pinned in one moment and getting his face chewed in the next, it's a little disconcerting.
