Cagemates for a year and now...they hate eachother!?

TheRatQueen · Feb 26, 2012

So, I have a cage of 4 boys. And all of the sudden the one is beating up 2 of them to the point (no blood mind you...but anyway)where the 2 stay at the top of the cage and don't even come down for food. They are all about 16 months old. It's been going on for almost a week now, and I was taking the bully out at night so they could sleep, but then I noticed he only picks on 2 (that are biological brothers) Would it be a bad idea to just separate them into 2 groups of 2...I think 16 months is a bit go get him neutered. I mean...they've been living together for a year, of course they fought but nothing like this. What's going on?

mamarat · Feb 26, 2012

Have you checked them for mites? The aggressive one could also be sick or in pain. Good luck with your sweeties.

hopefloats · Feb 26, 2012

You got new boys it is world war 3 when new rats come in at my house.

TheRatQueen · Feb 26, 2012

The aggressive one is actually protecting one that is sick, and oddly enough the ones he really picks on, they take care of the sick one as well so I have no idea what his problem is! And the new ones are in a completely different room away from them. As long as they are separated they are both peachy-keen!

jorats · Feb 26, 2012

It's either, bully not feeling well, mites or like Peggy said new rats in the home. The bully should settle in a while once he gets used to the new smell.
A change in behaviour could indicate PT. So watch for other signs.
Do you have an out time cage for the bully? We have to remember, the bully is equally as stressed out as the victims. So each time bully acts up, pull him out and put him in a small out time cage. Keep him there about 10 minutes.

TheRatQueen · Feb 26, 2012

We kept him in a small cage for an hour and as soon as we put him back the other would run in fear and he keeps 'patrolling' the cage. I've never seen him like this before. Every time we get near the cage he wakes up and runs up and down between 2 shelves watching us.

And we have an hour of out time everyday for them, and he lately he's been 'herding' the other rats to one couch and he gets the other and he'll rub himself all over our couches (not his hind end but his neck area).