Do rats experience hurt feelings?

[Claireybell2477]

This is a strange one, sorry if I have trouble explaining properly lol

I've been out for the evening, and when I came home, the rats just went 'ape' with joy! They were pop corning, buzzing about, hand wrestling like little kids and desperate for attention. So happy and full of fun and pleased to see me. Even more so than usual

But then, two of my boys had a scuffle. Nothing serious, but it wasn't really playing. It was rougher than usual. Then after it broke up, the entire atmosphere changed completely. Noone wanted to play anymore. They all went their separate ways and the two boys that fought, they went off to be alone in separate corners and wouldn't communicate or take a treat. They looked really upset actually! I spend a lot of time with my rats and they really did look upset. They looked pretty hurt. Or was it because of the fight and they were just stressed out about it and needed a moment lol.

I'm just curious, has anyone else experienced their rats suddenly appearing down after something happening, or getting bummed?

 

[Aida]

Animals are really sensitive to shifts in dynamics like that. Possibly something changed in the "order" of the cage, and everyone was a little nervous about where and how to step?

 

[jorats]

Yep, it was the scuffle. Whatever signals those boys were sending during the scuffle off set the colony. They should go back to normal soon enough.

 

[Petunia]

I've seen this with my larger groups (which for me is only like 5 to 7 rats lol) if there's a tiff between two rats, esp if the alpha was involved, the rest of the group will be more quiet than usual and seem to be on the look out for what might happen next

It usually blows over pretty quickly

 

[Claireybell2477]

Aha. Yes, this makes sense. It did all blow over very quickly. And yes, the alpha was involved in the scuffle.

He's getting to be very alpha in a non-aggressive way. I had one of my 4 boys neutered and my alpha keeps humping the poor little thing! I've seen girls hump each other, not boys. I guess it's a dominance thing. I think the other boys know he's been neutered, because they keep smelling him and investigating the place where his balls used to be!