Grinding teeth?

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shelley_lynn

Member
Joined
Apr 20, 2011
Messages
7
Location
Halifax
Hey!... I just got 2 new rats that aren't very old.. And when I have them out I noticed one of them was making a sound and it almost sounded Like grinding teeth.. Does anyone know what this means? .... Also.. They r both females and I noticed today that they got in a fight a couple times... How do I know if this is play fighting or do they even do that? Thanks!! :)
 
Do you have an idea on their age?
When rats grind their teeth, they do it when they are content but can also do it when stressed. It depends on the situation.
 
I'm trying to remember how old the lady said they were and I want to say 17 weeks maybe? But I really can't remember if that's what she said for sure or not..
 
Are these the rats from the rescue post about the 7 feeders? If they are, any information about the remaining rats?
Any pictures?

Grinding teeth can mean that they are happy or that the rat is in pain.
Were the rats living together before you got them?
Can you describe what their fighting looks like?

Are they scratching?
How large is their cage?
What are they being fed?

Oh ... we love pictures :stickpoke: LOL
 
It's hard to explain the "fighting" but for the most part they roll around in a ball.. And seem to go after eachothers butts.. There's no squeaking so I don't think they r hurting eachother.. And the girl that I got then from has had a bunch Of rats before and was VERY sure they are both females... I ccompare both of them and they both look exactly the same down in that regiOn.. So I don't think it's that.. One will chase the other than they start rolling around in the shavings.. Anyway.. They have a huge cage.. It is 2 level and seems very big for them right now as they are about the size of a mouse.. Maybe a bit bigger...
 
They sound very young and young rats will play hard and jump on each other and all sorts of things. Any chance of getting a picture?
 
CoCoAndChanel006.jpg


CoCoAndChanel007.jpg


CoCoAndChanel005.jpg
 
Ok good, I was hoping that was all it is :).... like I said, they aren't hurting each other, it doesn't seem, cuz they don't make sounds ... and I had mice before and the males would fight, and I knew it was real fighting because they would actually make sounds and stuff...and these gurls don't, they just chase each other around and roll around in a ball lol..... they are CoCo And Chanel btw :)<3
 
Those babies are so cute!

The teeth clicking I've read is called bruxing- and many times, ppl will say it's done when they're happy. I know they can do it when they're stressed, but if it's followed by 'boogling eyes' then they're happy (but it doesn't have to be followed by it to mean they're happy). It's actually funny to see. You can also try to 'brux' your teeth at your rat. I read a rat owner suggest, getting eye level with your rat, then bruxing your teeth (just click your bottom teeth against your top in kinda a rounded motion, not just up and down- like... click rubbing? So hard to explain... lol) and after a few moments, they will start bruxing back at you and might even eye boggle. Ultimate sign of rattie affection. I got my oldest to do it to me the other day, it was so cute. xD;;

They might squeak at some points, but it won't be any big deal if it's a little peep now and again. Mine will do that, but they're just playing (but one is older and he's still doing a little dominating thing xD).
 
Aw, adorable photos!

Babies get up to a lot of hijinks - when my Pips (Petrie, Ducky and Cera) were babies, they would nibble at anyone's tail if it drooped down in front of them - was really funny to see them running around trying to catch each others' tails!
 
Aww how cute. you will see them making all types of noise as they grow. They seem to love to eat and play for months when they are babies.
 
Thanks for all the great information! They are doing so well... I love them so much! Thanks for the compliments.. They are pretty cute if I must say;)
 

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