Peter puffball
Peter with his friend, in the same spot, before the hormones took over!
So I've been having trouble 7monthish rats fighting. Peter and Fred usually have a big scuffle during out time, but it never leads to blood. In the cage there'll be a couple scuffles a day, usually Fred and Peter, but sometimes Neville gets involved. Albus is never a fighter, and these fights are usually squeakless, so I figure they're just wrestles.
Fred has gotten bloody bites from Peter 3 times now (not counting during intros).
Once was about 3 weeks ago, maybe just two, when I went away for the weekend, I do think it is because they didn't have time out of the cage for four days.
The next time was when they fell out of the cage because I opened it while they were fighting, so I figured maybe that was why, Peter got scared by the fall and lashed out.
The last time was just now. I was watching them carefully, trying to see who the aggressor is/was. They both get so puffy. I pulled them apart and did the hand domination thing, which has helped before, but they kept getting puffy again this time, and circled each other.
Then there was some boxing and then a standoff with a lot of hissing from Fred. I wanted to split them up at this time, but Fred's back was pressed into the cage door, so I just waited for them to break it up, but the ratball that followed was very squeaky, I couldn't see what was going on, but when I opened the cage, Fred JUMPED out on to me. He has never done that before, even when he reeeally wants to come out for play time. He has 3 or 4 bleeding bites, not serious gashes at all, but still.
He's sitting, bruxing, in the laundry basket right now (his idea, not mine haha, he's a cutie).
So now I want to split them up (I can do this with my cage, but I only have one water bottle at the moment...the other one I had was melted on the stove the other day :emb: ), but I don't have the stuff for two cage setups at the moment...
Fred just came to see me, he's such a sweetie. He's my only rat who really seems to love, love me.
But I also want to put them back together. They are actually best friends, and 99% of the time they're cuddling, or just sitting next to each other. Whenever one of them is out of the cage without the other, like now, the other one just stares out, looking for him.
Will they be okay for the night? Is it okay to separate them 60% of the time and then have them together if I am right there to pull them apart if need be (when the hissing starts, I guess).
I know people are going to say "neuter time" but then how do I decide which one to do (first)? Neither have shown any aggression with me or with the others though, so I really wonder if it isn't just normal jostling for alpha.
Peter with his friend, in the same spot, before the hormones took over!
So I've been having trouble 7monthish rats fighting. Peter and Fred usually have a big scuffle during out time, but it never leads to blood. In the cage there'll be a couple scuffles a day, usually Fred and Peter, but sometimes Neville gets involved. Albus is never a fighter, and these fights are usually squeakless, so I figure they're just wrestles.
Fred has gotten bloody bites from Peter 3 times now (not counting during intros).
Once was about 3 weeks ago, maybe just two, when I went away for the weekend, I do think it is because they didn't have time out of the cage for four days.
The next time was when they fell out of the cage because I opened it while they were fighting, so I figured maybe that was why, Peter got scared by the fall and lashed out.
The last time was just now. I was watching them carefully, trying to see who the aggressor is/was. They both get so puffy. I pulled them apart and did the hand domination thing, which has helped before, but they kept getting puffy again this time, and circled each other.
Then there was some boxing and then a standoff with a lot of hissing from Fred. I wanted to split them up at this time, but Fred's back was pressed into the cage door, so I just waited for them to break it up, but the ratball that followed was very squeaky, I couldn't see what was going on, but when I opened the cage, Fred JUMPED out on to me. He has never done that before, even when he reeeally wants to come out for play time. He has 3 or 4 bleeding bites, not serious gashes at all, but still.
He's sitting, bruxing, in the laundry basket right now (his idea, not mine haha, he's a cutie).
So now I want to split them up (I can do this with my cage, but I only have one water bottle at the moment...the other one I had was melted on the stove the other day :emb: ), but I don't have the stuff for two cage setups at the moment...
Fred just came to see me, he's such a sweetie. He's my only rat who really seems to love, love me.
But I also want to put them back together. They are actually best friends, and 99% of the time they're cuddling, or just sitting next to each other. Whenever one of them is out of the cage without the other, like now, the other one just stares out, looking for him.
Will they be okay for the night? Is it okay to separate them 60% of the time and then have them together if I am right there to pull them apart if need be (when the hissing starts, I guess).
I know people are going to say "neuter time" but then how do I decide which one to do (first)? Neither have shown any aggression with me or with the others though, so I really wonder if it isn't just normal jostling for alpha.
