temblabamomo
Senior Member
Maz started acting odd before Christmas - jumpy, unplayful (but not lethargic), frightened - and would wake up some mornings with a bit of staining that alternated between eyes. Everyone saw the vet just before Christmas to get current weights and a dose of Revolution, and the vet also put Maz on doxy and baytril, just to nip any arising illness in the bud.
Within a couple days, Maz seemed like himself. We were never sure what caused his stress in the first place - several short visits/intros with new rat Obie, or the tiny Christmas tree that was set up in my room just before his symptoms showed (he would stare at it in fear and then spend entire playtimes hiding under a blanket.) I relocated the tree and ceased his exposure to Obie, he started meds, he got back to normal.
I have now been re-attempting intros between him and Obie. So far they have not gone badly, but they're not exactly best pals yet either. Mostly they just get as far away from one another as possible and hunker down and wait to be put back in their respective cages. Obie's cage has been moved closer to the trio's cage, everyone is smelling each other on my hands and clothing, being neighbors, and now having playtime in one anothers' respective play areas, as well as a bit of exploring of each others' cages. I felt with all of this and the time that has gone by, Maz should now at least be used to Obie's smell.
The past few days, when Maz has been out, he's acting all odd again. I can only think that he now smells Obie in his play area. I will wash everything and put down new blankets and towels during the next play session and hopefully see some difference in behavior. But really, Obie has been living in the same room with the other guys for at least a month now. They've always been aware of each other's presence.
Shouldn't Maz be used to Obie's smell by now? The other guys aren't acting like this. They obviously hear and smell Obie. Max puffs up like a cheezypoof if he gets a glimpse of Obie. Morrissey just bounces around and doesn't seem bothered at all. I suppose the thing to do is move Obie's cage away and get his scent out of the boys' play area, just to confirm that this is what's freaking Maz out. He's still on his antibiotics and not showing the staining around the eyes, or any other signs of illness. He just acts scared all the time when he's in the play area. He and Obie have not had any violent encounters that would leave Maz traumatized. I just don't get it. Is he going to go into a fright and hunker down for hours every time he gets a whiff of the other guy, or what?
I'm torn between ceasing his exposure to Obie, or pushing on with the intros. Maz is my little sweet pea and I miss his affectionate, silly antics. I want him to feel comfortable when he's in his play area. What do I do?
Within a couple days, Maz seemed like himself. We were never sure what caused his stress in the first place - several short visits/intros with new rat Obie, or the tiny Christmas tree that was set up in my room just before his symptoms showed (he would stare at it in fear and then spend entire playtimes hiding under a blanket.) I relocated the tree and ceased his exposure to Obie, he started meds, he got back to normal.
I have now been re-attempting intros between him and Obie. So far they have not gone badly, but they're not exactly best pals yet either. Mostly they just get as far away from one another as possible and hunker down and wait to be put back in their respective cages. Obie's cage has been moved closer to the trio's cage, everyone is smelling each other on my hands and clothing, being neighbors, and now having playtime in one anothers' respective play areas, as well as a bit of exploring of each others' cages. I felt with all of this and the time that has gone by, Maz should now at least be used to Obie's smell.
The past few days, when Maz has been out, he's acting all odd again. I can only think that he now smells Obie in his play area. I will wash everything and put down new blankets and towels during the next play session and hopefully see some difference in behavior. But really, Obie has been living in the same room with the other guys for at least a month now. They've always been aware of each other's presence.
Shouldn't Maz be used to Obie's smell by now? The other guys aren't acting like this. They obviously hear and smell Obie. Max puffs up like a cheezypoof if he gets a glimpse of Obie. Morrissey just bounces around and doesn't seem bothered at all. I suppose the thing to do is move Obie's cage away and get his scent out of the boys' play area, just to confirm that this is what's freaking Maz out. He's still on his antibiotics and not showing the staining around the eyes, or any other signs of illness. He just acts scared all the time when he's in the play area. He and Obie have not had any violent encounters that would leave Maz traumatized. I just don't get it. Is he going to go into a fright and hunker down for hours every time he gets a whiff of the other guy, or what?
I'm torn between ceasing his exposure to Obie, or pushing on with the intros. Maz is my little sweet pea and I miss his affectionate, silly antics. I want him to feel comfortable when he's in his play area. What do I do?
