new cage=new fights???

[RaychieRay]

So since I got my new cage which is a lot bigger then my last one I would have thought that the fights would pretty well disappear...not so. I find they are fighting more then ever and it was never like that before. Also before it was a lot more like play fighting and now it seems more serious. Is it because it's a new cage? Any ideas on why they might be acting this way?

It stresses me out! haha

 

[RaychieRay]

I'm going to try and take a video the next time something happens, since the last "fight" they had, all 3 were involved...I am going to keep reading in the forum as well.

 

[MMak]

How long have they been in the new cage? My boys were a bit on edge when I first put them in their FN...it's a new territory so sometimes they have to work things out again between each other.

 

[RaychieRay]

They went into their new CN cage on Saturday. Yesterday (Sunday) was pretty bad but when I bring them in the living room (outside of the cage) with me they acted pretty normal but when I put them back in the cage it starts again. Right now (Monday Morning) they are all sleeping together tho, so I'll just have to keep an eye on it I guess.

How long did your boys act on edge in their new cage?

 

[jorats]

That is normal, they are claiming their space.
How old are the boys now?

 

[MMak]

With my boys, I would say it was ATLEAST for the first week, but it's never completely gone away. Every rat is going to be different. I only have 2...and the one is very "I'm THE alpha male, no questions asked" so to speak...so if Marco is to do anything remotely wrong, there is going to be some boxing, pinning and possibly some biting going on.
You also start to see who's really starting the fights and who's being a drama queen, etc etc. I use to think Marco was always innocent, but he does sometimes act like an idiot and constantly gets in his way... and he'll scream like bloody murder if anything is being done to him.

 

[RaychieRay]

Finnegan and Zorro and a little over 5 months old and Elliott is about 4 months old.

Yeah I think Elliott has a tendency to be a little more dominant then the other two, and he is usually in most of the fights.

It's so hard to hear them scream like that I wish they wouldn't be so rough! I guess boys will be boys! haha

 

[jorats]

5 months is the prime age for them to now be sorting out who's gonna boss of the colony.

 

[RaychieRay]

is it really? That would explain a lot!!!

 

[RaychieRay]

Today when I was playing with the boys I noticed that Elliott and Zorro both had little nicks on their skin, is that something I should be concerned about? They are still fighting but it doesn't seem as intense or as often as it was when they first moved into their cage. What do you guys think?

 

[jorats]

I wouldn't worry about it. If you do however see small scabs, then I'd say it's time to treat them with revolution, which having lice or mites could cause rats to become grumpy and fight.

 

[RaychieRay]

what would be other symptoms of them having mites? I looked closer at the nicks I saw, Zorro's looks like little bite marks but Elliott it just looks like a little scratch mark.

 

[jorats]

You should find small tiny scabs on them. They don't look like scratches or anything like a cut so they are probably ok.
It's hard to say what other symptoms. For me, if I find any scabs, I treat for mites unless I know for a fact my rats have been scuffling.
Keep checking them over, if it is mite, the scabbing will get worse.

 

[RaychieRay]

Perfect, thanks for the information!