Quinn is a big boy now... So the fight is on!

[evantide]

So Quinn has, within the last month, started to be an adult. He tests his boundaries with Eli, his older companion. At first I figured, it's okay to let them figure out who is the boss on their own. I have never separated them ever since they were introduced, and I don't want to if I can help it. However, just the other day I noticed a couple of little scabs on Quinn's tail where I assume Eli must have bit him during one of their little fights. Is this okay? So far there haven't been any major injuries, just the small nicks I've found on Quinn's tail (2-3 scabs total). Quinn is the younger male who annoys Eli. I watch him do it, and I'm not sure how to correct it or if it can be corrected (I have a habit of comparing them to dogs haha). I'm almost positive that the only reason these fights have started is because Quinn is a big boy now, but I'm always worried that it will worsen and result in a terrible injury or death... On the other hand, they snuggle up and sleep together, and groom each other, so it can't be that bad. Any words of advice? Also, what is the best way to treat small injuries on the tail? It always freaks me out when I hear them squeaking and running around like mad-rats in their Critter Nation, knocking into things and rattling the entire cage.

 

[jorats]

Best way to treat injuries... keep them clean. Nothing else is needed really. They are amazing healers.

The fact that they cuddle, I wouldn't intervene either. But if it gets to the point that it's clearly bullying, the best thing is to get your self a very small cage, only big enough to hold the rat and have nothing at all in the cage. That will be the time out cage. The bully goes in there for 10 to 15 minutes when he is caught being a bully. No water, no food in that cage either. It must be an undesirable place to be.

 

[temblabamomo]

I've had a couple of boys pairs who went through very hormonal stages as they reached adulthood, but they passed through it ok. And there were some scary skirmishes, too. Fortunately, none of them ever ended in serious injury. I hope Eli and Quinn make it through this phase and don't rough each other up too badly.

 

[evantide]

Yeah everything has been fine. I've just let them duke it out but it hasn't gotten worse. In fact, it's less. Especially after they had to live in a small cage for a night during Hurricane Irene. xD There were only those couple of injuries on the tail, but nothing else. Once in awhile they'll try to corner each other and squeak a whole bunch, but I've concluded it's a normal dominant thing. They are just testing each other I guess. If they cuddle and clean each other, they must not really hate each other xD

 

[jorats]

That's great! And yep, they are just being normal roomies.