Rat on rat aggression

[alawr]

My 3 1/2 month old PEW Odie has been getting into scuffles with Loki, who is around the same age. It has been getting more serious. I fould a quite deep scratch and other small bites all look like they were bleeding on Loki. Odie seems to be the one who initially puffs up and starts boxing and side-stepping until they start to fight. I took them to the bathroom to see if the neutral territory would help, but the same thing happened. Loki doesn't seem to get puffed up, but he is more nervous now... I don't know why this happened or what to do.. They have lived together since they were just weeks old.. I have separated them for now.. Is there any way I can help them be better together again?

 

[Unepuce]

Hum... if they were just a tad older, I would guess hormones as they would be teenagers... but to me 3 1/2 months seem a bit young. Jorats will most certainly have the explanation, and I will be waiting to hear (read....)

 

[mamarat]

That's about the age when their hormones come into play. Are you sure it's not just play? Sometimes their playing can get pretty rough. I would not separate them if they have been together since babies. When Odie acts up, dominate him and see what happens.

 

[jorats]

How big is the cage? A smallish cage will cause for rats to fight. But like mamarat has said, are you sure it's not playing? Could they have mites, I'd do a treatment just in case. With mites, you'll see scabs on one or two of the rats and it will make rats crabby.
Usually rats come into maturity at about 5 months but I've seen it happen at 3 and 4 months. If it really is aggression, then neutering them will help de-stress them.