Seamus is being a butt head.edit-- video added

[handmeafish]

So I got a new buddy the other day. I rescued him from a friend of a friend who had to move back in with her mom, who is apparently really allergic to rats. His cage mate died about a month ago, and his owner told me he was the submissive rat. He is SUCH a sweetie. He immediately took to me, snuggled right in. He boggles all the time, I've never seen a rat do that before!!

Any way, its been a few days, and I decided tonight would be a good night to start intros. I brought out all four rats, and put them on my bed and let them start checking each other out. Things were all good at first, but then Seamus lost it! He got all poofy and started rubbing his butt against Harry (the new guy) and then pounced on him, and bit him between the shoulders! Harry immediately flipped over, screaming, and Seamus bit him again. In a knee jerk reaction I clapped loudly and said "Hey!" like I do with the dogs at work when they get a bit rough. Seamus stopped, and ran too me, so I figured they would be ok. Harry got back up, and resumed his checking things out, and I cuddled with Seamus until he got all unpoofy and put him back out. it was all good for a few minutes, then Seamus did the whole thing over. I tried not to break it up, but Seamus broke the skin right by Harry's tail. So I grabbed him, and he started crying like I was murdering him. I put Seamus away, and I came back to Arthur and Neville like comforting Harry... Or at least thats what It looks like... So I left them all out (Neville, Harry and Arthur) and they are all cuddling together in my lap... of their own accord. Neville is grooming Harry (who needs it) and Harry is boggling again.

So I guess i'm going to move to the bathtub with Seamus, But now I'm worried, because Seamus and Arthur have been tussling in the cage a bit. I'm afraid Seamus is going to hurt Arthur.I'm thinking I will probably need to Neuter Seamus, but its about 400$ here, and with whats going on in my life, I don't think thats possible right now.
Should I be worried about Seamus hurting the others? He's never broken skin before, and Right now he's giving me that "Why am I in the cage?" lol.

I took this video after my post. Its of Neville, Harry and Arthur... Neville is grooming Harry in the beginning, then they kind of spat briefly, then Harry grooms Arthurs butt... Check it out, let me know what you think about the body language and what nots.

 

[handmeafish]

Now Seamus has Arthur on his side, and is gromming his neck hard. Arthur is pushing him away with his back feel, but not really protesting.
I may have to take him to the vet about 3 hours away. do you think that would be to stressful for him? That vet is really really good with rats, and will do a neuter for about 75$

 

[jorats]

Who are the ones in the video? The black hooded is Seamus? The blaze is? and the white guy that came along?

$400 is a lot of money... a neuter is definitely the fastest and shortest answer. But I think it can be managed with long term intros.

 

[handmeafish]

No, Seamus was back in the cage at that point. The black hooded is neville, and the PEW looking one is Arthur. The other is Harry. I just found it odd that they were so good together, on their first meeting, but Seamus freaked basically unprovoked.

I am worried because Seamus and Arthur have been scuffling a lot, nothing major, but with the fact that he broke skin on Harry pretty much unprovoked worries me.

 

[handmeafish]

ok, so we had more play time today, and they lasted longer than last night, but I still ended up with a slightly bloody Harry. This time right in the middle of his belly. I don't want to say completely unprovoked, because I don't truly understand ratty body language, but it seemed like harry was just checking Seamus out, and Seamus flipped out.
I'm thinking I will end up putting Arthur and Harry in one cage and Neville and Seamus in the other until I can get Seamus Neutered. I just don't want to stress poor harry out, and I don't want him to be alone too much longer.

 

[jorats]

Are these deep gashes or superficial? If they are deep, then I'd advise stopping the intros until you can get Seamus neutered. The stomach is a scary spot to get the cuts. On the back, that's normal and not really much for concern.
If they are just superficial then I'd continue to do intros but each time Seamus goes near Harry, you firmly push him away. So essentially, Seamus can smell, see and hear Harry but he can't touch him. for now.

 

[handmeafish]

they are superficial, and stop bleeding with in a few seconds... the actual cuts are hard to find, but the blood is not. At this point I can't even tell where it was cause he's cleaned it up so well.