They're all fighting..

[1095732]

My girls are all fighting, which is new for them. They usually get along so well. With the exception of Lola, they have all be living together for 9 months. When a fight breaks out, it gets everyone running around like crazy. Most of my girls are coming with me to the States. The live in the same cage, so I thought it'd be easy to take them. I can still take them all but I'd have to split their TCN into 3 sections.

Lola ended up with a bite wound that was 3/4" long and 1/4" wide. It was just a big hole all the way through the skin. Blood everywhere, we stayed at the e-vet half the night. Half her toe was bit off. Vet didn't know squat about rats.. But it was the best we could do, since it was the middle of the night and she was bleeding bad. Gretel was attacked and bleed all over the place from her abdomen. I put her with Lola and Lola attacked Gretel, biting her toe.

Right now they are separated. I've got Lola and 3 submissive girls in on CN. Gretel and is with 2 fairly dominant girls, I have to watch them to make sure everything is okay. And I have the 5 bullies together.

Any idea what's going on or what I can do?

 

[lilspaz68]

Change. Is it the exact same group of girls as before or have there been any changes or change in ranking? Your worries and tension might be felt by them, rats are very empathetic.

 

[jorats]

Wow, that's a very vicious fight. There has to be a trigger like lilspaz mentioned. What's new?

 

[1095732]

Change. Is it the exact same group of girls as before or have there been any changes or change in ranking? Your worries and tension might be felt by them, rats are very empathetic.

12 of the girls have always been together. Lola was added to the group maybe 2-3 weeks ago? I really don't remember. But they accepted her with no problems. They already knew her, from play time, introductions before and the cage was beside theirs. I don't think their has been a change in ranking. My bully girls have always been that way, they never fight with each other and where the first girls I ever got.

It has been pretty stressful around here. I'm getting ready to go to the States to be with my dad (who has terminal cancer). I moved them out to the dining room 3 days before the fight. They've never been in that room before. Usually they are in their rat room. The boys aren't near them anymore, if that would matter? Usually the boys and girls (and hedgehogs) are in the rat room, but I moved the girls out.

 

[lilspaz68]

The move to a new environment did it. Its like putting them in a brand new cage, add your tension, then you have girls fighting and trying to move up the ladder.

 

[1095732]

What should I do for them? They are going to be coming to the States which will be a new environment again. Anything I can do to prevent fights?

 

[lilspaz68]

What should I do for them? They are going to be coming to the States which will be a new environment again. Anything I can do to prevent fights?

Not really, when a formerly Happy Cage starts having fights and being Unhappy, I try to figure out who the culprit is and then move them out into a different group or their own group. I bet its Lola, since she's feisty and the newest one...she's more likely to set off a formerly stable group if there's any change.