troubling dynamics in my cage..*fighting* issues

[littlematchstick]

So..I had decided to keep girls (I used to keep both) because girls generally got along better...I should have bit my tongue. I currently have 4 girls, 2 are quite old (over 2) and the other two around a year old. I figured this would be a good arrangement..The 2 oldies could hang out together and the 2 young ones would keep each other company and have someone to play with. Everything was great in the cage when I had 3 (2 old, 1 young) but a few months back I added the 4th girl and all hell broke loose in there. Some of you might know from my other posts that my one older girl has a very large mammary tumor (she's still getting around pretty well and is happy, so Im letting her live out her life as long as she's comfortable). The problem is my newest young girl torments her ALL the time (along with everyone else). She plays really rough with everyone, constantly starting boxing matches, and a few times I've even caught her puffed up a bit. I wanted girls so I DIDN'T have all this drama! Now my 2nd to youngest girl is dragging one of the oldest girls around by her scruff. I just watched her drag her up a ramp! Most of the time though, its my 2 youngest having REALLY loud squabbles. I'm basically worried about the effect of all this on my older 2 girls, especially the one with the really large tumor, she just screams and gets so stressed out when the little brat gets rough with her. I thought about separating the CN and putting the young girls on the bottom and the oldies on top, but I hate to break them up if I don't have to. Because most mornings I wake up and they're all sleeping together like nothing is wrong! :gaah: I've never seen any blood drawn (except a few scratches on one of the older girls-not the one with the tumor though).

I hate rat drama! I can't just tell them to be quiet and go to sleep (although believe me, I still do!). So should I leave them together and just keep an eye on the old ladies, or separate them and hope for some peace? I love my girls but...why can't they all just get along!? :wallbang: anic: :doh:

 

[jorats]

This has been going on for how long?
Can you get a tiny "punishment" cage? Keep it completely bare, no water, no food. Put the bully in there each time you catch her doing some thing bad. Put her in the punishment cage for no more than 10 minutes. Do this each time she's being a bully.

 

[littlematchstick]

This has been going on for how long?
Can you get a tiny "punishment" cage? Keep it completely bare, no water, no food. Put the bully in there each time you catch her doing some thing bad. Put her in the punishment cage for no more than 10 minutes. Do this each time she's being a bully.

This has been going on for about 3 months or so (since I brought the newest girl home--she's the one who's the worst). I could set up my cat (it's only used for my rats though) carrier that I use as a hospital cage and use it as a punishment cage. Would that be bad though since this is also how I take them to the vet or keep them if they're too injured or sick? Like, should I get a completely separate thing to use as a punishment cage? Also, where do I draw the line with her? I know the general rule of thumb is *no blood, no foul* but at the same time..she just gets SO rough! I know play wrestling and *fighting* is normal...I just don't know at what point to consider it *too far* if no blood is being drawn?

I've never had a female that was this much of a brat, can they have hormonal issues too? I had a boy a few years back who was BAD, he bit the tail off one of my other boys and would bite and draw blood (even to me). I ended up giving him up to a rescue in the area because at the time, I just didn't think I had the knowledge to deal with something like that. They had him neutered and he did well, and was even able to have cagemates. But I've never heard of a female having hormonal issues..?

 

[jorats]

Ya, females can have hormonal issues and with some, a spay might help but not usually. I would definitely use another cage, make it even smaller than the cat carrier, a small hamster cage.
You could also try counter conditioning her. When you are at the cage and you see her go near the girls but turn away, give her a treat for that decision to walk away. Keep doing this for quite some time and she will learn that turning away is good.