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I’d like some advice. I have 4 rats - Basil 1+ y/o, Charlie 1 y/o, Puff & Ash (littermates) 4 months.
My oldest boy Basil has multiple bite wounds on his back from Puff. I’ve observed Puff relentlessly chasing Basil up and down the cage as Basil is very standoffish with him (putting his paw up to push Puff away when he comes near Basil). Puff will run after Basil and try to force a groom/or to nap with him - in these instances I don’t intervene as I know there’s no blood so no foul. However 20% of the time it intensifies into a rat ball when Basil doesn’t want to submit (?).
This has only started happening this past week, and all the others get along fine.
I know this is the age that Puff is becoming hormonal, and I’ve been trying to let them sort out their hierarchy on their own, but now that it’s escalated to drawing blood I have to step in. I have a water spray bottle to separate intense fights, but I’ve now separated Puff tonight so that nothing bad can happen while I’m not monitoring them. I’d like more advice on how to deal with them?
My vet recommended castration, but I’m a little weary as I’ve had a rat in to be neutered before and he didn’t wake up from anaesthesia. Castration will only be my last resort.
My oldest boy Basil has multiple bite wounds on his back from Puff. I’ve observed Puff relentlessly chasing Basil up and down the cage as Basil is very standoffish with him (putting his paw up to push Puff away when he comes near Basil). Puff will run after Basil and try to force a groom/or to nap with him - in these instances I don’t intervene as I know there’s no blood so no foul. However 20% of the time it intensifies into a rat ball when Basil doesn’t want to submit (?).
This has only started happening this past week, and all the others get along fine.
I know this is the age that Puff is becoming hormonal, and I’ve been trying to let them sort out their hierarchy on their own, but now that it’s escalated to drawing blood I have to step in. I have a water spray bottle to separate intense fights, but I’ve now separated Puff tonight so that nothing bad can happen while I’m not monitoring them. I’d like more advice on how to deal with them?
My vet recommended castration, but I’m a little weary as I’ve had a rat in to be neutered before and he didn’t wake up from anaesthesia. Castration will only be my last resort.
