Hi guys,

I'm really struggling with the ratbags atm. They're constantly fighting. They have bite marks and missing fur but Chico looks like he's getting the worst of it even though he usually started it. In the period of 2 hours he has been covered in scratches and even close to his eye! And developed a lump on the side of his mouth. The tip of his tail looks raw too.

The thing is I'm terrified of touching him. I haven't picked him up since he bit me. I've let him climb on me until his hearts content but I don't trust him. But I do love the little psycho and that's why I want to keep him.

I had to get my boyfriend to get him out of the cage and I felt sick and couldnt watch. We've separated Chico from the other two as much for his own safety as the others. The problem is, is that the other two are fighting a lot now and I'm worried that they've developed this behaviour because of Chico and that they'll be like it permanently.

The thing is I'm winging it and I'm wondering if I'm being selfish in keeping them. Maybe they need someone with a lot more experience and courage than me? I want what's best for them.

Did I do the right thing in taking Chico out of the situation? If so should I keep him out until he has his operation on Wednesday?

Tell me am I right to keep them?

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Bonnie 29.01.97 - 21.09.11
Millie 01.02.01
Seamus 09.07.00
Tyler 08.11.00
Kiki 15.10.10
Chico 01.07.11
Riley & Louie 16.02.11
Holly & Ivy - 11.11.11

Oh hun, I'm sorry you are struggling *hugs*
Get yourself some tough gardening gloves, so that you can handle Chico without fear, that way if he does bite again it won't hurt you.
I think you were right to seperate, and as Chico's op is next week it is probably best to keep him separate until he has recovered and then try rebonding after that.
As for the other 2, they might just be unsettled due to the fighting, so hopefully they will calm down soon.

Only you can decide if keeping them is the right thing to do, I would see how things are after the neuter and then go from there hun.

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Thanks hun! Giving them up is the last thing I want to do. I love them so much and I want to give them a home so much!! If I need to I can get all their balls off lol so as long as I know that I'm doing the right thing by them I want to keep them!!

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Bonnie 29.01.97 - 21.09.11
Millie 01.02.01
Seamus 09.07.00
Tyler 08.11.00
Kiki 15.10.10
Chico 01.07.11
Riley & Louie 16.02.11
Holly & Ivy - 11.11.11

if Chico was alpha the other two are prob trying to see whos the boss out them, it should settle down.

Defo use gardening gloves get thick ones and start with stroking him in the cage with them.

I have a biter i just tend to get him out quickly But thankfully he only does the nipping type bites. Im gaining his trust by stroking him a few times a day when i go past the cage which he seems to like Oddly though hes fine to be picked up during free play etc just hates being picked up while in the cage

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Owner to-
lots of rodents
2 monster dogs
1 slinky cat

i'm also wondering whether they are feeling cramped up in the freddy cage?
in my past experience keeping rats in a smaller cage with no where to escape from each other like for instance if they have a fight they need there own sleeping quarters like a couple of bunkers/cube beds and other houses as well as hammocks to hide away in.

i've found if they have a nice big cage they can get away from it all and have some quiet time,but because your 3 are only in a freddy 2 rat cage and there getting to that hormonal stage they havent enough room.

does anyone else agree?

yes i think you have done right by splitting him,once he's had his op you'd need to keep him away from them for 2 weeks untill his hormones have settled down.

maybe you could just free range them together?
is it only happeneing inside the cage?

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I'm Amy I have a
German shepherd-blade.
10 male rats.
2 male mice.
1 Syrian hamster.

I'd start them over from scratch personally...take them out in a carrier together and just have a walk with them for an hour or so.

Scrub the cage down and take out everything they can be territorial or fight over, beds, hammocks, the lot. Scatter food and have multiple bottles so no one can get possessive over anything, give them a pile of tissue paper or straw or whatever they use as a 'bed lining' for warmth and keep an eye on them.

Boys can get bickery and fussy over whose is what so if you remove that, you remove the need for any arguments. I've actually found that the bigger the cage and the fewer the rats, the more territorial they get and less likely they are to settle as a group - most successful intros have been done in very close quarters; starting in the carrier, then a small cage, then their main cage with few items and then gradually add the items back as they start to bond more and more.

I had five knocking around in a full explorer at one time and they just wouldn't bond properly, they couldn't sort themselves out so I had to split it back into a two and a three. Then I added four babies to the pair (who were old men by then) and they all got along fine in half the explorer.

It could well all be down to hormones, and if one neuter isn't enough, it might be a good idea to have them all done (lucky there's only three!). At least that maximises your chances of a successful intro if there's no hormones flying about at all, and you'd end up with three happy squishes

Hope any of that makes sense!

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http://kaedianmori.tumblr.com/ <--- NSFW





RIP - Marsh, Hugo, Mako, Rufus, Seamus, Lavender, BigBoy, Tetley and Fitch <3

Thanks everyone! They fight anywhere not just in their cage. Chico is looking pretty miserable in the cage by himself but everytime I let him be with the other two during play time he just goes straight into ninja mode!

I'm over my wobble now and am ready to take charge of the situation so to speak. I've bought some gardening gloves and I'm gonna start handling Chico later and I'm looking forward to it!

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Bonnie 29.01.97 - 21.09.11
Millie 01.02.01
Seamus 09.07.00
Tyler 08.11.00
Kiki 15.10.10
Chico 01.07.11
Riley & Louie 16.02.11
Holly & Ivy - 11.11.11

Fabulous! He should pick up on your confidence and realise you mean business

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RIP - Marsh, Hugo, Mako, Rufus, Seamus, Lavender, BigBoy, Tetley and Fitch <3

Glad to here you're ready to show him who's boss. You're a lot braver than me as I've only just stopped being nervous of my ratties and have only been nipped once!

Do girls get hormonal like boys?

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Binks and Smudge

R.I.P JETTY

Girls can get scary hormonal! I've had one spayed due to aggression issues, she's lovely now, much calmer. Though the girl I have left at the moment is the biggest softy going and always has been, as are her brothers who've never gone through a 'hormonal' period their entire lives, not a noticable one anyway.

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http://kaedianmori.tumblr.com/ <--- NSFW





RIP - Marsh, Hugo, Mako, Rufus, Seamus, Lavender, BigBoy, Tetley and Fitch <3