rats fighting

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elisha

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i have a 4 month old female rat who keeps attacking 3 out of my other 5 rats i’m not sure what to do
 
i have a 4 month old female rat who keeps attacking 3 out of my other 5 rats i’m not sure what to do
Wondering do you know at this point whether or not there's a problem if you split the group down the middle? I mean would it still be just those rats specifically, or would she in that case target alternate bully victims? Knowing this might help the experts answer.
 
How old are the rats?
How long has this been happening?
How long have they lived together?
Have they always lived together?
If not, how did you do intros?

How many rats in total and what size is your cage? Pictures?

Are any of the rats ill?
Do any of the rats have scabs around their heads or shoulders?
When they fight is there blood?

Can you describe the fighting
Video? - you can post videos on youtube and then post the links on here
 
Wondering do you know at this point whether or not there's a problem if you split the group down the middle? I mean would it still be just those rats specifically, or would she in that case target alternate bully victims? Knowing this might help the experts answer.
i think she may target the others then
 
How many rats in total
Oh yeah that's right when you say you've six rats do you mean there are two she opts to not attack or just that she doesn't have access to them? Who exactly is living with who, vs. having only playtimes together? And we also forgot to ask genders and are any fixed? [Speak of the devil, as I write this my new rat is trying to teach my uneducated rat how to wrestle.]
 
How old are the rats?
How long has this been happening?
How long have they lived together?
Have they always lived together?
If not, how did you do intros?

How many rats in total and what size is your cage? Pictures?

Are any of the rats ill?
Do any of the rats have scabs around their heads or shoulders?
When they fight is there blood?

Can you describe the fighting
Video? - you can post videos on youtube and then post the links on here
2 are 4 months old, 2 are 7 months old and 2 are just over a year
this has been happening for a few days
they have not always lived together i introduced them using the carrier method
i have 6 rats in total in the double critter nation
none of them are ill or have any injuries
they do not draw blood when fighting
the rat is constantly chasing the others around trying to mount and pin them
 
Oh yeah that's right when you say you've six rats do you mean there are two she opts to not attack or just that she doesn't have access to them? Who exactly is living with who, vs. having only playtimes together? And we also forgot to ask genders and are any fixed? [Speak of the devil, as I write this my new rat is trying to teach my uneducated rat how to wrestle.]
they are all females and all live together and she seems to just be attacking the younger 3 and leaves the older ones alone but does occasionally try to pin them
 
they are all females and all live together and she seems to just be attacking the younger 3 and leaves the older ones alone but does occasionally try to pin them
If the problem isn't that she hasn't had time to get to know the young ones yet ...
I did read some females like to do "baby bashing" so using one of your CN units for just that half of of your pack might solve it, or at least they're the ones better able to defend against. They could still all be together at playtimes where you can chaperone.
My 4 mo old is pinning my 5 mo old (in showing her how the sport is played) who squeals as if being terrorized but probably enjoying herself.
Whereas in heat they just mount with no pinning. And with no complaints :rolleyes:
 
How often does this happen?
How long has she lived with them?
When did this start?
Which rats does she do this to?

She may be asserting dominance or she may be in heat (does the rat being chased appear to be in heat, hop, wiggle her ears etc?)

Please see: Agonistic behavior sequences http://ratbehavior.org/norway_rat_ethogram.htm#SocialBehavior

The carrier method is not a good way to intro rats, you may want to redo intros ….. please see https://www.ratshackforum.com/threa...ps-used-when-putting-new-rats-together.32368/ and https://www.joinrats.com/Intros
 
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