NicodemusRattus
Well-Known Member
Over the years I've noticed different "types" of wrestling between my ratties, I know it's a normal part of their lives, but sometimes I wonder when is it too much? how do you tell the difference between "ok" wrestling and "aggressive" wrestling?
I currently have a group of sisters that are around 4 months old and they live in a large cage with my 2 older females Mogwai & Nimzy. One of the young sisters, Natasha, has decided that she's the alpha I guess, every time I hear any loud screeching it always involves her and another rat. She's really aggressive toward Mogwai, who is a 2 yr old dumbo and starting to show her age. She's not the least bit interested in wrestling with Natasha or any of the others for that matter, but Natasha will follow her around and wrestle with her constantly and it always ends with Mogwai screaming bloody murder, and then running and hiding for hours. I also noticed that when I give everyone food/snacks, even though I make sure there is enough for everyone in the cage, Natasha will constantly steal food right out of Mogwai's mouth. I know that rats do their own thing and they have a social hierarchy, but to me it feels like this is more than just being an alpha, I feel like Natasha's just being an outright meanie. So recently I decided to remove her from the cage. I know she misses her mother/sisters, but I can't deal with her constantly attacking other rats. It doesn't seem like the normal "wrestling" I see the other rats doing, whenever Natasha wrestles with someone it gets so loud, it sounds like she's murdering the other rat! But since I took her out, she's acting lonely now, so I'm thinking I might put her into her Aunt Zuki's cage, along with Zuki's 3 daughters.
Do you think that she will mellow out if I introduce her to a new group of rats like Zuki's, I think she became so dominant in her own cage because of her sisters. Maybe with new rats she won't be so dominant? what are your experiences with dominant rats like this? I feel so terrible for taking her away from her sisters but I think it was my only option. I hope I wasn't overreacting, but none of the other rats seem quite this aggressive when they wrestle.
I currently have a group of sisters that are around 4 months old and they live in a large cage with my 2 older females Mogwai & Nimzy. One of the young sisters, Natasha, has decided that she's the alpha I guess, every time I hear any loud screeching it always involves her and another rat. She's really aggressive toward Mogwai, who is a 2 yr old dumbo and starting to show her age. She's not the least bit interested in wrestling with Natasha or any of the others for that matter, but Natasha will follow her around and wrestle with her constantly and it always ends with Mogwai screaming bloody murder, and then running and hiding for hours. I also noticed that when I give everyone food/snacks, even though I make sure there is enough for everyone in the cage, Natasha will constantly steal food right out of Mogwai's mouth. I know that rats do their own thing and they have a social hierarchy, but to me it feels like this is more than just being an alpha, I feel like Natasha's just being an outright meanie. So recently I decided to remove her from the cage. I know she misses her mother/sisters, but I can't deal with her constantly attacking other rats. It doesn't seem like the normal "wrestling" I see the other rats doing, whenever Natasha wrestles with someone it gets so loud, it sounds like she's murdering the other rat! But since I took her out, she's acting lonely now, so I'm thinking I might put her into her Aunt Zuki's cage, along with Zuki's 3 daughters.
Do you think that she will mellow out if I introduce her to a new group of rats like Zuki's, I think she became so dominant in her own cage because of her sisters. Maybe with new rats she won't be so dominant? what are your experiences with dominant rats like this? I feel so terrible for taking her away from her sisters but I think it was my only option. I hope I wasn't overreacting, but none of the other rats seem quite this aggressive when they wrestle.
The time out cage has nothing in it, no toys or anything, and she certainly doesn't have fun in there. At first the time outs would get her to stop picking on the others for a few days, but now it no longer phases her. Last night when I decided to remove her permanently, I did so because I'd put her in time out for attacking Mogwai. She was in time out for about a half hour... the MINUTE I put her back in her regular cage, she immediately charged after Mogwai and attacked her again!! I'm at wit's end with this rat. I can't keep letting her do this, Mogwai is too old to react quick enough, and has trouble defending herself in these attacks. She was here first and I can't stand the idea of her getting seriously injured in one of these encounters.
