Chiendelespace
New Member
Hi there and thank you to the admin who will validate this! (Bear with me, I'm french and my english is a bit rusted)
I'm a new rat owner. 5-6 months ago, I bring home a new baby rat called Ruben. I did a beginner mistake, I bring him alone. It was tough at first but after two weeks, he was beginning to be cute and friendly, licking my hand, staying on my shoulder, playing on my desk. A few months ago, I realized he was gnawing on the bars of his cage. Then he escaped for a few hours. I couldn't restrain him on the desk or the bed. This boy has quite a LOT of energy and is quite a climbing and jumping master. My appartment is an open space so I feel inconfortable but I let him wander with an eye on him, closing dangerous spaces like the kitchen. I was quite glad, he came to me every time I was calling him with a treat. Since gnawing on bars seems like a sign of deep stress, it was time to find him a brother and a bigger cage than the beginning one I've found.
There's enter Gilbert with the big cage. Someone was selling the cage with him and for me it was perfect. Gilbert is 2 years old and quite the Couch Potato. Very, very, very submissive. After proper intro and cleaning, Ruben and Gilbert are together since 10 days. But here's come the issues.... I realized two months ago that Ruben was less affectuous than before but was still licking my hand and coming to see me. But now... Ruben is quite the bully and won't have Gilbert share the food. Gilbert eat quite slowly and Ruben stealing his share by ripping it from his mouth while Gilbert play dead. Beside that.... it's ok, they sleep together.... But I had to separate them yesturday and I put Ruben on his back. Since then, the little boy show some agressivity toward me. He hiss each time I take him, refuse to be pet and avoid me and nip me a few times, when I try to take him back to his cage or pet him.,. He escape on the floor and was hiding far from me, even with treats.... He still move A LOT and eat very well.
What should I do with this?
I'm a new rat owner. 5-6 months ago, I bring home a new baby rat called Ruben. I did a beginner mistake, I bring him alone. It was tough at first but after two weeks, he was beginning to be cute and friendly, licking my hand, staying on my shoulder, playing on my desk. A few months ago, I realized he was gnawing on the bars of his cage. Then he escaped for a few hours. I couldn't restrain him on the desk or the bed. This boy has quite a LOT of energy and is quite a climbing and jumping master. My appartment is an open space so I feel inconfortable but I let him wander with an eye on him, closing dangerous spaces like the kitchen. I was quite glad, he came to me every time I was calling him with a treat. Since gnawing on bars seems like a sign of deep stress, it was time to find him a brother and a bigger cage than the beginning one I've found.
There's enter Gilbert with the big cage. Someone was selling the cage with him and for me it was perfect. Gilbert is 2 years old and quite the Couch Potato. Very, very, very submissive. After proper intro and cleaning, Ruben and Gilbert are together since 10 days. But here's come the issues.... I realized two months ago that Ruben was less affectuous than before but was still licking my hand and coming to see me. But now... Ruben is quite the bully and won't have Gilbert share the food. Gilbert eat quite slowly and Ruben stealing his share by ripping it from his mouth while Gilbert play dead. Beside that.... it's ok, they sleep together.... But I had to separate them yesturday and I put Ruben on his back. Since then, the little boy show some agressivity toward me. He hiss each time I take him, refuse to be pet and avoid me and nip me a few times, when I try to take him back to his cage or pet him.,. He escape on the floor and was hiding far from me, even with treats.... He still move A LOT and eat very well.
What should I do with this?