QueenBee
Member
I have two 6 month old males (brothers) in a single level CN, but it seems the one won't leave the other alone.
Ernie is the alpha, he is very easygoing and a little daredevil. Junior is much larger than him, but is constantly getting flipped and power groomed, and he squeaks very loudly every time. He almost always has a few small scabs, and most recently he's had a few scabs on one of his front legs, and his fur is bitten off there too. What worries me most is since this behaviour started a few weeks ago, Junior has regressed, and has become very timid. He loves his out time and shoulder rides, but he hates actually getting picked up, and he will run and hide some of the time when I open the cage doors. I've tried to spend even more individual time with him every day, but it hasn't seemed to help much.
With the scabs on his legs and his change in behaviour I'm worried that Junior might not be feeling well (maybe mites but I don't know what I'm looking for), or he's just intimidated by his cagemate. If that is the case, I'm considering neutering one or both of them if it would help. Throughout all this, Ernie has remained his calm and confident self.
I just would like to get some other opinions on what might be causing the behaviour and how to fix it!
Ernie is the alpha, he is very easygoing and a little daredevil. Junior is much larger than him, but is constantly getting flipped and power groomed, and he squeaks very loudly every time. He almost always has a few small scabs, and most recently he's had a few scabs on one of his front legs, and his fur is bitten off there too. What worries me most is since this behaviour started a few weeks ago, Junior has regressed, and has become very timid. He loves his out time and shoulder rides, but he hates actually getting picked up, and he will run and hide some of the time when I open the cage doors. I've tried to spend even more individual time with him every day, but it hasn't seemed to help much.
With the scabs on his legs and his change in behaviour I'm worried that Junior might not be feeling well (maybe mites but I don't know what I'm looking for), or he's just intimidated by his cagemate. If that is the case, I'm considering neutering one or both of them if it would help. Throughout all this, Ernie has remained his calm and confident self.
I just would like to get some other opinions on what might be causing the behaviour and how to fix it!