fenshae
Well-Known Member
Rats are nuts.
So a couple months ago I'd posted asking for advice on intros with Einstein, who is a hormonal whirlwind and a complete whiner. I did manage to get him successfully integrated with the boys, although he still has the unnerving tendency of humping them whenever he gets too excited during out-time. >.<
Ever since Einstein's arrival, I've noticed Basil and Splinter acting very skittish. Basil has never particularly enjoyed being held (he's always been very much a "I'll come sniff you on my own terms then scamper off" kind of guy ever since he was a baby) but he's to the point now where he squeals every time I grab hold of him and runs away. Splinter too is being very stand-offish and freaks out whenever I try to get him out of his cage. They both calm down a bit once I get them out of the cage, but for the most part they seem like they're both quite tense and don't want the attention.
What's their deal? I think Einstein caused a big power dynamic shift and they're all still working out the Alpha spot (Basil hasn't quite stepped down but also hasn't quite asserted himself definitively), so are they just up-tight because they're being super hormonal? And if that's the case, am I going to have to neuter everybody to get them to calm down, or can just one neuter solve the problem? I miss my big squishy Basil-butt and he's not very good for cuddles if every time I try to get him out of the cage he screams and runs off.
So a couple months ago I'd posted asking for advice on intros with Einstein, who is a hormonal whirlwind and a complete whiner. I did manage to get him successfully integrated with the boys, although he still has the unnerving tendency of humping them whenever he gets too excited during out-time. >.<
Ever since Einstein's arrival, I've noticed Basil and Splinter acting very skittish. Basil has never particularly enjoyed being held (he's always been very much a "I'll come sniff you on my own terms then scamper off" kind of guy ever since he was a baby) but he's to the point now where he squeals every time I grab hold of him and runs away. Splinter too is being very stand-offish and freaks out whenever I try to get him out of his cage. They both calm down a bit once I get them out of the cage, but for the most part they seem like they're both quite tense and don't want the attention.
What's their deal? I think Einstein caused a big power dynamic shift and they're all still working out the Alpha spot (Basil hasn't quite stepped down but also hasn't quite asserted himself definitively), so are they just up-tight because they're being super hormonal? And if that's the case, am I going to have to neuter everybody to get them to calm down, or can just one neuter solve the problem? I miss my big squishy Basil-butt and he's not very good for cuddles if every time I try to get him out of the cage he screams and runs off.
