UhHuhHer
Well-Known Member
So, I adopted four brothers, all five months old a while back. Two have since passed. But, before they did, they both struggled to keep weight on. A third boy is also very petite, but not as unhealthy as the two brothers I struggled to keep weight on were. I thought, because of how sickly they had been, they struggled to keep weight on because of pre-existing health problems.
Syl just keeps getting fatter, though. At first, I thought his sudden gain was because he hurt his foot a while back and had to be less active for a while, but now I think it's because he's keeping food from the others. I think that's why my two that passed struggled so much with weight, no matter what I fed them. And I think it's why Merlin isn't thriving in the cage with his brother anymore.
Is this normal behavior? For one rat to get so selfish with food (even when I feed plenty for both) that he prevents cage mates from getting enough to eat? Has anyone else had this problem?
I'm going to start separating them at meal times, but this whole situation seems weird to me and I'm wondering if anyone else has had similar struggles.
Syl just keeps getting fatter, though. At first, I thought his sudden gain was because he hurt his foot a while back and had to be less active for a while, but now I think it's because he's keeping food from the others. I think that's why my two that passed struggled so much with weight, no matter what I fed them. And I think it's why Merlin isn't thriving in the cage with his brother anymore.
Is this normal behavior? For one rat to get so selfish with food (even when I feed plenty for both) that he prevents cage mates from getting enough to eat? Has anyone else had this problem?
I'm going to start separating them at meal times, but this whole situation seems weird to me and I'm wondering if anyone else has had similar struggles.