Why do rats push their heads under another rat?

[madinaholic]

Hey all,

Bit of a random question but earlier this year I introduced four new babies to my two older girls. Introductions went fine and they all get along well now, but I noticed that the younger rats would often push their heads under the necks/bellies of my older girls quite a lot.

It seemed to taper off a bit as they got more comfortable but they recently got a new playpen and they've started doing it again. Is it a submissive thing? The younger girls will often also groom the older girls but not vice versa – by pushing their heads under the older girls are they asking to also be groomed?

I'm just curious about why they're doing it and can't seem to find anything about it online so I was wondering if anyone in here might know. Thanks in advance

 

[Tiffany&Lauren]

affection maybe

 

[Rats_are_cool!]

not shour but ive seen my girls do it and they will groom eachother and i see them engage in play so it might be that