Post by Mil on Oct 30, 2011 11:50:37 GMT -5
Transferred from the TRRQ Discussion Board Formerly on Facebook:
RachAel Jennings
My buck rats were good friends until I had to separate them due to an infection (both in good health now
. However, during the separation, the rat that was originally submissive became the alpha and attacks the other when we try to re-introduce them! My other rat is hairless and after fights, does come away bleeding a bit (he is fine though). I have no idea what to do! They are 7 months old roughly and testosterone crazy...Will they be friends again or will it be separate cages from now on?
Should I castrate the dominant male? I'm scared this op will be risky and I've heard it can increase the risk of pneumonia?
Thanks all
about 9 months ago
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The Rodent Reader Quarterly
We've had many males neutered -- both in the hope of decreasing aggression, and the completely unrelated reason of allowing male and female siblings to remain with their mom as a family. While any surgery carries a certain amount of risk, we've had very few issues of any kind from neutering -- and none that I'm aware of linked to this procedure once the boys have healed and continued with their normal lives.
As far as solving the aggression issue, however, results have been mixed for us. Sometimes neutering has taken care of the problem, and at other times it has really made no difference. When it hasn't resolved the matter, we've been able to switch around housing arrangements -- seldom will neutered males fight with females, and with the risk of pregnancy eliminated we've occasionally moved an aggressive neutered male to a group of girls and had no futher issue.
I've read both on the Rodent Reader page and elsewhere that different rat owners use various techniques to re-establish peaceful relations between aggressive cage mates -- including putting them in a very small cage overnight with just water and a little food (no toys, hammocks, etc.) to force them to rely on each other when "roughing it."
Again, I hope others might offer their suggestions, and hope your boys are back to enjoying each other's company again soon.
about 8 months ago
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RachAel Jennings
Thanks ever so much for this guys. We tried dividing the big cage with a trellis, but the dominant eventually got wise and pushed his way round the side, to fight with the other rat. This wasn't particularly nice and when I thought they had finished fighting, I picked up one of the rats and received a rather nasty bite on my knuckle (OUCH!) I shall use gloves next time!
I think I might try and keep them separated from now on but use perspex to make an upstairs and downstairs level. This will help with managing them better and not get stressed over trying to establish an 'authority', when they cannot.
Only one vet nurse commented on how an operation can be risky. The vet who did try and push castration knew my boys had been ill but did not seem to take this into consideration!
Thanks so much again - really helpful
about 8 months ago
--------
RachAel Jennings
My buck rats were good friends until I had to separate them due to an infection (both in good health now
. However, during the separation, the rat that was originally submissive became the alpha and attacks the other when we try to re-introduce them! My other rat is hairless and after fights, does come away bleeding a bit (he is fine though). I have no idea what to do! They are 7 months old roughly and testosterone crazy...Will they be friends again or will it be separate cages from now on?Should I castrate the dominant male? I'm scared this op will be risky and I've heard it can increase the risk of pneumonia?
Thanks all
about 9 months ago
-------------
The Rodent Reader Quarterly
We've had many males neutered -- both in the hope of decreasing aggression, and the completely unrelated reason of allowing male and female siblings to remain with their mom as a family. While any surgery carries a certain amount of risk, we've had very few issues of any kind from neutering -- and none that I'm aware of linked to this procedure once the boys have healed and continued with their normal lives.
As far as solving the aggression issue, however, results have been mixed for us. Sometimes neutering has taken care of the problem, and at other times it has really made no difference. When it hasn't resolved the matter, we've been able to switch around housing arrangements -- seldom will neutered males fight with females, and with the risk of pregnancy eliminated we've occasionally moved an aggressive neutered male to a group of girls and had no futher issue.
I've read both on the Rodent Reader page and elsewhere that different rat owners use various techniques to re-establish peaceful relations between aggressive cage mates -- including putting them in a very small cage overnight with just water and a little food (no toys, hammocks, etc.) to force them to rely on each other when "roughing it."
Again, I hope others might offer their suggestions, and hope your boys are back to enjoying each other's company again soon.
about 8 months ago
--------
RachAel Jennings
Thanks ever so much for this guys. We tried dividing the big cage with a trellis, but the dominant eventually got wise and pushed his way round the side, to fight with the other rat. This wasn't particularly nice and when I thought they had finished fighting, I picked up one of the rats and received a rather nasty bite on my knuckle (OUCH!) I shall use gloves next time!
I think I might try and keep them separated from now on but use perspex to make an upstairs and downstairs level. This will help with managing them better and not get stressed over trying to establish an 'authority', when they cannot.
Only one vet nurse commented on how an operation can be risky. The vet who did try and push castration knew my boys had been ill but did not seem to take this into consideration!
Thanks so much again - really helpful
about 8 months ago
--------