Bullies - Paw Talk

Vanilla_Rat · #1 07-19-2008, 09:55 PM

So looks like I have to seperate Sugar Bear (at least temporarily).
He has been living well with Kahlua and Rascal for a few weeks now...however I noticed he was not gaining weight.Well just the other day,I noticed he is getting skinnier.

There are two LARGE bowls in the cage,which get filled.But I filled them and decided to watch.Well Kahlua and Rascal would sit at the bowls.When Sugar ventured near to get food,they would bite at him and not let him near the food.He would go up and just sit at the top level and wait.Once the other two are gorged and full,then Sugar can go and eat...but he don't get alot,before the other two kick him away.

Other then this,they get along very well.They sleep,groom and play well.But it is obvious who is on the lower end of the stick.

Tommorrow I am gonna put Sugar in a seperate cage for a day or two,until he starts gaining weight and then I may have to feed him seperatly.

Kahlua and Rascal are big bullies!

mtmaughan · #2 07-19-2008, 10:00 PM

Can you put in a third food bowl? Hopefully two rats can't guard three bowls...

Vanilla_Rat · #3 07-19-2008, 10:02 PM

Oh man! I never even thought of that! Haha...thanks!
I could even put a third one on the top level where Sugar hangs out when the others are eating.They are so possesive of their dishes!

Thanks.
I can't believe I never thought of that!
I am gonna do that tonite before I go to bed!

mtmaughan · #4 07-19-2008, 10:04 PM

LOL! Glad I could help! Sometimes the simplest solutions are the best.

I really hope that works out for them.

Kendalle · #5 07-19-2008, 10:06 PM

hehe my rats used to do that too until i stashed food in alot of places and the bullies were too busy trying to find what spot had the best food that everyone got to eat

Vanilla_Rat · #6 07-19-2008, 10:07 PM

Thanks!
I know and sadly I sometimes don't think of the simple things! Haha.That is MUCH better then taking poor Sugar away from his buddies temporarily!

There is no way the two rats can guard three dishes...especially when one is on a seperate floor! I'd like to see them try!

rat freak · #7 07-20-2008, 02:37 AM

Ya lol well Im glad you found a solution! I have 2 rats and Daisy is the dominant one and she is a little oinker lol. She eats really fast and when she is done she goes to take Poppy's treat! She is so mean! lol

laydeerodentzz · #8 07-20-2008, 04:45 AM

Haha, When we first got Arthur he used to gaurd the food bowl, sometimes, if he couldn't protect it, he'd push his way through the crowd, get into the bowl and curl up into a ball so no one could even do as much as see the food LOL... bet you won't find it hard to believe Arthur now weighs the most! But, after a while everything settled down and they are all okay about the food now

luvboyrats · #9 07-21-2008, 10:11 AM

I have some pretty serious bullies at my house too. They can all be such primadonnas! I ended up adding more food bowls to one cage because Rat Fink wouldn't share. He's not really the bitey bully type, just really passive aggressive. Every time I filled the bowl up he would just sit in it and sometimes fall asleep in it so that they couldn't possibly eat around him! Such little jerks!

Vanilla_Rat · #10 07-21-2008, 10:35 AM

Hehe...rats are silly! And they can be such jerks with eachother sometimes.
Anyway I added a third dish and put it on the second level and watched and to my delight,evenryone was eating and the two bullies were not trying to guard the third dish.

luvboyrats · #11 07-21-2008, 11:40 AM

Very good news!